One way power steering ????? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevytruckluver · 08-22-2010, 12:02 AM

First my truck is a 72 LWB 350 engine 350 trans. Ok, I have just finished getting my truck put back together (motor replacement). Also did some front end work, idler arm and balljoints. The power steering used to work fine (before the motor work) but now I only have power when I turn to the left. I thought the pump may have failed so I pulled one from another truck that I have but it did not correct the problem. what could be going on? Has anyone else ever seen this happen?
Thanks for any input or ideas you have

68gmsee · 08-22-2010, 12:09 AM

If I had to guess, I'd say the gear box. Something is either failing inside or got clogged up??

chevytruckluver · 08-22-2010, 10:50 PM

Ok, I swapped the gear box today from the old parts truck, now I have no power assist, 2 bad gear boxes or 2 bad pumps? I am thinking there must be some kind of check valve thats sticking could it be in the pump or the gear box... I dont know which

68gmsee · 08-23-2010, 10:42 AM

hmmm... from bad to worse. I hate it when that happens.

The pump provides the pressure needed by the gear box. But, that is it's only function. One high pressure line and one return line. If you're getting the required pressure, then I'd have to say something else is wrong -gear boxes just happen to be defective or something binding it up.

Hopefully there are some power steering gurus here that can chime in.

chevytruckluver · 08-23-2010, 10:17 PM

Power steering gurus needed...I'm not sure what to do next, if I knew what the pressure should be I could check the pump output.
hopefully someone has an idea?

sjarrett71 · 08-23-2010, 10:34 PM

I can't help you but years ago I drove an early 70's Camaro with a similar problem. If you let go of the steering wheel it would steer itself all the way in one direction. It was a PITA to drive on curvy roads or try to take a drink a drink of a soda or anything. It was white knuckle driving at its best!

Sammy · 08-23-2010, 10:35 PM

Same thing happened to me with my 71. Finally the gear box failed while making a slow turn to the left. Mine was the gear box. However there is a small strainer in the power stearing pump behind the pressure fitting that has a orfice that may be your problem. I pulled the pressure line off and the guts behind that fitting does get some trash inside. There is a small hole in there that regulates the output pressure.

Jacfourteen · 08-23-2010, 11:57 PM

I vote for bad box. The reason I say that is if the pump were bad there would have been no power assist before, not just one way because the pump doesn't care witch way you are turning.

swamp rat · 08-24-2010, 12:00 AM

Just curious if the pressure line and return line have the same fitting on the steering box? and could they have been swapped? its been a while since i looked at mine..

cdowns · 08-24-2010, 06:20 AM

that will happen to a steering box when the box is" adjusted" with the screw to take up the slop in the steering

Texasbigblock · 08-24-2010, 04:15 PM

make sure the lines are clean and not coming apart inside or choked up.

08-22-2010, 12:02 AM	#1
chevytruckluver Eat, Sleep, Drive a Chevy Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: the town of the cow, Texas Posts: 1,152	One way power steering ????? First my truck is a 72 LWB 350 engine 350 trans. Ok, I have just finished getting my truck put back together (motor replacement). Also did some front end work, idler arm and balljoints. The power steering used to work fine (before the motor work) but now I only have power when I turn to the left. I thought the pump may have failed so I pulled one from another truck that I have but it did not correct the problem. what could be going on? Has anyone else ever seen this happen? Thanks for any input or ideas you have __________________ Trey Silence may be Golden, but Duct Tape is Silver! 72 Short Step 57 "big window" short step

08-22-2010, 12:09 AM	#2
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: One way power steering ????? If I had to guess, I'd say the gear box. Something is either failing inside or got clogged up??

08-22-2010, 10:50 PM	#3
chevytruckluver Eat, Sleep, Drive a Chevy Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: the town of the cow, Texas Posts: 1,152	Re: One way power steering ????? Ok, I swapped the gear box today from the old parts truck, now I have no power assist, 2 bad gear boxes or 2 bad pumps? I am thinking there must be some kind of check valve thats sticking could it be in the pump or the gear box... I dont know which __________________ Trey Silence may be Golden, but Duct Tape is Silver! 72 Short Step 57 "big window" short step

08-23-2010, 10:42 AM	#4
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: One way power steering ????? hmmm... from bad to worse. I hate it when that happens. The pump provides the pressure needed by the gear box. But, that is it's only function. One high pressure line and one return line. If you're getting the required pressure, then I'd have to say something else is wrong -gear boxes just happen to be defective or something binding it up. Hopefully there are some power steering gurus here that can chime in.

08-23-2010, 10:17 PM	#5
chevytruckluver Eat, Sleep, Drive a Chevy Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: the town of the cow, Texas Posts: 1,152	Re: One way power steering ????? Power steering gurus needed...I'm not sure what to do next, if I knew what the pressure should be I could check the pump output. hopefully someone has an idea? __________________ Trey Silence may be Golden, but Duct Tape is Silver! 72 Short Step 57 "big window" short step

08-23-2010, 10:34 PM	#6
sjarrett71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rolla, MO Posts: 2,463	Re: One way power steering ????? I can't help you but years ago I drove an early 70's Camaro with a similar problem. If you let go of the steering wheel it would steer itself all the way in one direction. It was a PITA to drive on curvy roads or try to take a drink a drink of a soda or anything. It was white knuckle driving at its best! __________________ -Scott-

08-23-2010, 10:35 PM	#7
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: One way power steering ????? Same thing happened to me with my 71. Finally the gear box failed while making a slow turn to the left. Mine was the gear box. However there is a small strainer in the power stearing pump behind the pressure fitting that has a orfice that may be your problem. I pulled the pressure line off and the guts behind that fitting does get some trash inside. There is a small hole in there that regulates the output pressure. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629" Last edited by Sammy; 08-23-2010 at 10:36 PM. Reason: @

08-23-2010, 11:57 PM	#8
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: One way power steering ????? I vote for bad box. The reason I say that is if the pump were bad there would have been no power assist before, not just one way because the pump doesn't care witch way you are turning. __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

08-24-2010, 12:00 AM	#9
swamp rat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spanaway Posts: 8,451	Re: One way power steering ????? Just curious if the pressure line and return line have the same fitting on the steering box? and could they have been swapped? its been a while since i looked at mine..

08-24-2010, 06:20 AM	#10
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: One way power steering ????? that will happen to a steering box when the box is" adjusted" with the screw to take up the slop in the steering __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

08-24-2010, 04:15 PM	#11
Texasbigblock Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 252	Re: One way power steering ????? make sure the lines are clean and not coming apart inside or choked up. __________________ -Scott- 1970 C10 shortbed 396 1969 C30 dually flatbed "Vidalia"

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