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Talk about it never ends.... I put a set of tires on my 51 today so I could set it on the ground (for the first time) Man... the stance is great... awesome... rolled it ahead a few feet so that I could take the old rear end out and replace it with the Trans am disc rear end... and finished that, Started it to warm it up and set the timing.. dialed it right in... Reached in grabbed the steering wheel to see how good the power steering felt and the steering wheel started jerking back and forth on it's own almost ripped my fingers off AND BAM !! THE POWERSTEERING RACK BLEW THE SEAL OUT !! Right were the steering linkage connects to the rack !!Man... It's brand new, Now what ?? anyone know what might have happened ??

I called Heidts and they got a new one on it's way but I would hate to replace it and blow up another one !!

Ever heard of that ???

HELP !!! Im lost on this one

Todd

tadoo16: I'm no help because my memory fails me at this time but what I do remember is I had the same problem years ago and can't remember what it was except if seems it was fairly easy to fix. The steering is "hunting" for some reason. Can it be the hoses could possibly be hooked up wrong. I do remember this happening to me not like you describe. I'll be watching for the answers from the "tribal leaders" along with you.

What pump do you have? Those Mustang 2 bases racks don't run on as high of pressure as the Saginaw steering box that a GM pump is made to run. You have to use a regulator to bring the pressure down to keep from blowing out the rack.

Bill,
Thanks...It does have the Saginaw power steering pump, When I called Heidts I told them what happened and ask them about a regulator and if that was the reason it blew out the seal why didn't they sell me you with the kit? Of course he said He never heard of one blowing before ??

what would happen if I did hook up the hoses wrong ? I traced it out when I connected them and thought I had it hooked up right but who knows...

Anyway Im definitely going to put a regulator on the next rack But now of course all the metal is on and I'll be laying on the ground fighting it and trying to unhook and reconnect everything Man...

Bill,
And do you know why it would have jerked back and forth like that before it blew?? Im not kidding it almost ripped my fingers off

Todd,,,,That sucks,man. Im no help here as ive never done any power steering to either of my trucks,,but im feelin your pain............
Good luck on your next try.
Marty

Marty,
Yea it does suck bro... I guess that's what I get for talking all that crap about it ALMOST being done... lol !! :hammering: Man...I sure hope so (the weather is getting REAL HOT here)

i think i'd swap the hoses around..
had a mopar box do that once..

i might be wrong here but on mine i dont know the make of the box but the pressure side an low pressure side have different size fittings so ya cant mess em up ...it is a stock GM from a Caddy ..?

Yes it's a stock Gm Saginaw steering pump the serpentine belt set came of a 91 camaro but I replaced the steering & water pump with new before installing it

Todd

yikes.... another vote for "armstrong" steering!! :hammering:

Tabdoo16: as I read the post I am almost certain mine did exactly the same thing. It dang near took my fingers off and would sit and just go back and forth. I am running the stang II front end I personally took off a junk car and used the original for cores on new reman's. I used the chevy power steering. I really think I switched the hoses??? I did NOT put a regulator on my lines but a friend told me that the guys around here put somewhat of a "stainer" in the line at a fitting to reduce the pressure. I did NOT do that either and mine is working fine since about 2000. IF you do not figure it out soon send me a PM and I'll call a guy I know this Monday and I'm sure he knows the answer.

Todd:
I checked with a rod shop here. When I asked about the Saginaw pump to the MustangII he knew just what I was talking about and knew about the wheel jerking. He said you have the hoses reversed. He said the problem with Saginaw pumping into the MustangII has been solved sometime ago. I was concerned as I have not hooked up mine and this was a good reminder for me to make sure I hook up the right ones.

Todd, after posting above I called my nephew who helped me on my truck after I had some surgery. He destinctly remembered the problem the night we fire the engine up and, as BigCHEV said, the lines are backwards. You can't really switch the lines at the pump but on the Stang II rack the lines are threaded the same size. What happened is you have the pressure and the return line switched. Just take the two lines that come from the pump and switch them at the rack and you'll be in business. Let us know how you make out.

THAT WAS IT !!! NO LEAKS !! AND THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED JERKING !! Thanks so much guys ! But I wonder if I did any damage to the rack ? it sounds funny now But it's hard to tell over the open headers, as I was telling my buddy Big Chevy 3600 I got a new rack coming and I think I'll switch it out just in case

That's what makes the Bolt such a great site!! Man I didn't know what to do on this one Im sure glad I had you guys to "our tribal leaders" that has the know how to get it done

Thanks so much to EVERYONE for your help !!
Your the BEST!!

(I still might make it to the DMV by the end of the month anyway, lol !!)
Todd

It's a beautiful thing when things come together, synchronism at its best.

hmmm
incorrectly install part and have possibly damaged it, then keep the replacement part they sent you? wow 2 for the price of 1! if you send back the "damaged" one it may dispel some of the bad karma coming back your way? but is it really honest? prob just none of my business anyways...

I believe Todd just reversed hoses and things worked as intended. That was back in early June and I haven't heard from him since.