My 71 Malibu has power steering. Every other day or so when it has sat overnight the sterring wheel is HARD to turn to the right for about the first 25 degrees of roation, but after turning the wheel back and forth a few times the steering feels fine (yes, with the car running:D ). Any ideas? Do I just need to flush the power steering and put in new fluid or is my pump getting ready to move on? Thanks.
Frank

Do you think that the lack of assist might be related to the fluid being cold after sitting overnight?

I heard of this type problem with a person with a Corvette. He had recently added some "Stop Leak" fluid to his system. After the addition of the fluid he had to drive several miles on cold mornings before his power assist returned.

This problem also sounds similar to the dreaded General Motors rack and pinion "morning sickness" problem. But the R&P problem was related to the aluminum housing that was being supplied on early R&P gears. The good old cast iron integral power gears never had this type problem.

I would flush the system and replace the fluid with genuine GM power steering fluid. It is available through any GM dealer as #89020661. Earlier GM fluid was 1050017 and is equally as good.

Genuine GM power steering fluid is amber in color. If the fluid in your steering system is any other color, I would flush it.

Let us know if the flush procedure works.

JIML82

Yeah, definitely flush first.
If a flush doesn't help, a directional problem is more likely in the box than the pump. If it was the pump it would more likely do it in both directions and might be making noise.

I have run into a few of this type of box on different models that had a problem in only one direction (hard steering, play, memory, pull). Usually it's on a Ford though ;)

JimL82,
Most likely due to cold since it really only does it on the colder mornings. Thanks for the suggestion. As you and Chevry suggest I will be flushing the system this weekend as well as putting in a new fuel pump and other things. I will let you know. Thanks guys.
Frank

Most likely it is the flow control valve. Disconnect your Pressure line into the pump. The valve will probabbly be stuck inside the housing. Remove it and clean it. Be aware that there is a spring on the other side of it. Also check the screen on the valve for debris. After you put it back in the pump, plung it with your finger a few time to see if it moves easily. This is a common accurance in that style of pump. If the problem prosists you will have to replace the pump. This is caused by contamination. If you feel that it is directional and fluid related, like it only does it in the morning. Then the teflons inside the steering gear have worn groves in the housing. That it what is commonly called morning sickness. The only soloution is to repalce the gear. But try the flow control valve first it sounds like the problem.

over night fine metal particles in the system end up in the control valve of the steering box, flushing should help, but the pump is going away causing the metal, there is a magnet inside the pump to catch the metal but can only get so much over the years, Rob

Those very fine metalic particles have no affect on the steering gear valve.

Back in the 1970s, GM had a several lawsuits allegeding that "at 2:30 in the morning, after only one beer at the bar, the plaintiff was on his way home and had his steering lockup, and a car crash resulted."

We had an expert witness at Saginaw Steering Gear that would testify for GM in the lawsuit. He used to purchase a car, the same make and model as the one that suffered the crash and was involved in the lawsuit. Saginaw engineering would then install a new steering system; pump, gear, hoses, oil, etc (identical to what was originally in the car).

Our expert would then video tape removing the reservoir cap and dumping a paper cup full of chips and floor sweepings into the system. The car would then be driven from Saginaw all the way to the place of the lawsuit trial. 500, 1000, 2000 miles, it didn't make any difference. He never experienced any "lockup" or loss of power assist in the car. He would then testify as to the durability of the system.

Guess what? After several successful road trips to liability trial locations where there were alleged Saginaw steering system lock ups. The lawsuits stopped.

This isn't to say that all that junk in the steering system wouldn't eventually cut and wear out the rubber seals and cause leaks. But lock up the steering - no way!

JIML82

Did you get this fixed?
If not it sounds to me like an adjustment was done on your steering gear box and is to tight causing a little steering gear mesh.

What you can do is to go out and look at the box, on top is a 5/8 bolt and in the center is either a slot for a screw driver or allen head.

Mark where the slot is on the bolt and box, loosen the bolt, then back the slot out about 1/16th of a turn, tighten it back up and test. You may have to try a couple of times, just remember the more you back it off, the sloppier your steering will feel, it may be that it was adjusted because of wear and it is just time for a new one

Did you get this fixed?
If not it sounds to me like an adjustment was done on your steering gear box and is to tight causing a little steering gear mesh.

What you can do is to go out and look at the box, on top is a 5/8 bolt and in the center is either a slot for a screw driver or allen head.

Mark where the slot is on the bolt and box, loosen the bolt, then back the slot out about 1/16th of a turn, tighten it back up and test. You may have to try a couple of times, just remember the more you back it off, the sloppier your steering will feel, it may be that it was adjusted because of wear and it is just time for a new one

Chevguy65,
No, I have not had the time to work on the car. I am actually selling it to a buddy of mine who is going to go to town on it and get it finished well before I could. The cool part is I get to help fix it up without having to spend the money. I am going to try to take a look at it this weekend. I will give your reccomendation a shot. Thanks.
Frank