This is going to be tough to describe but I'm hoping someone has encountered this before:

This is with the car stationary. When I turn the power steering to the right everthing feels smooth. When I turn to the left it feels like the steering is bouncing off something before it continues the turn. That really doesn't describe it well, more like there is some resistance before the power assist kicks in. But the sensation is that as you turn the steering wheel to the left you could almost bounce it against the resisitance and then the rest of the turn is smooth.

Here are the details: 67 Chevelle BB 396, just finished converting it to power steering. Remote reservoir setup. Pump and box are rebuilt/reman. I've jacked the car up and turned the wheels lock left and right to bleed the system. (My arms are aching I've done it so many times, thinking that was the problem).

I'm stumped. Common sense is telling me the pump doesn't know left from right. So it must be air in the system. But lots of wheel turning and bleeding says no.

Hope I've given you guys enough info. Am I missing something? I'm dying to get back on the road!

David

Well, that would be my first thought - air. I've had a similar problem when my car was idling too low... when I picked the idle up a couple of hundred... it helped.

'bear

You mentioned it only happened while the car was stationary, not while running down the road.... this is why I suggest a idle/speed increase.

'bear

I think you have a defective steering gear. If yo jack it up and turn the steering, without engine running does it feel the same?

Sounds like the box is worn. Check the adjustment screw at the top of the box. It might be out of adjustment, too tight or loose, but I think there's wear in the box.

did it just start or was something done to it and then it happened?
theres a valve in the pump, behind the pres. hose fitting that can stick sometimes and cause something like that
what about the fluid level

Thanks for the responses on this.

Stalkingbear: Good thinking, but it does it at all RPMs.

dgwar: With car in the air it doesn't do it. Engine can be on or off. Doesn't do it until it's on the ground. Also doesn't do it with engine off and the car on the ground... but it's hard on the arms...

rcrchsr16: It's a new box so I didn't think that would be an issue. I'll put that on the list in case I run out of more likely culprits.

forcd ind: Box, pump, lines are all new as of yesterday. Haven't taken it out on the road yet. I want to work all the bugs out first. When it was manual steering ( a few days ago) it didn't do it. Now it does. Fluid level is fine. I guess I'll try some more bleeding and if that doesn't help I'll take a look at the valve you mentioned. I'd like to assume that new parts aren't going to need things like valve replaced or unstuck but at this point who knows.

Thanks again for the help so far. This is mighty frustrating.

David

Because of the way that the rack piston is designed inside the Saginaw power gear and the geometry of your suspension system, your steering gear does require slightly less hydraulic pressure to turn your wheels to the right as compare to a left turn. But because your problem is more when the steering is near center, not at full lock, I think your problem has to be inside the gear.

My next guess would be air in the system. But you certainly seem to have worked the system enough to have gotten the air out. Have you driven very many miles with the condition that you describe. Driving and sitting overnight will soon get any air out of the system.

You mention that you have a new gear box. I would say that you should send it back. It is most likely the culprit.

JIML82

Have you checked the whole steering linkage and especially the left inner tie rod for play? Sounds to me like something is worn out on one side of the car and OK on the other side.When looseness can be felt at the steering wheel you need to check the whole suspension for play before you can condemm a major component such as a steering box.

71350ss: That's exactly what I need to do. I took it out on the road and it feels fine. It's just when it's sitting still that you can feel it. One obvious solution would be to never let it sit still...

A couple of thousand miles ago I had the whole front end rebuilt at a local shop. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they didn't replace everything they said they did. It makes sense that when I turn left I get no resistance at first (due to free-play) and then a bit of resistance as the power steering actually kicks in (as it starts moving the wheels) , followed by smoothness (no more free-play).

At least that's what I'm thinking at the moment. I'll let you know what I find.