Assuming your PS pump is full and the belt is still turning it, and all clearances for the arm and everything are ok, what else could prevent the steering? Mine just vanished today in the middle of driving. I hear a little grinding noise when I turn, but I can't tell yet if it's coming from the gearbox or up higher in the column. Whenever I turn it is not only hard but I feel like something is either grinding over something or that I'm stripping a gear when turning the wheel--it actually feels like I'm stripping the area where the wheel bolts to the column. Anyone have suggestions?

Please clarify. Is it your power steering (assist) that stopped functioning OR your steering?

Sorry for the confusion. The power assist went out. I can drive it just fine, just not used to having to use muscles to turn. If I turn past a certain point I can hear a grinding/clunking noise. I checked this morning (had someone turn the wheel while I watched the gearbox). In one turn of the wheel, and in one turn from right to left, I'll hear the noise and one of the lines from the pump (unsure if it's return or supply) sort of 'jumps' or twitches. I've ruled out any noise from the column, except that I'm worried I may be sort of stripping the splines that the actual wheel attaches to the column at.

My dad thought, durning the restoration of the car, he'd rebuild the steering box for the heck of it. Little did he know when he opened it up that some 24 ball bearings would fall out. He got them all back in, but I've never had power steering to the left after that, only to the right. Now it's gone out for left and right, and makes me think that they're all related to the rebuild of the box somehow. Maybe a bearing that was never in right before finally completely screwed up and is locking up the system? Or maybe something else. I really don't know anything about it.

Thanks if anyone can figure this out.

Go to Autozone or O'Reilly, or whatever and get a new powersteering pump, cheap and will fix the prob...

Joe

Rebuilding a sterring box is not an easy job so chances are something didn't get back right.
Do a search for "JIML82" and read some of his stuff. He's the guy to talk to about this stuff.

Jeff

Originally posted by jrb56:
Go to Autozone or O'Reilly, or whatever and get a new powersteering pump, cheap and will fix the prob...

Joe I guess you posted before you saw it, but given what he just said about the PS gearbox, a new pump is unlikely to help.

Reid

Since you mentioned losing the balls when your dad disassembled the gear, I am very concerned that you may have some serious damage inside the gear. I would send the gear to a company that specializes in rebuilding the Saginaw recirculating ball power steering gear. At the same time you could get it rebuilt as a fast ratio (12.7:1)and higher effort for more road feel.

I could suggest www.TURNONE@tir.com (http://www.TURNONE@tir.com) which is run by an ex-Saginaw ride and handling engineer. He supplies a number of NASCAR teams with special racing gears based on the Saginaw design and components. He really knows the gear and is equipped to build and test them.

Thanks, I'll look into that. While on the same note, are there any cars that I could probably find a gear box from, or do I have to look for Chevelle SS specific?

Go to www.corvettefaq.com/A-Car.asp (http://www.corvettefaq.com/A-Car.asp) and download the following:

A-Car Fast Ratio Steering Gear Upgrade Instructions - 6 pages

Caprice, MC, & Buick Fast Ratio Gears (67-93) List

Chevelle Power Steering Gears (64-75) List

Grand Cherokee Fast Ratio Gears (92 1/2 - 98) List

The above will give you everything you ever wanted to know and then some.

Jim