DSE power steering help needed

[Chevy]

I have a 68 camaro with the DSE power steering set-up--their steering gear and integrated power steering pump and reservoire. I have been working on the car for 3 years now, and the set-up has worked great since it was installed 3 years ago except i had a small leak from one of the braided stainless lines that i cut to fit. I took the line off, cut the end which had the inner lining bent over improperly, which is why it was leaking. I was lazy and didn't take the line completely off the car, but plugged the line and used tape to hold the stainless wires together while i cut the braiding off. I put it back together (no leaks!) and it worked fine. Until i took an extended ride in the car, after about 20 miles i lost power steering. Belt is intact, no leaks, no loss of fluid. Once i got it home, i disconnected the outlet line on the pump (high pressure side) and turned the car over to see if the pump worked. I directed the line into a little glass jar and it poured in as i turned the car over. I also did the DSE recommended air removal process of putting the front tires up and turning them side to side slowly. Still no power steering.
I took both hoses off and there are no clogs, no debris, no problems i can see. I removed the pump from the block and emptied the reservoire, don't see any problems. With both hoses off the saginaw gear, i had my wife turn the steering wheel lock to lock while i inspected the gear, and power steering fluid shot out of the return side of the gear when she turned the wheel both directions.

So i don't have a hose problem, i don't have an air problem, i don't seem to have a steering gear problem, and my pump was pumping fluid at low RPMs (turning car over without starting it). So why no power steering? Is there a way to take the pump to local Napa for them to check it or something? Anyone have this problem with DSE pump?

Anyone got an idea what i need to do next? Haven't driven car in almost a month because of this problem, will need conseling soon!:crying:

Thanks!

[MrQuick]

sounds like a pump valve problem, i'd give DSE a call to see what advice they can offer.

[Chevy]

sounds like a pump valve problem, i'd give DSE a call to see what advice they can offer.
Can you advise how to test if this is the case? Would like to fix this weekend if possible.
Thanks!

[MrQuick]

Without the proper tools it would be difficult. We have a pressure gauge set up to measure output readings.Have you removed the valve yet? The big nut the pressure hose fits into.


Another problem I have seen before is a broken drive shaft.

[Chevy]

Without the proper tools it would be difficult. We have a pressure gauge set up to measure output readings.Have you removed the valve yet? The big nut the pressure hose fits into.


Another problem I have seen before is a broken drive shaft.

I haven't dissasembled the pump at all. I do have a pressure gage for brake systems with different -AN fittings...would this work?

Thanks!

[David Pozzi]

I'd check the valve, a broken shaft might be possible too. These pumps have a bearing up front so the shaft won't feel all that loose if the shaft breaks internally. It shouldn't pump at all if the shaft is broken, but it might pump a bit with no load.
David

[MrQuick]

not sure about the gauge set up that you have. Might start at a high pressure. Full pressure spec is 1500 psi...I believe your gauge might start there. Idle run spec is between 150-300 psi and dead head max pressure is 1400-1500psi.

Hi David,
The shafts I've seen strip or break right at the spline where it presses into the impeller. The pulley with shaft can pull right out of the pump. It will still move fluid just not a spec pressure. I suppose one can check this by gently prying the pulley outward with a prybar.

[Chevy]

not sure about the gauge set up that you have. Might start at a high pressure. Full pressure spec is 1500 psi...I believe your gauge might start there. Idle run spec is between 150-300 psi and dead head max pressure is 1400-1500psi.

Hi David,
The shafts I've seen strip or break right at the spline where it presses into the impeller. The pulley with shaft can pull right out of the pump. It will still move fluid just not a spec pressure. I suppose one can check this by gently prying the pulley outward with a prybar.

thanks both of you for the info. The gauge i have actually starts at zero but since it goes up to 3000 it doesn't provide a lot of resolution. I have the pump out now so i'm going to call DSE tomorrow i guess and see what they say. Depending on what they say i may just throw it back together and see what i get on the gauge now that i know what sort of pressure i should be looking for.

[Chevy]

Spoke to Kevin at DSE, he is sending a new pump. That's pretty damn solid considering i purchased from them 3 years ago. I'll update on situation after new pump is installed.

[Chevy]

Just to update on my problem, it was a bad pump. When i talked to DSE on the phone they sent a new pump out, i swapped them out and have no problems. Very solid customer service since i purchased the pump from them back when they were still in Brighton!! I fully expected to have to buy a new one, and but they just sent a new one out, no questions asked. Thanks DSE!