1966 Power Steering Rebuild

[Frank C.]

Good Morning, I am rebuilding the front suspension on my car. I have attached pictures of the PS Steering control valve. Would like to keep the part if it is original and just rebuild with a kit.

From my picture, can you help me determine if this is an typical factory production part and is worth the effort?

Also, have tried to remove the control valve from the relay rod, and seems like the threads are binding. Any tips for removing the valve with out damage???

Thanks Frank

[Timothy B.]

Re: !966 Power Steering Rebuild

Frank,

Looks factory to me so get a service manual and try to overhaul. There is a good section about this in the 1963 service manual. Remove the bolt and unscrew the valve from the relay rod.

[Joe L.]

Re: !966 Power Steering Rebuild

Good Morning, I am rebuilding the front suspension on my car. I have attached pictures of the PS Steering control valve. Would like to keep the part if it is original and just rebuild with a kit.

From my picture, can you help me determine if this is an typical factory production part and is worth the effort?

Also, have tried to remove the control valve from the relay rod, and seems like the threads are binding. Any tips for removing the valve with out damage???

Thanks Frank

Frank------


The valve looks to me like it could be original. One thing you might check for are casting numbers on the valve and the valve adapter (i.e. the part that threads onto the relay rod). If the casting numbers begin with a "5", then the valve could be original to the car (and, if it's not original to the car it's identical to the valve that was original to the car). If the casting numbers begin with a "7", then the valve or that component of the valve is NOT original to the car.

As far as rebuilding the valves go, rebuild kits are available for the job although no kits are available from GM. One major problem: I am not aware of any kits which include the gasket pictured below and I know of no source for this gasket. This gasket is a compression-type gasket and is, thus, a one-time-only gasket. Re-using this gasket usually results in a leak.

[Frank C.]

Re: !966 Power Steering Rebuild

Joe,

Thanks for the help. Looking at my part, I can only find the number 25 and a symbol. where would the number be? I have also taken a picture of the bolt that tightens the valve to the relay rod. This has an "A".

Update: Joe, went out to the shop and took another look and removed more old grease, and I found a faint casting number.
Number starts with a 5. Attached more pictures.

What do you think? Original or replacement?

Thanks Frank

[Joe L.]

Re: !966 Power Steering Rebuild

Joe,

Thanks for the help. Looking at my part, I can only find the number 25 and a symbol. where would the number be? I have also taken a picture of the bolt that tightens the valve to the relay rod. This has an "A".

Update: Joe, went out to the shop and took another look and removed more old grease, and I found a faint casting number.
Number starts with a 5. Attached more pictures.

What do you think? Original or replacement?

Thanks Frank

Frank-----


OK, with the number seen on the adapter (there should be another one somewhere on the valve), I'd say it's either the original valve or one identical to the original. With a situation like this, there's really no way to say, with certainty, that any part is original to the car. Identical is identical.