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1968 Help with Power Steering

shane18fly

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Messages
77
Took the GT/CS out for a spin this weekend and when returning had to make a sharp left turn into our driveway and garage. Almost immediately upon reaching the end point of my left hand turn I felt a pop, followed by smoke and a fire. After evacuating the car and getting all to safety, I opened the hood and doused the fire on the left side of the engine compartment. Upon further inspection I found the intake pressure hose( not the return hose) was ruptured at its mid portion. The fire was of course from the spewing steering fluid. No major damage elsewhere fortunately-only a couple of wire harness plastic covers to replace. My question: Did I have a primary hose failure(I did not see anything it contacted or could have contacted) or could there be a control valve problem. I am going to replace the pressure hose but would sure like to know if I need to worry about the control valve as the source of failure and exceedingly high pressure. We had absolutely no problems with the steering prior to the rupture.Thanks!!shane
 

ari guy

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2011
Messages
68
I cant answer your question, but am here to report the same thing happened to me on my cal special several years ago, fire and all. I worried about it, but replaced the hose and it never happened again..........to this day I think about it when cramping the wheel to a hard right or left. Doc
 

sam

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Messages
494
Where is the best source to get a power steering pump replacement? I have had very bad luck and replaced at leat 4 in 14years...........frustrating !
 

robert campbell

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
Shane,
Not to worry about the control valve. It only controls which way the fluid goes. Pump specifies the pressure. Put a new hose on and good to go. Early 68 cars have a small pressure fitting into the control valve. Later ones a larger fitting. I would suspect yours is the later and larger fitting.

Rob
 

CougarCJ

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
2,185
It was early 1967 cars that have the 1/4 fitting for the control valve. All 1968 cars are supposed to have a 5/16 inch fitting on the high pressure side of the control valve.
 

robert campbell

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
Scott,
My 68 GNS came with the 1/4 fitting on the control valve. Just like our 1967. My guess was a long tranistion occured.

Rob
 
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