Steering: Major Power Steering Leak

[Ted Johnson]

In my '62 Hawk GT with apparently original Power Steering, I have developed a leak. It drip-drip-drips from the bracket and nut at on the control valve, but it seems to be coming from the hose that goes back up to the bottom of the reservoir. I re-tightened that hose yesterday, can find no holes anywhere, but I filled the reservoir Saturday night and by yesterday it was entirely empty. Is there a common cause for leaks like this? I can't spot an obvious source of the problem. Do control valves need rebuilding commonly?

[JoeHall]

If it steers OK, i.e. does not chirp the belt when sitting still and turning lock-to-lock, nothing is likely to need rebuild. If you can find the source of leak and fix it, you are probably good to go. If it is leaking at the control valve, there is a seal kit available from SI, that can be installed from under the car in about 1/2 hour. It does not require special tools, but I'd start by pre-reading that section in the Shop Manual.

If it is leaking at the pump shaft seal, there is also a kit for that, available from SI. Again, it is easy enough to do the job yourself, without special tools, but again, pre-read the Shop Manual first.

Most of the vendors have hoses, but there are hoses and then there are hoses. So you might want to do an archive search here to insure you get the "good ones".

Hope this helps.

[Ted Johnson]

If it steers OK, i.e. does not chirp the belt when sitting still and turning lock-to-lock, nothing is likely to need rebuild. If you can find the source of leak and fix it, you are probably good to go. If it is leaking at the control valve, there is a seal kit available from SI, that can be installed from under the car in about 1/2 hour. It does not require special tools, but I'd start by pre-reading that section in the Shop Manual.

If it is leaking at the pump shaft seal, there is also a kit for that, available from SI. Again, it is easy enough to do the job yourself, without special tools, but again, pre-read the Shop Manual first.

Most of the vendors have hoses, but there are hoses and then there are hoses. So you might want to do an archive search here to insure you get the "good ones".

Hope this helps.

When it is filled with fluid it steers great without noises. It is definitely leaking AT the control valve, so sounds like a new set of seals might be it. But the hose from the reservoir coming down TO the control valve gathers fluid, too, so that confuses me.