Power Steering Cylinder Rebuild

[Dan A.]

I have removed the power steering cylinder from my 69 with the thought of rebuilding it. It was fine operationally but was beginning to leak more and more. I have tried to search all of the old threads on this subject in order to understand what I am dealing with.
When I first began to take it apart I noticed a groove around the shaft approximately 6" down the polished part of the rod. I have read that if the shaft is bent or the finish is scored the cylinder is not a good candidate for a rebuild. Am I correct in assuming that this groove also disqualifies it as being rebuildable?
Thanks as always for the advice.

[Paul B.]

Re: Power Steering Cylinder Rebuild

...I have "temporarily" rebuilt two of these and that "wear dip" seems like it'll always leak there at that point. Kinda like the way a driveshaft yoke gets that "wear dip" to it and even a brand new seal there doesn't always seal very good.

[Jim S.]

Re: Power Steering Cylinder Rebuild

Depending upon the shape of your groove and whether it has sharp edges,
every time the groove in the rod passes through the seals the following things happen. If the seal is old and heat aged from use, the seal may not follow the groove shape and the cylinder will leak (or weep) as small amount of fluid. If the groove has sharp edges, the edges will dig into the sealing lip and the seal will loose a little more of its sealing ability and will eventually leak.

The seals and rod scrapers can be replaced. The rod is not serviceable. It might be possible to polish the rod and minimize the groove. But for the most part, you should probably replace the complete cylinder assembly.

Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Power Steering Cylinder Rebuild

Depending upon the shape of your groove and whether it has sharp edges,
every time the groove in the rod passes through the seals the following things happen. If the seal is old and heat aged from use, the seal may not follow the groove shape and the cylinder will leak (or weep) as small amount of fluid. If the groove has sharp edges, the edges will dig into the sealing lip and the seal will loose a little more of its sealing ability and will eventually leak.

The seals and rod scrapers can be replaced. The rod is not serviceable. It might be possible to polish the rod and minimize the groove. But for the most part, you should probably replace the complete cylinder assembly.

Jim

Jim and Dan-----


I don't recommend "completely rebuilt" cylinders available from most of the Corvette parts suppliers, either. These cylinders have the outer tube CUT IN HALF, the innards serviced and/or replaced, and then the tube is welded back together again. I've even seen a lot of these that are slightly "crooked" since the tube halves were not perfectly aligned when the weld was performed.

The GM cylinder is discontinued. However, reproductions are available and the ones that I've seen look really good.

[Dan A.]

Re: Power Steering Cylinder Rebuild

Thank you all for the replies. Is there a recommended supplier of new cylinders?

[Joe L.]

Re: Power Steering Cylinder Rebuild

Thank you all for the replies. Is there a recommended supplier of new cylinders?

Dan------


I expect that all the cylinders on the market originate from the same manufacturing source.