My 64 dynamic has power steering, I have been noticing it has been whining so I checked the fluid level. The level was a bit low but not drastic. I added a small amount. (as you know the fluid chamber does not have a guage to tell you to add or not) When I drove the car the noise did not go away and when I opened the hood fluid had sprayed every place. I did not over fill it. Actually I had the chamber half filled.
I am thinking I have a blocked hose or I need to do a full cleaning of the pump.
I am getting good power steering but I know enough that the system should not whine like it is doing.
I don't want to toast the unit.....any thoughts

 

If this is the original pump and gearbox, it is time it is emptied, flushed out, and refilled at minimum. Hoses better be replaced if over 10-15 years old.
So there is not a dippy stick on the cap? If the fluid level was not up to the top of the cap, it should never have sprayed out like that.
Maybe it is time to have them rebuilt if they are original...

 

I have a few projects in mind prior to winter storage and it looks like a cleaning is in order. If it is beyound that I will be doing a rebuild this winter.
I am going to add fluid again and watch to see where the leak is comming from. I do not have a dippy stick...It may just be the cover gasket is shot and it drips out when driving. I will also check hoses.

 

Where was the spray coming from? Top of reservoir? Hose fitting? seal on the PS pump? That's nasty stuff to clean up. I'd bet the whining is the PS pump more than anything. Reason? You hear the sound all the time. That would indicate that it's a function of the pump, not the steering gear.

 

My bets are on the pump too, Does it happen when you are stationary? Or when the car is moving?

My other stab at this would be the following.

if it happens when the car is in park, and you turn the wheel, my thought would be that the belt is too loose. And it's not actually the power steering whining, but actually the belt slipping. Both those sounds are pretty similar. But hey, tighten the belt, if it goes away, problem solved!

 

Also check your hoses, the pump never sprays power steering fluid unless there is a leak!

 

It is easy to overfill and the fluid does expand and the level goes up when the system is hot. On that pump the cap has a vent hole on top center and that is probably where the fluid escaped from due to a high level. I would also suggest you drain the fluid and replace with new.

 

Sounds like air is entering the system somewhere, or the pump is going.

 

I forgot about this possiblility. If the fluid is foamy after running, air is being sucked in. Return hose could be leaking.

 

You will especially notice this if you turn the wheel from stop to stop with it running. Doing this several times (ten or so) will also bleed the system, when I do this I usually raise the vehicle until the front wheels are just off the ground. If it stays foamy there may be a leak like Rob mentioned.

 

My 72 elcamino did the same thing. I used a baby nose cleaner thingy lol and took out all the fluid I could.

Then I bought a Lucas oil power steering treatment and put it in and filled the rest with ps fluid.

No more noise for the last 6 years!!

Problem fixed.

 

I spent the day cleaning the hoses and the exterior of the pump to see leaks more clearly.
I filled pump to 60% capacity. I allowed engine to reach operating temp and then drove car. I drove it for @ 10 miles and no leaks. I had someone turn wheel and watched for leaks.
The fluid began to slowly shoot out the vent hole...the longer I continued to turn wheel the more fluid sprayed out the vent hole. I removed cap and found no bubbles but fluid was very hot. I let car cool down and eventually fluid went down.
Is there a blockage in the line?

 

Sounds like your pump is shot. If you have a pull it yard in your area replacement is an inexpensive fix

 

When I drained pump the fluid looked like power steering fluid. Last night I was replacing the gasket on the power steering fluid cover when I noticed these words: "Use only transmission fluid" Could power steering fluid cook the pump!!

 

Naaaah. It shouldn't.

I don't even know if they HAD power steering fluid in 1964.
I think that warning was mostly to prevent you from adding motor oil.

- Eric

 

It is possible... With the big varieties of different fluids out there and the even bigger assortment of low-IQ brains, there is NO telling what could have been put in there over the course of 40 years!
I once had a "tech" put ATF in my Ford's rear axle before!

 

I was in the garage today, spotted an old style steering pump, and thought of this thread.

Do you think this would work for him?

 

Hey J do you know what it came off of. The way GM made parts interchangeable it may fit. My 67 chevy malibu had a 68 cadilac pump

 

I don't know, but I can guess.

It had a JM pulley on it # 384678
mid 60's olds motor probably.

BUT you never know.... If you notice in the pic, the pulley was installed backwards by someone over the years. So they may not have been born at the same time.

I'll take it apart tomorrow, and get you some pics of the mounting holes.

Check this thread:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-vs-330-a.html