Power Rack & Pinion Oscillating Violently, Help!

This may not be entirely HAMB friendly, but here is my problem. Have 34 Ford with MII front Suspension with power Rack & Pinion Steering. After having the rack & pinion rebuilt because it was leaking fluid and replacing the old cracked hoses the steering oscillates back and forth violently on its own when you start the car. I have been told that this is due to air being in the R&P. OK, I'll buy into that. What I want to know is how do you get it out? And if it's not air in the system what is causing the problem. Hoses are not reversed. R&P has been gone through twice to check and/or replace valves. It's driving me crazy, I just can't believe it's that tough. Can any one help me out here?

 

Are you absolutely sure the hoses are not reversed? That's the only time I have seen this problem... Always happens on the hardest to work on cars too...

 

Might be a valving problem, try tuning the steering wheel lock to lock holding it briefly at each extreme

 

Surely someone has run into this problem before. How did you cure it?

 

Fixed it by reversing the hoses on the rack.

 

Correct. You got them wrong. And, DON'T TOUCH THE WHEEL! You will break fingers, thumbs etc. Swap the hoses and move on. Simple fix for a simple mistake.

 

I had a friend his done the same thing when he hooked it up, reversed the hoess and it fixed it.

 

On my mustang 11 rack there is two different size fittings so you can't hook them backwards. I think you have a internal valve problem.

 

He said he replaced the hoses. If he had them made wrong, it's easy to swap.

Typical of reversed hoses. My father just made the same mistake.

 

Had the same problem on a 38 chev. Reverse the hoses.

 

i vote for the hoses. seen it done. good way to break your fingers that wheel oscillates fast.

 

Easy to check, the return line goes to the fitting closest to the u-joint

 

lines are backwards as said before. Any one that has messed with these knows, and those that have not. Should listen to those that have.

 

Ususally if the hoses are reversed the rack will take off to one way and lock. Oscillating, like quick movements back and forth usually mean the valve in the rack is bad or seals in the rack are not holding pressure. Thats usually the problem with the rebuild racks and why we ended up manufacturing our own units at Flaming River.

 

Reverse hoses. Sectors do the same thing when you reverse them.

 

hey 1gearhead any update on problem? hoses right?

 

is there air in the system? the 1998 ish explorers are famous for wild oscilation after service to the system and the air needs to get out of the system. maybe vacume the system or check the fluid for aeration.

 

You guys were right. Reversed Hoses!!!!!! The Hose Shop switched the ends when they manufactured new hoses for me. Reversed them back problem solved. Thanks

 

thanks.. just ran into this myself..

I put adapters to AN fittings on the rack, so they are the same..

the seller told me the smaller (9/16) port was the pressure port,
but that is the one closest to the U joint..

will swap them later today..

Sam

 

Look who the "experts" were this time. How many posts said reversed hoses ??

 

swapped mine last night and it works fine now.. thanks!

Sam