okay so now that the car I was having all the crazy electrical problems is fine as far as the flow of electrons is concerned, I noticed something else on the test cruise on the freeway (not to mention surface streets). I have no power steering.

well I didnt have any before, but it was because the pump was leaking AND I had a hose with a hole in it. Well we replaced the pump and the hoses and refilled the pump with PS fluid. BUt when I was driving it still felt like the pump was dry, like I had manual steering with 16:1 ratio. I also heard a slight squealing noise coming from behind the firewall, sounded like the area that the steering column would occupy in the engine, I suspect this also because of the symptom of hard steering.

What gives? did I ruin my steering box when I drove the limited time I did without fluid in the pump? Is it just full of gunk that I need to clean? Are seals bad in the box? gears? inlets? outlets?

Car is a 73 swigner.

Caesar

Could be a stuck-open pressure relief valve in the pump, could be a clogged outlet nozzle on the box, could be an air lock in the system. Try cranking the wheel vigourously back and forth from full left lock to full right lock several times with the engine running at a fast idle (foot on the accelerator). Keep the reservoir lid loose while doing this, and periodically get out to check the fluid level.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

so should I just jack up the front end?
how to remove air lock?
how to clean out hoses (although this seems obvious).

Caesar

do as Dan suggested-- also turn the wheel to the right as far as it will go-- hold it there for a period of time(1 minute??) -- then turn to the opposite side-- make sure your resivoir has fluid in it--- the pump should make some noise until the air has been removed-- you should feel immediate results from your power steering---

It is possible, you damaged the pump by running it dry.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Yikes, not a good idea to hold the wheel against the stop for extended periods of time like this; it can and often will overheat and burn out the pump. A couple of seconds at a time, at each stop (not just the right one), repeated perhaps ten times, is the way to bleed air out of the system.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Sorry, just reread the post, and saw it is a new pump. AS was said bleed the air by turning the wheel "lock to lock" , but do not hold it against the stops. Running the old pump dry, will not normally hurt the steering box. Only if the pump loaded the system with trash, and most of the time this will be flushed out. (pack and pinion systems are less tolerant of burned out pumps).

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

steering is good. purged air and fluid was low. now it steers like a dream.

Caesar