I have a 68 dart with assisted power steering. A couple of times recently I started it and the steering wheel (and the front wheels as well) turned violently to the right by itself. It seems to stick or lock there. Luckily t he car was not moving yet. Anyone out there with an idea why (before I tear it apart trying to figure it out myself!!!)?

thanks!

Sounds like you need to adjust the valve body on the top of the steering box. There is a procedure in the service manual for this, but all it involves is loosening the two bolts that hold the valve body on (this is where the high pressure hose connects to the steering box) and lightly tapping it until the wheel doesn't twitch or move when the engine is started or shut off.

Sorry, I don't remember which way you move it to make it turn to the left or right.

I saw the nearly same thing ~20 years ago in my '71 Plymouth. I was told by an expert that an O-ring was leaking in the top of the power steering box - I swapped the top assembly for a junkyard one (only 2 bolts), adjusted it per the FSM, and haven't had a problem since.

My PS was leaking around the valve body. First fix was to change fluid, and dump in some seal conditioner.

Second fix; I installed new “Oâ€￾ rings from Rock Auto, but did not change the fluid thinking it was fresh from the last change the week before . That wheel went berserk when I started the car, where is Stephen King when you need him.... Service manual has a centering procedure outlined to dial in the position of the valve body which I performed successfully, as the phantom wheel twirling at start up all but stopped. However, that car was a hand full wanting to dart left or right at the slightest movement of the steering wheel going down the road until the car was well warmed up.

Apparently the stop leak seal conditioner was too viscous when cold causing the weird handling. I disconnected the pump, and dumped as much of the fluid out possible and refilled with just PS fluid. The steering now works smoothly and predictably as well as Chrysler PS can.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC