Power steering control valve

[Motionwork]

Should there be any seals on the control valve in the steering pump?
There are a couple of grooves halfway along the assembly that makes me think that there should be, but I cannot recall seeing any on it when I took it apart. I have checked the parts catalogue and there is no indication that there should be.
Cheers, Matthew

[Motionwork]

Photo of the control valve.

[lowact]

No. Do/did you have an issue with the steering? If not ...
Now that you have it apart, you could add the washer, per the Jaguar tech bulletin; this reduces the power assist to improve steering "feel". Here is mine with washer installed.

[Motionwork]

Hi Colin,

Thanks for the reply. I have been having problems with the power steering for a while.
Initially the bearing in the pump failed and I sent it off to be re-conditioned. When it came back the steering was good for a while and then it stopped working. I am guessing that there must have been some debris from the bearing that has blocked a pipe. Anyway I dismantled the pump and checked all the apertures and they seem fine. I removed the steering rack and fluid pipes and blew compressed air through the four external pipes and they are good. I took the pinion out of the rack and the ports seem clear, although I am now kicking myself that I didn't put the airline on them. I have cleaned the control valve and re-assembled everything, but still there is no power assist, or if there is, then it is barely noticeable.

It looks likely that I will take the steering rack out and blow the airline through all the fluid holes in the pinion.
You mention adding a washer into the control valve, which reduces the pressure in the power steering. On mine, Also,I have two slim washers and I am wondering if I remove one of them, whether it will make a difference.

Thanks,
Matthew

[MarekH]

That valve is a relief valve - it only sets/adjusts the cap on the fluid pressure.

kind regards
Marek

[Motionwork]

Thanks for the info Marek, if I remove one of the thin washers, would this increase the fluid pressure in the system?

Thanks,
Matthew

[MarekH]

A correctly working pump will always produce lots of pressure anyway.

Removing a shim will make the maximum possible pressure increase because the cap is set higher. If you don't have a high fluid pressure to start with, the valve and its shims etc aren't in play at all.

There should be plenty of information about Saginaw pumps on other forums.

kind regards
Marek

[lowact]

Also youtube video's of Saginaw pumps, i found very useful.
The Jag mod was to add a 50 thou washer (1.27 mm), i doubt removing a thinner washer would make noticeable difference even if u did have pressure.
Might not be a pinion problem or pump problem, could be the rack piston seal is leaking ...