[TedRamAirII]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

OK, it sounds like you have the bases covered I had mentioned. I thought of 1 more thing you could check. Take the flow control valve nut out and look at the black O-ring that goes on the big nut. If I remember correctly, there are two possible grooves that o-ring could go in. One groove stays open and one gets the ring. Make sure the O-ring is in the right place. I assume you have some sort of drawing that came with the kit. If that's OK, the only other thing I could suggest is make sure the reservoir is up to the full line and with the car jacked-up engine NOT running slowly turn the wheel lock to lock at least 20 times. That is the best way to purge air from the system. Then start the engine wheels on the ground and turn the wheel only 1/2 turn from center each way about 20 times. If it doesn't finally power assist, I guess you will have to take it back apart. Just can't think of anything else in the pump or air in the system that would cause this. What makes the steering gear power assist is the blocking of the fluid in one side of the gear by the spool valve and torsion bar in the steering gear. It is held by a small solid pin at one end where the steering shaft attaches. It's very rare, but I have seen that pin break and the tiny torsion bar break. If the steering was very darty and over power assisted before you rebuilt the pump, I guess it's possible that pin or torsion bar snapped while you were forcing it back and forth without power assist after your pump rebuild. I am still banking on air in the system or that o-ring in the wrong place. Since you didn't touch the steering gear, it's unlikely that's the cause. I would certainly get a pressure gauge on it before I went into the gear. Pump output, straight ahead should be 75-125 PSI.

I dint think of that , but that groove is easily confused with the O-Ring groove.