Mercruiser power steering ball stud

Drivewayboater2 · Dec 29, 2024

Replacing the seals on my power steering control valve. I noticed the ball stud is held stationary by the long steering tube. It is a bit scratched. I was able to clean it up an polish it with Emory paper and fine sandpaper. It moves when assembled but it’s a bit tight. Does this ball stud need to move super freely? Seems that it’s held in place and there isn’t a need for it to move like it would on an automotive steering rack application. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Lou C · Dec 29, 2024

If I’m thinking of the same thing the ball stud on these will move freely with the engine off and will feel more firmly in place with the engine running & the P/S pump pressurizing the system. The older ones had a grease fitting for the ball stud that just needs a few pumps of grease yearly not sure when that changed.

Drivewayboater2 · Dec 29, 2024

Thanks Lou…It does a grease zirk.

Lou C · Dec 29, 2024

Just give it a few pumps with your fingers on the rubber boot, when you feel it bulging a bit stop! You don’t want to over grease this; it can blow the internal seals inside the unit. BTW this control unit was made by Bendix & used on Corvettes (63-83) and many unibody Fords (Falcons, Mustangs, Fairlanes etc) so there are rebuild kits for the control valve but not for the hydraulic cylinder as far as I know….