Tighten up Power Steering?

[custom10nut]

A quick question on my power steering.
My truck came to me with Manual, and I did the PS conversion with a factory unit many years ago.
Once I did it I was amazed how easily it is to turn now.
I can literally “turn with one finger”.
Am I crazy to say that I’d like to have it a little firmer?
Will tightening the gear box some help?
I’m open to all comments, advice, and suggestions.

[Palf70Step]

On several old trucks I felt the same way. One depends on what power steering unit you used. The worse for feel was when I used one from a early 80's squarebody truck. They have a much quicker ratio. One thing I did on all of them that helped was go to a smaller steering wheel. Instead of the big 17/18 inch wheel I went to one that was 15 inch or smaller. It helped a lot on the feel, plus it gave me more leg room.

[Grumpy old man]

Here is the best deal on the "comfort grip " 15" steering wheel kit I've found .


https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=825248




https://www.ebay.com/itm/15162940098..._redirect=true

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

A quick question on my power steering.
My truck came to me with Manual, and I did the PS conversion with a factory unit many years ago.
Once I did it I was amazed how easily it is to turn now.
I can literally “turn with one finger”.
Am I crazy to say that I’d like to have it a little firmer?
Will tightening the gear box some help?
I’m open to all comments, advice, and suggestions.

You can reduce the amount of pressure some power steering pumps put out. There's a valve where the pressure line attaches to the pump. When you disassemble it, there's a series of washers that you can add or subtract to subsequently add or remove the pressured assist. I did it, and it helped a little.

[purple gas]

I kind of think that's the way they did power steering back then. I remember late 60's early 70's cars the power steering was all pretty easy to turn. You could parallel park anything with your pinky.
Towards the end, my dad always complained the power steering in his newer trucks was so much harder to turn than the old days.
Of course he complained about everything at Disneyland too when we were there, it was his nature.

[toms68cst]

I have a crazy theory. I wonder if manufacturers re-engineered power steering systems back in the 80's and 90's in some attempt to give cars more of a "feel" for the road and tire surfaces. I think to do this, they increased the effort it takes to turn the wheel on power steering vehicles a bit. It also could be that imports of the time had more heavy power steering and the American manufactures adopted the way their power steering felt.

At the time, non-power steering cars were usually touted has having a better feel for the road and better handling. Power steering systems were seen as feeling much more clumsy and vague. I wonder if they increased steering effort to give people the impression that the car would handle better.

I can recall driving 1970's land-yachts, they all had very low-effort power steering.

[dmjlambert]

You asked for advice, so my advice is enjoy it and drive it more often. It's things like many turns of the steering wheel and finger-light steering, hearing the gas sloshing around in the tank behind the seat, the vent windows, crank windows, hi-lo-beam stomp switch, round sealed beam headlights, bench seat, big steering wheel with skinny grip and small spokes, manual brake feel, and the ride feel, that I find most enjoyable about having this old vehicle. I remember my first car, a 1965 Ford Custom with manual brakes and power steering, it was just great! The power steering on that was even easier to turn than this 1969 truck.

[custom10nut]

Thanks for all the input.
I have a unit I took off another 70, have the Grant version of the “Comfort Grip” 15 inch wheel, and I do like the ease of turning over the Manual box.
I was was just wondering if mine was “Too easy”
Now, I see it’s just the was it is

[ga-stepside]

If you are running a Saginaw pump output pressure can be adjusted by adding shims under the pressure regulator valve. This will make the steering much less sensitive and give more road feedback. Stock pressure with no shims is 1250 psi, I added 5 shims to drop it to 750 psi. The kit I bought is a Borgeson 899001 - Steering Pump Pressure Valve Shim Kit for GM Pumps. They are listed on Summit.

[leftybass209]

Originally Posted by ga-stepside

If you are running a Saginaw pump output pressure can be adjusted by adding shims under the pressure regulator valve. This will make the steering much less sensitive and give more road feedback. Stock pressure with no shims is 1250 psi, I added 5 shims to drop it to 750 psi. The kit I bought is a Borgeson 899001 - Steering Pump Pressure Valve Shim Kit for GM Pumps. They are listed on Summit.

I mentioned the same thing... it's a fairly easy way to reduce the pressure and get more feel back in the steering. I'm more surprised that borgeson kit isn't more widely known. I've run across a lot of threads where someone thinks they're out-of-luck and nobody has chimed in with this option.

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

I mentioned the same thing... it's a fairly easy way to reduce the pressure and get more feel back in the steering. I'm more surprised that borgeson kit isn't more widely known. I've run across a lot of threads where someone thinks they're out-of-luck and nobody has chimed in with this option.

I've also heard people say to just cut the spring, but that just seemed risky to me. LOL.

[custom10nut]

So I’m gonna look into the Saginaw Steering Box thing.
I if this is what the factory put on them in 1970, ods are that’s what I have.
Are there any special shims or techniques to doing this adjustment?

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

So I’m gonna look into the Saginaw Steering Box thing.
I if this is what the factory put on them in 1970, ods are that’s what I have.
Are there any special shims or techniques to doing this adjustment?

https://www.borgeson.com/instructions/899001.pdf

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by ga-stepside

If you are running a Saginaw pump output pressure can be adjusted by adding shims under the pressure regulator valve. This will make the steering much less sensitive and give more road feedback. Stock pressure with no shims is 1250 psi, I added 5 shims to drop it to 750 psi. The kit I bought is a Borgeson 899001 - Steering Pump Pressure Valve Shim Kit for GM Pumps. They are listed on Summit.

Okay, now I read through the whole thread. Thanks for the information, and I’m gonna get ahold of Summit, OR the next time I’m in town I’ll stop by NAPA, to see if they might have the kit.

[toolboxchev]

Much of the "Slosh" felt in the wheel can be attributed to the GearBox. Take a look at Redhead products.

When they build you one it is a thorough rebuild instead of reusing the old bearings and raceway.

Tightening the bolt and nut on top of the gearbox just yields more resistance in the unit without actually tightening up slop. I love the other mods folks have posted about reducing pressure in the pump. Those are easily completely rebuild-able.

[Oldironside]

Had the same issue a couple of years ago.
Fixed it by installing a power steering pump flow control valve. It think it was this one:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/clp-cpfcv-k

Here is a good customer review that matches exactly my experience:
"
I installed a borgeson quick ratio steering box and still had a stock steering feel which is non existent. I then installed the borgeson shim kit that goes in the power steering pump and it only helped a little. After more research I discovered this valve which reduces flow to 2gpm from 3gpm which is what you need. The shim kit reduces pressure which is not the right way to increase steering feel. It completely transformed the steering in my car. The feel is very close to that of a new car now and with the new steering box and ride tech suspension I have, it drives amazing."


I also had installed a one arm steering dampener which I later on u ninstalled again because after installing the above mentioned valve it was no longer necessary.

The valve comes cheap and did the trick for me

[72SB]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

A quick question on my power steering.
My truck came to me with Manual, and I did the PS conversion with a factory unit many years ago.
Once I did it I was amazed how easily it is to turn now.
I can literally “turn with one finger”.
Am I crazy to say that I’d like to have it a little firmer?
Will tightening the gear box some help?
I’m open to all comments, advice, and suggestions.

Unless you have slop (read can turn wheel some without moving tires) do not tighten the steering box screw. If there is some slop typically 1/8 turn is all you need. Also if slop....confirm its not a worn rag joint

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by 72SB

Unless you have slop (read can turn wheel some without moving tires) do not tighten the steering box screw. If there is some slop typically 1/8 turn is all you need. Also if slop....confirm its not a worn rag joint

Nope, no slop in the wheel, and the Rag Joint is a replacement.
It’s just, to me, the steering just seems “too easy”.
I’m ordering the shim kit and gonna put it in, so I’ll update with the results

[v30crewcab]

theres actually a torsion bar built into the input of the power steering gearbox. the 88-91 trucks had a bigger torsion bar, which made the steering a little tougher to turn, and not as twitchy. if you get a redneck box, I think they will custom build it with a different torsion in it.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/cc...g-box-upgrade/
https://www.rockcrawler.com/tours/psc/index.asp