Anyone out there have ram assist steering on your running truck?

[chewychevy67]

I am restoring my 67 that has power assist Steering. I did restore the assist Steering but I never had the chance to drive it before my restoration. So if you have it is it OK to drive with it in moderate small city traffic? Pros and cons of it?

[chewychevy67]

Can a mod move this to the messages area. I apologize I thought I was in that area when i posted. Thanks.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

Can a mod move this to the messages area. I apologize I thought I was in that area when i posted. Thanks.

Done.

I had the ram assist on my all original '68 CST and it worked really well. I drove it quite a bit. No problems - no leaks.
.

[MARKDTN]

I have ram assist on a C3 Corvette. No problems, it steers fine. It's just a clunky system compared to the power box. Corvettes used ram assist steering through 1982. Drive it, it will be fine.

[chevmn]

Many years ago I had a 67 with factory power steering. I wish I could say favorable things about it, and maybe it was just worn out, but it never worked nearly as well as the later boxes, and while I owned it I always threated to convert from a salvage truck, but never did. I know I replaced the control valve which helped, but still was not what it should have been, especially if the truck was sitting still. Rebuild of the ram might have helped, but in those days I was young, and money was tight, so, I ran it until the truck was traded. I know I have never really had any issue with the later boxes, and I cannot say the same for the ram assist. I am getting ready to go over a 73 Corvette so I will see how that goes, but it shows signs of lots of leaks right off, so I suspect a total rebuld is coming.

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by chevmn

Many years ago I had a 67 with factory power steering. I wish I could say favorable things about it, and maybe it was just worn out, but it never worked nearly as well as the later boxes, and while I owned it I always threated to convert from a salvage truck, but never did. I know I replaced the control valve which helped, but still was not what it should have been, especially if the truck was sitting still. Rebuild of the ram might have helped, but in those days I was young, and money was tight, so, I ran it until the truck was traded. I know I have never really had any issue with the later boxes, and I cannot say the same for the ram assist. I am getting ready to go over a 73 Corvette so I will see how that goes, but it shows signs of lots of leaks right off, so I suspect a total rebuld is coming.

There are better options for C2/C3 Corvettes if you have to build any of it. If I had mine to do over It would have gotten a Borgenson steering box.

I was just saying that the ram style does work, it's OK for city driving, so don't be scared of it.

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

I am restoring my 67 that has power assist Steering. I did restore the assist Steering but I never had the chance to drive it before my restoration. So if you have it is it OK to drive with it in moderate small city traffic? Pros and cons of it?

If it is working correctly you will be just fine with it.

[chewychevy67]

OK thanks for the feedback. One thing I did on my steering box is ,only because it has assisted steering, I changed the ratio from 24:1 to 16:1 when I had the box rebuilt. I guess we'll see how that works. Does the ram steering still work good from a standstill or is it still tough to move the tires at a stop like manual is.

[too much stuff]

It should feel about the same as regular power steering. At least mine in my 67 gmc does.

[Bob B.]

My ram-type steering works fine, even at a standstill with 850 lbs. of GMC V-6 on the front wheels. The steering is a little slow because the steering box is the same one used with manual steering. I rebuilt the front end with all new parts and used a new control valve so there isn't any excessive play or wandering.

[chewychevy67]

OK that's good to hear this feedback. I was concerned I made a big mistake. My truck had it originally and i opted to restore the system so when my build is complete I'll get to see how it works myself.