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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Stephenville, TX
Posts: 16
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Power Steering too strong
I'm a noob on this forum, but I've searched and haven't found an answer to this "problem". My '69 Chevy swb drives like a dream, but like a lot of '60s vehicles, has one finger power steering. It feels like I could rip a donut at 70mph if I sneezed on the steering wheel just right. Anybody know how to get a little more response through the steering wheel? CHEAP?
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Dundee, Oregon
Posts: 311
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Re: Power Steering too strong
These early GM power steering pumps always seem to be very high pressure=equalling the overboost feeling. You should be able to remove the pressure valve in the power steering pump and install one from a 70's or 80's power pump. I dont have any pics of the parts or process, but i have done this the opposite way in order to get more pressure in an off road vehicle.
The other thing that contributes to this feeling is your front end alignment. These early truck were aligned for Bias ply tires. They did not get very much Caster. When radial tires are installed you need to get it aligned to match the tires. Bias tires got about negative 1 to positive 1 degree caster. When you install the radial tires you need 3-4 degrees positive caster. Jason |
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#3 |
turbo enthusiast
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: carmichael, ca.
Posts: 1,826
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Re: Power Steering too strong
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__________________
"But daddy, I didn't hit them all with a stick"...what my 6 year old tells me when I pick him up from school early for fighting ![]() |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 421
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Re: Power Steering too strong
i hate the manual steering in my truck. as soon as i save up the $800 Im going to get the classic perform kit.
steering isn't horribly bad though...just irritating if i drive it alot.
__________________
1968 chevy shortbed, Dark Shadow Gray 4 bolt 383 Stroker,Weiand Super Charger, disc brakes, 9 inch, 391 gear, 20" Eagle wheels, muncie 4 speed/ Hurst shifter, 4/7 drop, Hedman midlengths, 3 inch exhaust w/ 2 chamber flows. 1966 Mustang with 306 roller, c-4, 9 inch Detroit locker rear. 1965 Fastback Mustang w/347 stroker, top loader 4spd, 9 inch detroit locker. 1966 Mustang coup, 306 roller, c4, 9 inch. 65 Cobra, 427, T6oo, 9inch, of course. First gen Hayabusa, airbox mod and running 2 exhaust cams.. Zoom Zoom Zoom Last edited by smoked68; 01-20-2007 at 11:21 PM. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NW, WA.
Posts: 1,421
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Re: Power Steering too strong
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 3,728
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Quote:
![]() I pulled the box off the '75 my motor came out of. I have seen boxes on Craig's List for $20 and I would think a yard would have one for about the same. With pump and brackets, maybe $70 total. |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Stephenville, TX
Posts: 16
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Thanks a lot 68shortfleet. i thought there might be something in the pump I could do, but I never thought about the alignment being different between bias and radial tires....I learn something new every day.
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Dundee, Oregon
Posts: 311
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Re: Power Steering too strong
http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/woody/ps-pump.html
Try this link. I have never posted a link before, hope it works. This should help a little, but remember that these guys are trying to get more pressure from there pumps, not less pressure. Jason |
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#9 | |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Quote:
s/t
__________________
1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Dundee, Oregon
Posts: 311
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Re: Power Steering too strong
http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref29.html
Try this link also. Scroll down about 2/3 of the way and it will discuss the power steering pumps. The info is aimed at the chevelle owners, but the pump designs are the same. HTH Jason |
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#11 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Power Steering too strong
pressure isn't the problem here, if you remove the high pressure line, then remove the fitting that the line goes into, you can replace that with one that has a stiffer spring... or a non broken spring, and this will reduce the ammount of assist.
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: daytona beach
Posts: 101
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Re: Power Steering too strong
a larger diameter pulley will help reduce the assist
__________________
67 c10 250 I6 3 on the tree no options air ride, paint and big block coming within the next 23 years 2001 mustang gt for going fast |
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#13 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Power Steering too strong
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#14 |
THE VILLIAGE IDIOT
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Tooele, Utah
Posts: 1,405
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Re: Power Steering too strong
welcome from utah...
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honestly honey,,i have no idea how that truck got here. ![]() |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Stephenville, TX
Posts: 16
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Thanks for all the advice everybody!
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#16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 894
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Re: Power Steering too strong
You could go with a smaller diameter steering wheel, that would increase your steeing input!
__________________
-Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals... |
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#17 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Power Steering too strong
again, no it wouldn't.
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Saskatoon, saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 8
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Hey, just giving my 2cents. I had the same problem on my 68' and switched both the pump and the gearbox over from a 82' chev. Found it to be a little tighter steering.:
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#19 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Andy,I knew you had a remedy.Can you point me in the right direction with that fitting/spring?Is there an application to look for?
__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Dundee, Oregon
Posts: 311
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Sport/truck--no i am not a Mud member, but i do look at it and read the writeups often. Lots of good tech there. Do you have a LC too? Mine is a 76 FJ40 350/350, soa, ps, 4whl disc, rear ez locker, tilt.
Jason |
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#21 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Tim, I've actually never had to mess with this. Mine have never steered with too much assist. A buddy of mine years ago had a 74 though, his was like described here, and he took the spring from a 72 c/10 and had perfect steering. His spring was broken in a few pieces.
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: East Sooke B.C. Canada
Posts: 543
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Re: Power Steering too strong
The easy feel in the steering is not because of the pump. The way power steering works, is there is a torsion spring in the box that conects the steering wheel to the spool valve in the box. The stiffness of this spring is what gives you road feel. The easiest way to do this is to cange the box. This buy the way is not my opinion, it is the way it works.
Last edited by pumpkin; 01-25-2007 at 09:23 PM. |
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#23 | |
Well, Whoop-dee-do!
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others
Posts: 2,302
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Quote:
__________________
'68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD ![]() '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD ![]() '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car ![]() |
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Stephenville, TX
Posts: 16
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Re: Power Steering too strong
So does that mean I need to change my steering box?
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#25 |
Well, Whoop-dee-do!
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others
Posts: 2,302
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Re: Power Steering too strong
Yes, that would be the right way to go about it. but you won't know what "tuning" a box has until you put it on & try it. If you were to order a rebuilt box, you still wouldn't know how it is set up. Somewhere I have a phone number for a rebuilder- and you get to talk with someone who may be able to build you a box the way you want it. I'll see if I can find the number this weekend. A rebuilt shouldn't run more than $200 exchange.
__________________
'68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD ![]() '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD ![]() '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car ![]() |
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