Power steering /

[Marko3002]

I dont like how easy it is to turn the wheel in my 72 with power steering. Is there an easy way to get some resistance in the wheel?

[PanelDeland]

Swap to a later model box and the relief valve in the pump.The relief valve is behind the big nut on the back of the pump.Where the line goes in.The later box is also a 3 1/2 trun LTL instead of the stock 4 1/2 turnss LTL.

[Marko3002]

So what do I do with the valve? Change it to what?

[PanelDeland]

One from the later model.It will lower the prssure increasing the feel.In fact you may be able to do that and get the feel you want but the fewer turns is nce also.

[Marko3002]

Ok, so where would I get the new valve? Is that something a parts place would have or would I have to get a whole new pump from a wrecking yard to take it out of? Thanks for the help!

[Marko3002]

FYI........talked to a place here in town that specializes in power steering. They say changing the spring wont do anything , there is a torsion bar in the steering box that needs to be changed out to a thicker one. He said there are a bunch of different ones but doing that will give the wheel more resistance and feel of the road not the valve spring.

[BugzC10]

Subscribed...want to hear more. I also would like more resistance.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Marko3002]

He said its a fairly easy fix. If I bring the steering box to him we would discuss how much resistance I want in the wheel and he would put the appropriate torsion bar in and rebuild the whole box for about $180.00. The pump has nothing to do with it. the valve is there just to bleed off pressure when the wheel goes full lock so it doesnt blow the hoses off.

[PanelDeland]

OK>I changed all of it at once when I converted to PS.I lookws at a lot of posts and determined I wanted the fewer turns lock to lock and the tighter feel of the later model box.I used the relief valve also to make the hose match up.

[Codez67Chevy]

So I have a question since this thread is already posted. Did any 67 chevy have power steering? Cuz I've only looked in LMC and they don't have power steering for the 67's, and mine doesn't so......?

[BugzC10]

Did some research...there's a kit that changes the shims in your GM power steering pump. Adding the new shims reduces the pressure to your power steering, therefore increasing the steering resistance. I bought the kit today. I'll post results once it is installed. Here's a link to the kit.

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produc...&cat=83&page=3
Posted via Mobile Device

[Tx Firefighter]

Have an alignment done with some extra caster and it will heavy up the steering. Cheap and easy with no downsides at all. Since I drive almost strictly highway, I always have the caster set way over spec. It makes the steering feel more heavy and makes driving at highway speed more comfortable.
Posted via Mobile Device

[JOJABOY]

bump

[JOJABOY]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

OK>I changed all of it at once when I converted to PS.I lookws at a lot of posts and determined I wanted the fewer turns lock to lock and the tighter feel of the later model box.I used the relief valve also to make the hose match up.

What years are you talking about when you say later model?

[PanelDeland]

73 up to 86 a year or 2 later in a Burb.The hose fittings changed in there somewhere(maybe 78?) to metric.It all bolts up with the caveat of the hoses depending.Any good Hydralic shop should be able to make you a set of hoses.The fewer turns LTL makes for more comfortable(to me) steering feedback.I used the factory later hoses that I scored from the donor but will be having them redone since they're a bit long.

[BugzC10]

I installed the pressure reducing shims...made a big difference. Didn't use all of the shims. Will have to drive it for awhile to see if it needs to be firmer.

Posted via Mobile Device

[MidLifer]

Thanks for this thread. If I may ask, how many of the shims did you use? I'd like to "tighten up" the steering feel and this seems like an easy and cheap way to go.

[BugzC10]

Originally Posted by MidLifer

Thanks for this thread. If I may ask, how many of the shims did you use? I'd like to "tighten up" the steering feel and this seems like an easy and cheap way to go.

The kit comes with 5 shims/washers. Each shim is .022 thick. Instructions said to remove any shims that were already installed then install the shims/pressure you wanted based on a chart in the instructions. My pressure valve had a 040" shim already installed(I left it in) which I considerd equal to 2 of the shims that came in the kit. So to answer your question I installed 5 equivalent shims. I have 2 left over just in case I want to tighten it up more.
Posted via Mobile Device