How do I shorten turning radius on 69 C10

[Arl37]

Recently installed power steering and when I make the max turn I get a noise that I think is the PS steering unit telling me it wont go any further. How do I get more turn or tighter radius for a turn with hitting the PS limit?
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[SS Tim]

Conversion.... where did the parts come from???

[cdowns]

smaller tires give tighter turning radius

[skorpioskorpio]

Turn the wheel all the way and give it lots of gas

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by skorpioskorpio

Turn the wheel all the way and give it lots of gas

With a posi it's even more fun!

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by Arl37

Recently installed power steering and when I make the max turn I get a noise that I think is the PS steering unit telling me it wont go any further. How do I get more turn or tighter radius for a turn with hitting the PS limit?
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There are a few things involved. Length of pitman arm, steering arms and gear box. First, raise both front wheels and have someone slowly turn steering wheel to its maximum positon while you view underneath. If your wheels can go farther then a different gearbox may help. Problem is knowing which unit has a better turning radius.

[Arl37]

I got the gear box from POL. Parts On Line in LA
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[Arl37]

I have been thinking of replacing my 3:08 rear end with of a 3:72 POSI. Why do you say it is even more fun with a POSI?
Pitman is stock Pitman.
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[SS Tim]

My concern is your replacement steering box may have internal stops for a different application. Is the radius about the same as before or larger after the swap?

[LostMy65]

I had a similar issue when I upgraded to power steering on my 66.
I have since sold it.
But one thing I noticed was the pitman arm was a little shorter on the power box than the one on the manual box.

[Tinkermc]

Use a steering box from a 73 or newer it will turn lock to lock in 3.5 turns where as what you have is 4.5 turns.

[davepl]

A box from a different application will have different internal stops.

A couple people above talked about the number of turns lock to lock. That's really not relevant, as it just describes the internal gear ratio and mechanical ratio of the pitman arm and so on. A different number of turns at the steering wheel has nothing to do with how far the front wheels turn.

[68c10airstream]

When the system is designed correctly as the factory did it the steering stops are designed into the control arms, not in the steering box. You never want to bottom out the gearbox before you hit the steering stops, that would be hard on the box internally. I have serviced many gearboxes on gm trucks and noted more travel out of the box on the bench than when it was installed in the truck, that is normal and proper.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by 68c10airstream

When the system is designed correctly as the factory did it the steering stops are designed into the control arms, not in the steering box. You never want to bottom out the gearbox before you hit the steering stops, that would be hard on the box internally. I have serviced many gearboxes on gm trucks and noted more travel out of the box on the bench than when it was installed in the truck, that is normal and proper.

I did not know that. I was always told that it was important that the steering not bind or hit before full travel.

Can you explain the pressure relief valve and how it works? I assume it was related to the internal stops, and not external contact. Otherwise wouldn't you be able to put your wheel against a curb and invoke the pressure relief? I'm not going to try that because I have nice wheels though.

Is it as simple as when the box encounters an obstruction it jacks the pressure, overrides a spring, and lets the fluid bypass? I had assume that could only happen at the box's internal stops.

I have never had a box apart, and only have an approximate understanding of ball bearings and sector gears and whatnot, so go easy on me!