1970 Superbee, previous owner had the steering box changed right before I bought the car, and the steering is extremely loose. With the car running, parked you can turn the wheel with one finger with zero effort, and if you use some effort it will spin all the way, the wheel responds immedietly but it is very loose, just wondering if I can tighten this thing up at all?
Power Steering Loose 70 Superbee
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scotts74birds
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My 74 RR is like that. I dont call it loose, I call it "overpowered". No resistance, no steering feed-back. Last hot rod was a 86 Z-28, so I guess I'm spoiled. I've wondered if under-driving the PS pump would give me the feel that I want? Or restricting fluid flow? I just want more resistance on mine.
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Firm feel has a steering box that isn't so touchy plus it's a better ratio but it's pricey. I think the cop cars had a similar box in them
q-ship
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No power steering box ever produced by/for Mopar was a quick ratio (or slow ratio). They are all the same as far a ratio goes.
The pitman arms were produced in two ratios, one for the C body, which was longer than the others due to the need to help speed up the turning radius of the long wheelbase, and the more common B and A body arm for all the others.
AAR, and T/A E-bodies, used the longer Pitman arm on the power steering equipped cars in order to quicken the steering (although they didn't bother to incorporate the longer C body idler arm).
The AAR/TA cars with manual steering were equipped with a faster ratio steering box, but there is no such thing as a fast ratio power steering box.
Cop cars were equipped with what was called "firm feel" power steering (not to be confused with, and not related to, the Firm Feel company that we all are aware of today).
The factory "firm feel" power steering boxes consisted of selected, low tolerance castings, built to minimum clearances, that had a stiffer reaction/actuary spring (whichever you want to call it) installed in order to increase the tightness and resistance of the steering.
In reality, they did not affect actual steering in any way whatsoever (other than the tighter tolerances), except for increasing steering effort.
The generic stock power steering boxes reacted exactly the same except for reduced steering wheel resistance.
Personally I love the effortless "one finger steering" of the standard P/S boxes, but if your not used to it, it's easy to over-steer a car in a performance situation, which is why the cop cars got the "firm feel" box.
Both Firm Feel (the company), and Steer and Gear offer rebuilt boxes with a stiffer reaction spring (maybe others also). I don't know if they sell just the spring, but slightly shimming the stock spring produces the same results, but trial and error is required to find the resistance you are looking for.
As I said, give me the stock (effortless) steering any-day, but no mater which steering resistance someone prefers, a freshly precision rebuilt box is always better than an original worn or high tolerance box.
I just wanted to lay this internet myth to rest.
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It's the way it is. always was. Driving late model cars only exacerbates the feeling of looseness.
Satellite65
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If you take it to an alignment shop that knows what they're doing, they might be able to throw a couple of more degrees of caster into it. That would definitely help improve the feel. The chassis tolerances on these old cars are all over the page so even the best shop might not be able to get any more than 0 or +1 degree. To get any more you're looking at problem solver upper control arm bushings or aftermarket upper control arms.
Redhorse719
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Satellite65
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Good article, thanks. I have a Firm Feel Stage II. When I get the car on the road I'll see how tight it feels. I might just do that, I do run a Saginaw box.
tskw914, what you're describing is perfectly normal for these old Mopars and probably one of the few things I don't like about them but there are things you can do.
1- Send the box out to Firm Feel or Steer and Gear for stiffer reaction springs (I wish I knew how to do this myself)
2- More caster, either by alignment alone, offset (problem solver) UCA bushings or new UCA's altogether
3- The P.S. pump mods described in the above article
4- Smaller steering wheel
5- Longer pitman arm (if your headers will allow it - not a problem with factory manifolds)
6- Stiffening or upgrading of any chassis/steering components
tskw914, what you're describing is perfectly normal for these old Mopars and probably one of the few things I don't like about them but there are things you can do.
1- Send the box out to Firm Feel or Steer and Gear for stiffer reaction springs (I wish I knew how to do this myself)
2- More caster, either by alignment alone, offset (problem solver) UCA bushings or new UCA's altogether
3- The P.S. pump mods described in the above article
4- Smaller steering wheel
5- Longer pitman arm (if your headers will allow it - not a problem with factory manifolds)
6- Stiffening or upgrading of any chassis/steering components
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