Steering STILL sloppy after brand new box!!!!

Cornpatch MO · Apr 24, 2017

Kern Dog said:
Which pump did you install? If it was the Saginaw unit, you can modify it to REDUCE the amount of pressure the pump puts out. Mopar Action magazine did an article "Pump it down" years back. They added thin washers to the pump and it reduced the 1300 psi down to around 800. The effect was that the over-boosted feeling was gone and the steering had a heavier feel to it. If you add too many washers, the steering gets notchy and hard to steer as if the belt is slipping. Do a google search on Saginaw P/S pump shim trick.

This is probably your best , for the cost, help you can do. I have seen those articles about adding shims to reduce pressure..don't remember where tho.
I improved mine on my 64 Dodge, by accident. I put a later model pump on which must have operated under a lower pressure. It made my steering much better. The pressure line was easy to make, but the low pressure return line took a little doing. ....................................MO

mopar73dge · Apr 28, 2017

Hey fellas, I have been busy with the kids and vaca, so I just got back into the forum a lot today. The last advice you got was really good and he has a lot of experience. Some of my experience I can share with you, About 5 years ago I went with Firm Feel and sent them my 73 Charger steering gear for about 280.00 with shipping it seemed expensive but there is no one I know of that can rebuild it properly and give you options. The original box was not terrible but it had about 155000 miles on it. They would have painted too but I wanted to leave it a natural cast color and just keep oil coated with WD40. any way some alignment shops or most cannot do a proper alignment on our old cars, they just do not have experience. My guy took and hour and a half and still could not get it, it was never the same since about 1985 when the car still had all the original parts. Fast forward, new ball joints tie rods pitman arm, were replaced, except control arm bushings I assume they would check this. One day I am under the car shortly after one alignment, the idle arm has enough play to through the thing off and cause some steering wandering, that I have always had. They missed that and I did not want to have them do the work, So I replaced that on my own 90.00 its grease fittings on both ends too. Also the upper control bushings were shot they should have caught that. I brought the car to a shop for the bushings, all set aligned and it was huge improvement. I did bring right back because the steering wheel was not centered! After that all is well,the car drives and steers as designed. like it did in 1980 when I purchased it used with 76000 on the odo. They are a AAA approved shop.

Mr. Belvedere II · Apr 29, 2017

mopar73dge said:
Hey fellas, I have been busy with the kids and vaca, so I just got back into the forum a lot today. The last advice you got was really good and he has a lot of experience. Some of my experience I can share with you, About 5 years ago I went with Firm Feel and sent them my 73 Charger steering gear for about 280.00 with shipping it seemed expensive but there is no one I know of that can rebuild it properly and give you options. The original box was not terrible but it had about 155000 miles on it. They would have painted too but I wanted to leave it a natural cast color and just keep oil coated with WD40. any way some alignment shops or most cannot do a proper alignment on our old cars, they just do not have experience. My guy took and hour and a half and still could not get it, it was never the same since about 1985 when the car still had all the original parts. Fast forward, new ball joints tie rods pitman arm, were replaced, except control arm bushings I assume they would check this. One day I am under the car shortly after one alignment, the idle arm has enough play to through the thing off and cause some steering wandering, that I have always had. They missed that and I did not want to have them do the work, So I replaced that on my own 90.00 its grease fittings on both ends too. Also the upper control bushings were shot they should have caught that. I brought the car to a shop for the bushings, all set aligned and it was huge improvement. I did bring right back because the steering wheel was not centered! After that all is well,the car drives and steers as designed. like it did in 1980 when I purchased it used with 76000 on the odo. They are a AAA approved shop.

Thanks for taking the time with your response! I've had the worst time trying to get this car aligned. And the wheel out of center just irritates the bejeezus out of me! I've replaced the power steering pump and it promtly blew the old hose apart from the crimp

. I'm just having a grand ol' time with this "Not-Rod"! It just makes me crazy! Sometimes I swear if this car wasn't already outside, I'd throw it out the window! Ah well...

BeatersRus · May 1, 2017

erm....may i interject?

when you fire the car up,
did it try to turn the wheel by itself one way??
before it blew the hose apart?
if so,id check the assembly valve on top of the box.
they adjusted it wrong,or its off center,whatev.

you need to just barely < loosen those 2 bolts and Tap that box with a piece of solid wood.
start the car,if wheel moves at all shut it right off.
you want to keep testing it till its in neutral position obviously and then snug the bolts down.
check again for full steering and no whining or binding.
let us know what happens?

and btw,make those clowns adjust your tierod sleeves so your wheel is straight.

Steering STILL sloppy after brand new box!!!!

Cornpatch MO

Well-Known Member

mopar73dge

Well-Known Member

Mr. Belvedere II

Well-Known Member

BeatersRus

Well-Known Member

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