I recently brought my '72 GS out of retirement after sitting in my garage for the last 10 years during which I would take it around the block a few times a year. I am handing it over to my 18 year old son but not until a mechanic has declared it roadworthy. It is currently at a Paint & Body shop getting a makeover and then I will take it to a suspension mechanic who will inspect and repair any suspect parts. I anticipate very little problems since I did perform a major suspension overhaul in 1991 and the car has been driven only a couple of thousand miles since then. However, one problem that I had and never did get checked out was that I always thought that the power steering was too easy or light. I drive a 2001 Ram and the steering has moderately stiff resistance which is the way I think all steering should be. I once had a 1997 Silverado that all of a sudden one day the steering became way too easy and I thought dangerous. The truck was still under warranty and in fact General Motors had a Technical Service Bulletin on the easy steering problem that was known to develop on 1997 Silverados. I wonder if something similar has happened to my GS? Does anyone have any ideas of what has happened? The steering is fine as far as the car going down the road straight and it does not wander and I really would like to stiffen up the steering. Thanks, David
If you have stock power steering thats the way they feel compared to todays vehicles. The best way to change this is to go to a fast ratio box. I think the best one to use is out of a 90's Jeep Grand Cherekee. Lots of threads on what is needed to do this. It is not hard to do and really makes a difference in feel and function.
Steering box If the mechanic doesn't find any issues and you do not recall the steering as tighter when finished the suspension work in 91, it likely is what was stated in the previous post. The factory variable rate 16:1 (or 15:1 - or I'm wrong completely) steering box is "light". If going the replace the steering box is for you: there is a company that will take your existing steering box and retrofit it with the constant rate 12:1 ratio "guts". This will prevent the need for any additional parts (save the pressure regulator out of the steering pump). I'm going this route shortly except I may be providing some of the guts. (I have another source for the 12:1 steering box except the internal stops are not compatible with the A-body) This may or may not save me money :laugh: . There are several posts on this subject. I'd link them, but I'm having search issues. The name of the company is power steering services, inc and can be found on the web. I was given great detail on how to ID the ratios in the steering boxes I have (more precisely how to rule out if I have the variable rate or the constant rate boxes...).
what are you currently driving ? ibe always love the one finger steering in my wife buick and my pontiac especally after getting out of mt 79 ford PU those cars always had very easy steering you might not be used to it SR66 :TU:
Yes steering back then was light. Another consideration is that the amount of caster in the front end makes a noticeable difference in the steering feel. Cars built to run on bias ply tires were set up with little to none to negative caster. If you're running radials you can put in all the caster you can get. The car will feel more like a modern car and it'll be easier to keep in the lane. You should have the front end aligned and tell them go for max caster(3-4 degrees) and zero camber. The tires themselves have a lot to do with the feel. They also have steering boxes with different valving for more or less power assist. The ratio just makes it turn faster or slower.
As said above, it's the way these cars were built. Personally I love it. Since you stated you have no problem keeping the car in the lane, I'd say there is nothing wrong, except for the loose nut behind the wheel. I'm not sure about the 70G.S. but I know that the 71 Riviera had a steering ratio that was pretty close to the 71 Vette. easy to turn the wheel and the response is right there.
My 'Lark has always steered easy - especially compared to newer front wheel drive cars. I've considered changing to a different box, but only because I like the feedback.
With a car that old, you might just need a rebuild on the current steering box, or as suggested by others, a close ratio rebuild of your stock steering box. I recently removed the box out of my 69 convertible and when i took it to a rebuilder, he indicated that it was "wiped out"....it felt the same way, way too easy to turn. I replaced it with a three turn stop to stop box. Although i haven't driven the car yet, turning the old box with a pait of vise drips while it was fastened in a vise felt a whole lot tighter with the new box. The old box turned real easy and seemed sloppy.
I sure appreciate everyone's input on my steering question. I feel a lot better now that I know this is normal. I guess if I drove the GS exclusively it would only take a day or so to get used to the light steering but what is happening is I had been going back and forth between my Dodge truck and the GS and it just seemed to me that the power steering on the GS was on steroids. But because of everything I have read here and because the car is almost 34 years old, I will be installing a new steering gearbox. They really are not that expensive and I can study up on gear ratios and see if a change is in order.
Definitely normal. Flaming River rebuilds boxes in fast ratio as someone here mentioned, or the Jeep Grand Cherokee box's bolt on with some minor fitting changes.
I don't know about changing the boxes. However, I was a front-end tech for a few years and know that your steering box should have an adjustment screw on the top...loosen lock nut and turn screw in a 1/4 turn then tighten lock nut....that should remove any play/slop....alignment should be +3 1/2 caster,0 camber right side...+3 caster, +1/4 camber left side....toe in 3/32. This set-up compensates for the crown of the road (higher in middle/ slopes to curbs for water run-off) and will provide least amount of tire wear (front tires) :3gears:
AS Sailbrd said earlier the early-mid 90's. Let see if I can dig something up in the search and I'll get back to you. Edit: Here's a thread on it http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=55808&highlight=Grand+Cherokee+Steering+Box
My pully broke, so I've driven it that way for a while (well, when it was running). It actually isn't that bad when you're moving.
I'd like to thank everyone who responded and especially skyphix who linked me to that very informative thread on the Grand Cherokee steering box conversion. I have read through the entire thing several times and it does feel good to know there are quite a few others who feel uneasy about the stock steering. One more question and I'll go away (maybe). Like I said, I read the conversion thread several times and I find no mention about whether the Grand Cherokee gear box can be from either a 2 wheel or a 4 wheel vehicle. The reason I ask is because I called 6 auto parts recyclers yesterday and they all do have 90's gear boxes (low of $100 to high of $385) but they are all from 4x4 vehicles. One junkyard dealer said the 2 are different. Would either one work? Thanks, David
