How important is power steering?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 1,181
From: La Mesa CA
How important is power steering?
Looking at a 73 project car that does not have power steering. The problem is the car does not run so I can't drive it. How big a difference does not having power steering make?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
I've run manual steering on my '69 for over 30 years. For most of them, I ran the Power Steering ration (2.7 turns lock to lock). I switched back to the standard manual ratio (3.2 turns lock to lock) with standard castor specs. I currently run 245ZR45-17's but have run 255ZR40-17's, 215VR70-15's,and 225R70-15's so I have fairly wide and very sticky tires that make the manual steering harder. I also ran the PS spec for caster making the steering harder but adding straight line stability until this latest adjustment. At anything except parking speeds manual steering is great.
I am 50 now and may put PS on my car this winter. If the PS is right it really isn't too bad from a feel standpoint if the pump is set at the right pressure (higher than typical GM PS) and the valve centering springs are right, my fear is that MANY (stock) setups have a lot of lost motion in the steering that makes the steering feel less direct.
My '69 was my flagship car from Feb 12,1976 until Jun 6, 2005 and I wanted all of the power going to the drive wheels. Now, with my (then) new Viper SRT-10 convertible as my reining flagship car and solidly the most seriously fast car, the few added pounds of PS do not concern me and will make my '69 more pleasurable to drive.
I am 50 now and may put PS on my car this winter. If the PS is right it really isn't too bad from a feel standpoint if the pump is set at the right pressure (higher than typical GM PS) and the valve centering springs are right, my fear is that MANY (stock) setups have a lot of lost motion in the steering that makes the steering feel less direct.
My '69 was my flagship car from Feb 12,1976 until Jun 6, 2005 and I wanted all of the power going to the drive wheels. Now, with my (then) new Viper SRT-10 convertible as my reining flagship car and solidly the most seriously fast car, the few added pounds of PS do not concern me and will make my '69 more pleasurable to drive.
Last edited by StickShiftCorvette; Jul 3, 2006 at 09:55 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
StickShiftCorvette,
Going to a power steering pump with more pressure relief than stock is not a good idea. The stock pump has a relief setting of (900/1000 psi) for all C3 model years. Increasing the pressure will not affect steering feel. The special Corvette small diameter (1/4 inch inside diameter) power steering hoses were only validated to 1000 psi. The don't like pressures above that.
As long as you can steer full lock to full lock with the car stopped, engine running, and the foot brake applied; you have sufficient pump pressure. Any more pressure will only cause more stress on the hoses, seals, etc.
The C3 Vettes had different flow rates through the years. For the life of me, I don't know why. (1981-82 pump changes were for improved fuel economy).
1968-69 had 1.75 gallons/minute flow
1970-73 had 1.6 gallons/minute
1974-80 had 2.9 gallons/minute
1981 was a smaller displacement pump with 2.9 gallons/minute
1982 was that same small displacement pump with 1.9 gallons/minute
The actual power steering system didn't change. However, tires changed greatly through the years. You may want more flow, but not more pressure.
Jim
Going to a power steering pump with more pressure relief than stock is not a good idea. The stock pump has a relief setting of (900/1000 psi) for all C3 model years. Increasing the pressure will not affect steering feel. The special Corvette small diameter (1/4 inch inside diameter) power steering hoses were only validated to 1000 psi. The don't like pressures above that.
As long as you can steer full lock to full lock with the car stopped, engine running, and the foot brake applied; you have sufficient pump pressure. Any more pressure will only cause more stress on the hoses, seals, etc.
The C3 Vettes had different flow rates through the years. For the life of me, I don't know why. (1981-82 pump changes were for improved fuel economy).
1968-69 had 1.75 gallons/minute flow
1970-73 had 1.6 gallons/minute
1974-80 had 2.9 gallons/minute
1981 was a smaller displacement pump with 2.9 gallons/minute
1982 was that same small displacement pump with 1.9 gallons/minute
The actual power steering system didn't change. However, tires changed greatly through the years. You may want more flow, but not more pressure.
Jim
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
[QUOTE=Jim Shea]StickShiftCorvette,
Going to a power steering pump with more pressure relief than stock is not a good idea. The stock pump has a relief setting of (900/1000 psi) for all C3 model years. Increasing the pressure will not affect steering feel. The special Corvette small diameter (1/4 inch inside diameter) power steering hoses were only validated to 1000 psi. The don't like pressures above that.
I didn't say I would want a higher than normal CORVETTE pump setting. I could be mistaken, but I think Corvettes CAME with a higher pump setting than other Chevys with integral steering box power steering.
The lower the pressure is the more lost motion in the steering valve will be felt in the steering wheel. On Corvettes set up right it is NOT a problem, but I have seen many PS Corvettes with unreasonably sloppy steering - I am guessing it is sometimes due to using a standard Chevy PS pump instead of a pump set a Corvette pressures.
I GUESSED WRONG!
I just checked the manual and Corvettes have LOWER pressure pumps than most Chevy's so, as the saying goes: "NEVER MIND!"
Going to a power steering pump with more pressure relief than stock is not a good idea. The stock pump has a relief setting of (900/1000 psi) for all C3 model years. Increasing the pressure will not affect steering feel. The special Corvette small diameter (1/4 inch inside diameter) power steering hoses were only validated to 1000 psi. The don't like pressures above that.
I didn't say I would want a higher than normal CORVETTE pump setting. I could be mistaken, but I think Corvettes CAME with a higher pump setting than other Chevys with integral steering box power steering.
The lower the pressure is the more lost motion in the steering valve will be felt in the steering wheel. On Corvettes set up right it is NOT a problem, but I have seen many PS Corvettes with unreasonably sloppy steering - I am guessing it is sometimes due to using a standard Chevy PS pump instead of a pump set a Corvette pressures.
I GUESSED WRONG!
I just checked the manual and Corvettes have LOWER pressure pumps than most Chevy's so, as the saying goes: "NEVER MIND!"
Last edited by StickShiftCorvette; Jul 5, 2006 at 07:39 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Westminster MD
Originally Posted by gwgwgw
Did very many cars come without power steering?
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Originally Posted by gwgwgw
If you were going to have a C3 for an autocross or road track car, which would be preferable? Would it matter?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Originally Posted by gwgwgw
This is interesting. Let me ask this, if you were going to have a C3 for an autocross or road track car, which would be preferable? Would it matter?
I think I am eventually going to change to the high speed power steering box that is commonly used on Jeeps. The are much quicker. Do a search in C3s for the Jeep power steering box...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
I had a 1991 Toyota truck about 10 years ago that came without power steering and a large diameter plastic rimmed steering wheel......it sucked trying to make sharp low speed turns 
about broke my back with that truck....that was my only dislike about it.
Can't imagine this same scenerio trying to manuver car ith a long front end (corvette) around the same way
about broke my back with that truck....that was my only dislike about it.Can't imagine this same scenerio trying to manuver car ith a long front end (corvette) around the same way
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
Is ATF and power steering fluid the same?
I think I have a power steering leek from a hose under the right front of the car but I can’t tell if its ATF coming from the tranny cooling line that goes to the radiator
I think I have a power steering leek from a hose under the right front of the car but I can’t tell if its ATF coming from the tranny cooling line that goes to the radiator
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Automatic Transmission Fluid is not the same as GM Power Steering Fluid. This paper provides the background on the GM fluid.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rStrgFluid.doc
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rStrgFluid.doc
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
Originally Posted by Jim Shea
Automatic Transmission Fluid is not the same as GM Power Steering Fluid. This paper provides the background on the GM fluid.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rStrgFluid.doc
Jim
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...rStrgFluid.doc
Jim
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Although I've seen ppl add power steering stop leak made by LUCAS...The color of the oil is the same as ATF,making it more difficult to ditermine what oil it is.....But usually the power steering will leak from the left side of the car..rarely on the left side...you have the tranny cooling lines there
I had to replace some on mine last week...got pin hole in one of the lines
I had to replace some on mine last week...got pin hole in one of the lines
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Hartland WI
My 72 does not have power steering. When I first bought the car I thought that I wanted to add power steering. The car was set up using the power steering ratio holes. I had it changed back to the manual ratio holes and that made steering at slow speeds a tad bit easier. Now that I've been able to drive the car a lot more I've gotten used to the feel. I'm used to driving it and it doesn't bother me anymore. It actually like the feel now. I even changed over to performance tires (255/50/17 Fuzion ZRi's) and that really didn't change the steering effort much, if at all. Like others have said at real slow speeds like pulling into a parking spot you'll probably have to use both hands. Other than than it drives just fine. I wouldn't be put off from buying a car that doesn't have power steering. You can always buy a power steering kit and add it if you really don't like how the car drives.
