Is anyone using, or tried to use, the manual steering holes on the front knuckles instead of the p/s holes? What are your driving impressions?

Thanks

 

i guess i would ask why? the steering is light enough, i'm not sure what that would do.

 

I had an SUV come over in my lane the other day. My natural response was to yank the wheel to avoid the guy. I completly changed lanes before I new what happened! I thought using the rear holes would slow down the response a bit. I had already dropped the pump pressure to about 700psi to put some "feel" back in the wheel. Stock pump pressure made it too light for me.

 

Sky65 - what did you use to reduce the pressure (part number/manufacturer please). Mine is also way too light. Dream to drive but no road feel.

Thanks,

Pete

 

why would you want to use the front holes? the stering lock angle would be even less, steering even lighter ...no use in doing that IMO.

 

I called Steeroids and ordered the kit. It was around $20. I tried a few shims first, was better but still too much assist. I installed all the shims and it is much better. Still plenty of assist but feels better to me. I may even drop the pressure some more. Real easy to do.

Tom

 

Just trying to slow down the response a little. I am using the front holes now as recommended by Steeroids. I know the turning radius will be reduced, and reduce the steering effort more with the rear holes. I didn't know if the trade off in reduced response would be worth it.

Thanks for the input.

 

If you have not driven it much you get a better feel the more you drive it, I know I did. I agree it is too light with not enough road feel. I do not think I would trade turning radius for better feel though, it is already not very good in the power steering holes.

 

Hi

Why would you reduce the turning radius ? That is set by the mechanical stop on the wheel axle, the once some of us have to weld up to reduce tire scraping.
The outer versus inner hole reduces turning force and requires a little more steering hweel turning lock to lock, that's all.

Günther

 

Per the Speed Direct instructions:

 

Thanks.

Pete

 

With the Steeroids set up turning radius is limited by the reduced total travel of the rack. It is slightly less than the stock steering box.

 

Yes, for a box ...the box has a larger max. angle than the spdinles/steering knuckle stop allows...the steeroid rack does not, the rack itself does not have more movement in it.

 

IT comes down to the 'toss' of the wheels for any given steering wheel input.....now that 'toss' on the wheels should be limited by other things than frame/sway bar rubbing.....

now with stock wheels/tires obviously this is handled by original design...swap wheels/tires, and all of a sudden, even IF the original wheel offsets/centerlines were followed....the INNER tires can rub...depending...so like in MY case...following all the above...I had to limit my steering radius....255/50/17 tires rubbed frame or sway bar...

since the tires/wheels greatly preceeded my rack/pinoin install....I had allready limited the radius.....and found with the forward position of normal p/s sharks the toss was the same as the steeroids/GrandAm rack....no changes there...

the guys with racks and stock size wheels/tires and their complaints of no 'road feel' are most likely correct....
I have lower profile/wider tires, and with a normal rack...find road feel fine....

having said all THAT....I have a '88 style vette serp drive and with the stock steering, years ago...I put in a '72 vette p/s pump valve assy...and it worked fine with the old steering and new pump....

I never did change the valves in the pump when switching to rack....

and have lost track of the old valves/parts in the years gone by, and so can't do a A-B comparo....