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Power steering pump help

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Old Apr 10, 2012 | 08:26 AM
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Default Power steering pump help

I need to change my power steering pump in my 79L-82 it is the original one. Is there a more modern model from an other year that I can use and since I switched to a VBP rack and pinion I want a more heavy feel at the wheel. I found with the pump on my car that the steering was over boosted.

Suggestion on pully sized and water pump models

Thanks
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Old Apr 10, 2012 | 12:09 PM
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Sorry, but most of the problem is with the valving in your new rack & pinion gear not in the pump.

I sometimes think that people that rebuild steering gears (both the integral gear/linkage models as well as rack and pinion styles) are fairly careless as to insuring the correct valves for particular models. You could consider complaining to Steeroids or whoever supplied the R&P gear that you purchased.

Lowering the flow from the pump will change the feel going down the road a bit. If you can score a Corvette power steering pump from a 1982 model, that pump has lower flow than the earlier C3s in an attempt to improve fuel economy.

Jim
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Old Apr 10, 2012 | 08:27 PM
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Jim is of course correct. However, I have found that the Saginaw pumps put out around 1,100 to 1,200 psi while the Ford (1965-1970 Mustang) pumps put out around 800 to 900 psi. I may well stand to be corrected, but maybe a Ford PS pump will do the job due to its lower output.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn
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Old Apr 10, 2012 | 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Jim Shea
Sorry, but most of the problem is with the valving in your new rack & pinion gear not in the pump.

I sometimes think that people that rebuild steering gears (both the integral gear/linkage models as well as rack and pinion styles) are fairly careless as to insuring the correct valves for particular models. You could consider complaining to Steeroids or whoever supplied the R&P gear that you purchased.

Lowering the flow from the pump will change the feel going down the road a bit. If you can score a Corvette power steering pump from a 1982 model, that pump has lower flow than the earlier C3s in an attempt to improve fuel economy.

Jim
Hi Jim, the rack is VBP I will call them tomorrow. I have to say that I though that the swap from the stock steering to a RP would of been the best upgrade I've would of done but i am not 100% satisfied yet.
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Old Apr 11, 2012 | 07:19 AM
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Trust me on this: The pressure relief setting of the power steering pump (Mustang - 850 psi versus the Corvette - 1050 psi) will have nothing to do with the steering feel or effort driving down the road. When you are moving, the pump only has to put out roughly 150 psi to help you to steer the front wheels. The pressure relief setting only comes into play when you are trying to steer the car with it stopped and the steering turned to near full lock.

If you run out of assist pressure, (a Mustang pump in a Corvette for instance), then as you approach near full lock the steering will abruptly become like manual steering.

Jim
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