My younger brother just picked up an '82 V6 Camaro, not too bad, but the gear ratio in the steering box is AWFUL. The '83 I used to have was tighter, and the '84 I have now is substantially better (it should be, I have the F41 package).

I don't know much about the ratios in the steering boxes. I just know that my brother's car feels very loose on the steering, and all of the linkage underneath is still nice and tight. What years are DIRECTLY compatible (no adjustments needed to fit in) with 1982? I think they changed something in '86 or '87, but I can't remember. I want to get rid of his lousy gear box before he loses control of the car around a tight corner. His '79 bone-stock 4-door Impala steers better in the curves with the tall passenger tires it has on it.

Is the box in a Z28 or F41 package actually better than what appeared on the base model cars, or is this just a myth?

 

C'mon, suspension forum... v6's used the same steering boxes as v8's did- aside from the quick ratio box'd cars.

Any box will bolt right in. Yes IROC's (and other cars with WS6) came with a quick-ratio box, number that's cast into the side of the box will be 26000525 "Z". There's another box out there, supposedly meant for 15" wheels, that came with cars that had a Y87 option- but I don't recall the part # offhand. If you do a search on this forum you might find it; look for "quick ratio".

If your brother just picked the car up, I wouldn't yell at the steering gear itself first. I'd look at the center link and idler arm (which are "wear items" on our cars- they wear out just due to age) first. Also, inspect the rag joint coupler between the steering shaft and steering box (slide back the plastic shaft cover that's clipped to the steering box). Finally take the car for an alignment.

I'll bet that something's out of whack, and that's why the steering feels loose.

 

TomP:


Already checked out the mechanical linkage (tie rods, drag link, idler and pitman arms) and everything checks good. No clunking or slop; I had my brother crank the wheel roughly both ways while I was underneath, and took a good look at everything. I was very surprised. However, I forgot about the coupling disc for the shaft. Alignment feels good; doesn't pull.

I'll have to check that disc. Can't believe I forgot about it. (derrrr)

 

One other thing while you're under there... in '82, V6's didn't get the factory power steering cooler. Your '84 T/a probably has it though; it's a lame metal tube that just snakes under the radiator. But if you go after a junkyard steering box, pick that up too!

I just did a search for ya and found two messages you might be interested in:

1) The part # for the other quick ratio box: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=190194

2) A guy with an '83 F-body saying his steering box gave him 3 turns lock-to-lock instead of the normal 2.5 that most of us have: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=59715 How many turns lock-to-lock is your brother's box?