Heya all guys, been a while.
Can anyone point me to a steering box that makes steering on my 89 RS firmer? Steering is too soft, I need better feel while turning the wheel.

Any specific part/ Brand, would be great.

Thanks,
OJ

 

You can get the Borgeson shim kit for GM pumps. I also had the problem of the steering box feeling "over-assisted". This shim kit reduces the hydraulic pressure reaching the steering box, requiring more effort by the driver.

On mine, three shims seemed to do the trick. Really nice kit, comes with detailed instructions and special tool to get the job done.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/brg-899001

 

Thanks ULTM, this is very interesting. How difficult is this to install? Do you have to access the steering box?

 

You just need to pull out the valve assy. Remove the high pressure hose from the back of the pump. Then grab that hex and remove the valve assy.

No need to remove the pump itself. And you don't touch the steering box.

 

Never had a steering box open, but to change effort don't you just adjust the T-bar inside the steering box?

 

I think that adjustment can remove some play in the steering, but the steering effort is a function of the pump pressure.

 

Still kinda guessing, but I'm fairly confident the steering effort is related to the T-bar size and the porting in the valve. Power steering pump has little or nothing to do with it. I had my pump modified (LS1 style) not for steering effort, but for the purpose to lower hydraulic fluid temp. It flowed waaaaay too much and all the extra fluid got bypassed back to the pump where it would get re-pressurized and overheat. The lower flow rate had no impact at all on my steering effort.

My new pump also makes 2000 psi (that's a lot) and it doesn't change the steering effort either. What it does is increase torque capacity to turn sticky tires (up to 10" wide, 100 tread wear) without the pump straining.

There always will be less power assist below flow control though, like parking lots and stuff. Flow control begins at 1500 rpm pump speed with my setup, so about 1415 rpm engine speed with a 1.06 drive ratio.

 

.

 

Borgeson makes a kit and a member has used it to modify the pump to lower the pressure and increase effort. So I am guessing youre guess is wrong.
Just ordered the kit, will see how it goes.

 

Am I? Or are they just getting a result the wrong way? I can make a plane land by cutting off part of the wings , but that doesn't mean it's what you want to do.

 

Play is determined by gear backlash and that's a different adjustment.

Truth is I actually know it as fact that the T-bar determines steering effort. I wasn't actually guessing, just talking softly.

Changing system pressure effects how much torque capacity is available to overcome tire grip. So, if effort went up by lowering pump pressure then it might be because your hydraulics are no longer up to the task. Basically created a weakness and the symptom is increased steering effort.

 

I don't know dude... I'm just going off my experience. Mines a 2nd gen and not a 3rd gen so not sure if that makes any difference.

But I have a new pump with a new Borgeson 12:1 steering box. All I know is the steering is just as precise and has a better road feel than my wife's 2017 Infinity after having made the adjustments.

 

When I was researching this topic, as well as new/rebuilt boxes, I ended up talking to TurnOne, who builds and supplies parts for performance steering systems. They have a $40 dollar restrictor valve that installs in the back of the pump and well.....restricts flow, which in turn means more effort required to turn the wheel. This kinda sounded like a patch/fix, and I asked the guy if this was the right way to increase steering feel and increase steering effort. The guy basically said two things. First, it'll increase effort, not feel. It's a preference, which in turn may feel better, but the steering is in no way actually "better". Just "better" for the individual. The second was that if the factory type box and pump are used, the rest is all just math and physics. and no one mod is better than any other, and said the valve was cheap, safe, reliable and effective. -in response to my patch/fix question. I had previously asked about a new box as well, which he and I ruled out, but he did say if I got a new box he would increase the effort by using parts within the box itself. Presumably the T bar, but I don't know, or at least don't remember if he said "T Bar" specifically.

He also said that since I was going to get bigger wheels/tires eventually, he suggested NOT getting the valve until then. As time went on I ended up going with a new Borgeson box to address sloppiness, and then ultimately got those new wheels. All was good after that and I never addressed it again.

https://www.turnone-steering.com/col...ering-fittings

 

I'm sure this will help but ya gotta disassemble the steering box. https://leepowersteering.com/pages/s...feel-explained