I've rebuilt the front of my v6 ride pretty much twice already with trying different things and parts. Drag link, idler arms, lower bushings, upper shock mounts, shocks, steering shaft from summit. Tha works! Shop alignments etc.

I first had the original steering gear rebuilt in Ft Worth local shop. Then tried an AC Delco remanufacture which I have no doubt was a Cardone part. The steering gears are so dead in the middle to the point the car isn't fun to drive, and frankly dangerous. Holding the wheel firm, the front end bump steers going down the road, to correct you have to move out of the dead zone, correct then move back. Lots of sawing as they say in racing. Drives like crap.

What is the solution? I see a lot of chatter on the boards about red headed steering gears but are they any better?

 

Does the 305 TBI drive like the 3.1? The front end and steering box should be the same in both vehicles. It doesn't sound like a steering box issue if you had the problem, rebuilt the original and then a new one and still have a "dead zone". If you have larger than stock tires and wheels, this will exaggerate the bump steer.
Alignment specs? The stock numbers suck and when you have it aligned with more camber it effects the way the car drives. Ball Joints? maybe something is binding in the steering.

 

Have you replaced the rag joint or replaced with a solid steering shaft? The box will do you no good if the connection between that and the steering wheel isn't right.

I've heard a LOT of complaints about rebuilt steering boxes though, and not just on these forums...

 

Yes I have the aftermarket complete new steering shaft from summit. So no slop there.

 

The issue is the worn box parts. In particular the ***** & two recirculating parts. All these parts wear. And if the box isn't rebuilt with ***** that provide the proper fit between the other two parts, forget it. Then of course need to be sure the ball tracks are even in diameter.

Go on line and look at drawings of how these boxes work. It will be apparent that even the slightest play in the previous three parts creates a lousy road feel. And of course a regular rebuild house isn't even going to attempt to 'tighten'' up the steering. Hey, it don't leak, right?

RBob.

P.S. at one time, many year ago I got lucky and scored a GM steering box off a wreaked '91 Trans Am that had about 1200 miles on it. Best steering box I've ever used. The car was flipped onto its lid, none to no suspension damage.

 

Detroit Speed sells a new box.. It ain't cheep though.

 

I think all my steering woes are related to this POS Summit racing reproduction aftermarket Chinese steering shaft. They claim it is for G-body and F-body but the end coupling is to wide at the curved ends. So it pivots on the bolt and ***** on the end of the firewall shaft, as wheel input is applied. Garbage for F-body.

Also another problem is poor quality control, when they crimp the rag joint end on the shaft, it is out of alignment. So when the car's steering wheel is aligned straight during a four wheel alignment, the shaft is holding the steering gear in a slight turn position even though the steering wheel and wheels are straight. Pic attached to explain. Easier to see when you hold in your hand and eye ball and then compare to factory shafts.

I've installed a low mileage factory Camaro shaft and will have to have the car realigned to restore to factory settings.

 

Save a couple bucks and just get the Borgeson Steering Shaft PN# 000315 from summit...same unit that Detroit Speed will sell you at the higher price. Great unit to get rid of the dumb rag joint.

 

The reported problem on the boards with them is pump whine feedback heard in the car. Everybody hates on the rag joint, I get it, it's low hanging fruit.

 

There is also a Hooker Blackheart Steering Shaft that's even less than that. I don't have any experience with it, though. My car has one of the upgraded shafts (rebuilt S10 or Astro fan shafts, IIRC).

Pat

 

The Astro Van shaft setups have a rubber idolator to get rid of pump whine. Just need to be careful of which shafts to get, as some are off by 90°.

OTOH, can always rework the shaft so that it is the proper orientation.

RBob.

 

Absolutely the reproduction shafts can be trash. I used an OER branded shaft from Classic Industries for several years and the steering got progressively worse. The entire assembly and assembled fit are garbage. Installed the original GM shaft again, not even rebuilt, and instantly improved the steering.