I'm not a car savy guy, Atleast when it comes to older vehicles. Is it normal for the steering wheel to be stiff when trying to turn without accelerating? As soon as I apply gas turning is normal. It can make it difficult to park. Wasn't sure if it's normal for a 84 camaro.

 

No, not really normal.

Ya gotta remember, the PS on these cars is IDENTICAL IN EVERY WAY to what had been in every grandma's sedan since the mid 60s. That system was designed and built SPECIFICALLY to allow little old ladies to park 5000 lb cars at the department store. Sure, the ratio might be a bit different; but the system as a whole, how it works, pulley sizes, pressures, and all that, is THE SAME.

Sounds like your PS isn't working as well as it should. Probably the pump, specifically.

 

Sofaking, you helped me out the other day about smoke under the wheel well. My left brake was seized up so I replaced everything like you recommended and it fixed the issue. So thanks for that. Is the power steering pump difficult to change out? Is that what I should do? Fluid levels look good and so does the pulley belt on power steering pump.

 

Glad the brake thing worked out... and those don't even cost a whole lot, which is a plus.

No the pump isn't too tough. Hardest thing seems to be getting the high-pressure line off of it, and after that, tightening the belt without prying on the reservoir. All that holds it on, is 2 nuts on the back, a bolt on the front, and a nut up at the top.

Clean up the area you're working on first: it's AHELLUVALOT eeeeeezier to work on something clean, than to force yourself to wallow in the funk of 10,000 ages trying to find the hardware. Take it to the quarter car wash; stop along the way and pick up acoupla cans of engine degreaser (diesel fuel in a spray can); park in the bay, shut the engine off, and wait a few minutes for stuff to cool down; spray the whole scene of the crime liberally with degreaser, being CAREFUL, don't forget, it's motor fuel; let it soak acoupla minutes; spray it again; then blast it sterile with the wand, from above, below both sides, front rear, and any other angle you can possibly get in there at. You can do the whol emotor even, just avoid the dist cap, sensors, and such as that. Take a screwdriver with you to pop the cap off, just in case you get water in it, so you can dry it.