I just installed all new power sterring components and gearbox in my 75. It does not really feel any different than before. This is my first Vette and I do not have anyone close by to compare it with. How much assist should I expect?

Thanks

Turning my '77 at a stand still it moves, but definitely not like a newer car. If that is what you are comparing it to then you may be getting what you are supposed to. (Unless mine is broke too! ) May depend on how much meat you are trying to turn too. My 255/60/15 are meatier than stock, so I imagine that makes it a little tougher to turn.

If you didn't do it already, you might also want to change the rag joint. They get worn after 10 years too

My 73 has plenty of assist at higher speeds, but not enough at parking speeds, just the opposite of what you would want, and what newer cars give you. I guess that is the result of power assisted steering vs. having a power steering box. Joe

My 79 is also stiff to turn at slow speeds. I think all of the older cars were. The newer ones mostly have rack and pinion steering, plus a better power steering unit than they built back in 1979. I guess I'm lucky that it still turns the wheels....

The steering wheel won't turn like a new car. When standing still, expect to have to use a little muscle. If moving, you should have no trouble taking a corner with only one hand turning the wheel ( I never said it was safe to do that ! ) . Back in "the day " when there were plenty of cars on the road without power steering, you could REALLY see the difference. If you have a friend with an old car without power steering, aks him if he will let you take it around the block.

Tony's Corvette did an NCRS Tech Session on early C3 steering boxes a few months ago. They're designed with a center point - sort of like the top of a hill. It requires a lot more effort here to turn the wheels. If you go off the top of the hill, to either side, it's easier to turn - and you get more assist from the PS too. This was an intentional design by GM so that you don't really easily wander when you're trying to drive straight down the highway at high speeds. According to Tony there's a gear and screw looking thing inside (I forget the technical term) which controlls this 'hill' - but one of the remanufacturers had a new batch of these made, but they made them completely uniform so that the steering boxes no longer had a center to them. This causes wierd wandering and handling problems and makes the car feel like it's off balance. Tony said that this mfgr is replacing the rebuilt boxes for free for anyone with this problem. I'm sorry I don't remember who made the rebuilt ones. If you think you might have one, you can e-mail Tony and he'll give you the scoop: www.tonyscorvetteshop.com ~Juliet

Well, I just found out the root of my problem. The new PS pump that I installed was bad from the factory. The valve was forced in backwards and there was no spring inside at all. I now have to get another one and hopefully I'll have power.

Thanks

Glad to hear you found the problem. I'm sure that will help you corner a lot better.

Juliet, I think the boxes with the bad sector gear were from Zip. I didn't know they were replacing them, that is good customer service. They didn't make the boxes, they just sold some cheaply made repro stuff and got burned. Joe

|UPDATED|6/6/2002 6:06:53 PM|/UPDATED|