steering too light-74 Blazer

[frenchy51]

I've completely restored my '74 K5 including all new suspension components and new power steering box. I've also had it aligned and installed new radial tires (more street radial than off-road). It seems a little "darty" on the road and the steering effort seems too easy. It's not dangerous or anything like that but you have to pay attention to keep her on the straight and narrow. I know it's not going to drive like my newer Z71 but is there a way to firm up the steering ? Or? to make it more driveable? Thanks

[1968k20]

Maybe the steering box wasn't rebuilt correctly? Hello from Chester!

[cadillac_al]

No, the new trucks steer too heavy.

[mongocanfly]

When I had new tires put on my c30 it was like that....it would jump all over the road.....talked to the tire man and he said drop the air pressure in the front tires.....I think they had 65psi in them ...I dropped to 50 and it helped a bunch....

Very nice 5 you have!!.....

[Dead Parrot]

Could be the new steering box is more responsive then the old one.

Could be you just got used to a worn suspension and a fresh new one seems strange.

[Leonard60]

Subbed

My 77 feels the same it seems to steer way to easy. I wish it was a little stiffer

[Big Moose]

Steering box needs to be tightened

[Palf70Step]

I agree with the above about the tire pressure as you first check as far as the wandering. My 31x10.50s I ran typically about 32 lbs for most day to day things. To me the squares always had a light feel compared to the GMT400 and newer trucks, as well as the older ones. That power steering is super easy to move.

[franken]

Old PS is basically one finger steering as designed. If the toe is off it will make it dart much like described. I think the recomendation is to have slight toe in.

[Justins76]

Mine was like that on the highway. Turned out they aligned it with 0° caster. Did they give you a printout of what the specs were after alignment?

[ron350]

If these links work they might explain how to correct your problem.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-quick.953042/
http://jeffd.50megs.com/Pump_valve_mod_page.htm

http://www.gmtruckcentral.com/articl...rsteeringmods/

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by 1968k20

Maybe the steering box wasn't rebuilt correctly? Hello from Chester!

Hey back! Stay warm....I'll drop by when the snow melts.

[stanski]

Very easy fix. Go to Speedway website and order their pump flow control valve, don't have the part # handy. Stock pump puts out 3 gpm, replacement valve is 2.5 gpm I believe. Make sure to also get the o-ring to flare fitting adaptor. All in costs around $20, change it in 10 minutes.
I did this swap on my 75 Jimmy and steering feel is like my Duramax. Also did my 70 Chevelle and a few other 70's in my fleet and am more than impressed with how such a simple fix this is. That 3 gpm factory flow rate was there to produce that 1 finger steering feel, which today feels way too light compared to modern vehicles. Speedway sells these for the circle track crowd.

Post back after you do the swap, curious if you have similar results.

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by stanski

Very easy fix. Go to Speedway website and order their pump flow control valve, don't have the part # handy. Stock pump puts out 3 gpm, replacement valve is 2.5 gpm I believe. Make sure to also get the o-ring to flare fitting adaptor. All in costs around $20, change it in 10 minutes.
I did this swap on my 75 Jimmy and steering feel is like my Duramax. Also did my 70 Chevelle and a few other 70's in my fleet and am more than impressed with how such a simple fix this is. That 3 gpm factory flow rate was there to produce that 1 finger steering feel, which today feels way too light compared to modern vehicles. Speedway sells these for the circle track crowd.

Post back after you do the swap, curious if you have similar results.

Thanks-good advice. I'll head to their website. Nice Blazer!

[GMC Guy]

is there a solution to the guys running LS style power steering pumps? I used the original valve from my 79 pump in the 2006 pump to keep the inverted flare style fitting. My steering is really light and darty

[Dead Parrot]

For those that think the 70's era squares have too light a PS touch, don't even think about getting in a 60's era car with PS. When I still had my 68 Impala and my dad owned my current 75 C10, I always thought the 75 had heavy steering. Sometimes wondered if there was something wrong with the PS in the 75 it was so much harder to turn.

Had just the opposite view of the brakes. Truck has PB, Impala had manual. Had more then one tire squealing stop in the truck because of that.

[akart]

You said you did an alignment,good. What were the caster readings? Too little caster can cause the light steering effect. You would have positive caster. You can increase the steering resistance by putting in some caster wedges on the axle. I had the same thing on my K20 after a 4" lift,it felt like I was herding chickens and I had to pay way too much attention to my steering as it felt too light. So try adding a few degrees of caster w/wedges. Not an easy job but it worked.

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by stanski

Very easy fix. Go to Speedway website and order their pump flow control valve, don't have the part # handy. Stock pump puts out 3 gpm, replacement valve is 2.5 gpm I believe. Make sure to also get the o-ring to flare fitting adaptor. All in costs around $20, change it in 10 minutes.
I did this swap on my 75 Jimmy and steering feel is like my Duramax. Also did my 70 Chevelle and a few other 70's in my fleet and am more than impressed with how such a simple fix this is. That 3 gpm factory flow rate was there to produce that 1 finger steering feel, which today feels way too light compared to modern vehicles. Speedway sells these for the circle track crowd.

Post back after you do the swap, curious if you have similar results.

PM sent but I forgot to mention that I'm running a Vortec 6.0 motor with it's PS Pump mated to the original type box. Will this valve work with that pump also? Sorry for the omission on engine type! (must have been a Senior moment...)

[LT7A]

Great to see all of these solutions. Seems that it's a good idea to optimize tire pressure to get the full contact patch regardless. And checking in on the alignment specs. I haven't read the links yet but I plan to check them out.

I'm curious about using a larger pulley. Either one specifically for under-driving the PS or if there is one from a different factory application that would work.

Totally unrelated and maybe a little silly but this is my post 777 and I grew up in Boeing town. My first job out of college was on a factory expansion for that plane.

[GMC Guy]

Originally Posted by frenchy51

PM sent but I forgot to mention that I'm running a Vortec 6.0 motor with it's PS Pump mated to the original type box. Will this valve work with that pump also? Sorry for the omission on engine type! (must have been a Senior moment...)

looks like we're in the same boat, I ordered the valve and flared fitting adapter from Speedway. I figure if the original valve from the 79 fit in the 06 ls pump, then the speedway valve for early gm style pumps will to. $38 shipped is a far cry from the $400 steering box I've been wanting from CPP, so hopefully this works

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by GMC Guy

looks like we're in the same boat, I ordered the valve and flared fitting adapter from Speedway. I figure if the original valve from the 79 fit in the 06 ls pump, then the speedway valve for early gm style pumps will to. $38 shipped is a far cry from the $400 steering box I've been wanting from CPP, so hopefully this works

Did you order the 2.41 GPM valve #25309000? What is the part # of the flared adapter? I haven't ordered yet......Maybe I should wait and see how you like it....Thanks! Let me know how it works. (-;

[GMC Guy]

Originally Posted by frenchy51

Did you order the 2.41 GPM valve #25309000? What is the part # of the flared adapter? I haven't ordered yet......Maybe I should wait and see how you like it....Thanks! Let me know how it works. (-;

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Musta...-GPM,5852.html
this is the one i ordered, looked like the only option for use with original style flared hose ends. All the others have a 6an fitting
Here's the adapter
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/O-Rin...ter,24682.html

[Zachary17]

Question how would this mod work with hydroboost?

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by GMC Guy

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Musta...-GPM,5852.html
this is the one i ordered, looked like the only option for use with original style flared hose ends. All the others have a 6an fitting
Here's the adapter
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/O-Rin...ter,24682.html

Thanks for the information!

[mongocanfly]

Zachary...I would think with hydroboost you would need to regulate between the boost and the steering box....I'm not 100% sure bout this...I'd have to do some more reseach...