Power steering gear Chevy K5

[Ralph the german]

Hello,

I´m restoring my old steering gear with a gates overhaul kit. The needle bearing at my gear had much play. What is telling against to change this bearing to a brass bearing, cause oil is there enough for greasing and so, I can minimize the tolerances ?
Also, I ordered a Heidt`s pressure regulator valve for the power pump, or is there another way to get more responsing from the steering. For german driveway use, the steering is to soft.

Thanks

 

[Mike D]

I would not replace steel needle bearings with brass needle bearings for two reasons, 1 ) brass is softer than steel and would wear out faster under high loads, 2 ) brass is an alloy of copper ( copper + zinc = brass ), the oil oxidation ( breakdown ) would be accelerated in the pressence of copper ( brass ).

 

[Ralph the german]

Thanks a lot Mike,
yes I know, the german word for brass is "bronze", working for 30 years as an CNC-turner (right word ? don`t know) at a lathe.
I will try a new neadle bearing, hope it kills the play in the shaft.

Ralph

 

[dyeager535]

The ratio of the power steering is too great for tight handling. "High Performance" cars got "quick ratio" boxes which are something like 2.5 turns of the wheel from lock to lock, where the truck is something like 3+. No idea if the internals could be changed.

Adjustable power steering output might help, but is going to be annoying when parking more than likely. Being able to electrically vary the pump output based on vehicle speed would be nice.

There are all sorts of different pulley ratios as well, but a change of power steering assist that is constant is going to be limiting in other ways.