Sloppy stearing

[Durdyk5]

Got the rag joint replaced made all the difference in the world. Steering is good and tight no play at all. I will eventually go with a u joint style connection but that will be later. Gotta figure out why I have hard steering at low rpms now

 

[Durdyk5]

Anybody have any ideas on why I have hard steering at low rpms? I changed the high pressure hose yesterday since it was leaking thinking that would help some.. No help at all. Anybody have any suggestions on what else to look at?

 

[frankin5]

Did you get all the air out of the system? Is there any binding going on elsewhere?

 

[Durdyk5]

As far as I know There isn't any binding anywhere. I was thinking about flushing out the system this weekend. If you get it around a 1000 rpm it turns fine anything less than that it is hard to turn

 

[imiceman44]

As far as I know There isn't any binding anywhere. I was thinking about flushing out the system this weekend. If you get it around a 1000 rpm it turns fine anything less than that it is hard to turn

If you have an old power steering pump it could be weak.
These trucks don't have a lot of assist at idle but shouldn't be too hard.
Some people have the idle up a notch for that reason, I don't like to do that.
There's also a trick to get more flow out of the pump but I don't have the info handy, I am sure someone will chime in on it

 

[Durdyk5]

Yea. The old motor idled a little high. I ls swapped this one and it idles at 550.

 

[Richcz28]

I don’t think you’ll get hardly any power steering at 550. Even at 750 the pumps in old cars don’t do much in my experience.

I never drive old junk without rolling and turning the wheel. It’s not good for the parts to be trying to force the wheel around at low rpm like that, especially if your not moving.

Almost every old car I’ve had has been a standard shift, so I’m used to clutching and revving to get some power steering going.

Your condition sounds pretty normal to me.

 

[diesel4me]

To some degree I think GM set up the steering box that way,so it wont feel too "floaty" and give more road feel..most all the GM vehicles I've had are that way at idle..

I noticed on my truck when I replaced both drag link ends and all the tie rod ends and added a new steering damper,that it felt stiffer at idle ,but after a few thousand miles passed,it seemed to loosen up more..

There are ways to modify the relief valve in the pressure hose bung to get more pressure,but it'll increase it at all RPMs and may not really change things all that much..

 

[scoots90245]

I was reading this thread and decided to replace power steering pump. It may be original? No idea what PO has done, reservoir is beat up cap inside flange is broken pieces may be in the line somewhere? Fluid definitely needs to be changed.
I have done ORD steering brace, tie rods, drag links, borgeson steering shaft and Bilstein stabilizer. My steering is pretty tight just figured its something on the list. I'm running 33x12.5 tires
Suggested replacement brand please
Thanks