68 GS Power Steering ... Too Easy?

Hi Guys,

I have a 68 GS with power steering , I have done some chassis mods with tubular A frames Disc Brakes and all new springs, ball joints bushings etc.

Power steering is almost too effortless. My feeling is maybe the pump isnt the original or i have way too much pressure.

Is there a pressure regulator valve in those GM pumps? Can they be changed if they have one? Has anyone experienced the same and figured it out.

Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

Frank

 

I had a 68 GS and it was the same way. You could drive it with one finger. I didn't like how over-assisted it was either.

 

My '71 'lark was like that. I switched to a close ratio box and it now takes a bit more effort/road feel.

 

My 69 Skylark is the same way

 

Likewise here in the '68s. It's a "feature".

 

My '67 was the same way until I installed this kit on it several years ago..............https://www.borgeson.com/xcart/product.php?productid=1684&cat=133&page=1

 

What are your alignment figures like?

 

That's a product of the times... In the 50's, when Power steering was first widely available, the idea was to make it effortless, after the drudgery of muscling manual steering cars thru low speed maneuvers with steamship sized steering wheels for decades.. So when you say "power assist" folks wanted one finger operation.. and they got it, on most models.

"Road feel" made a return with the advent of rack and pinion steering, in the US and foreign car markets, in the 80s... Prior to this, only close ratio steering boxes on sporty models had any road feel at all.. my 80 Z-28 was not bad, and I have driven 70's era vettes that had good road feel, and took some effort to steer.

A great update to nearly every 68-72 Buick A body is the upgrade to a close ratio box.. and we have a member, Carhex, that specializes in supplying them. Hector often has them on hand..

JW

 

I'm not 100% on this but I thought there's way too little caster in the factory setting. I believe adding a lot more caster to the setting will cause the steering to stiffen up a good bit for a better feel.

My '69 almost felt scary when driving because it was so light. Sort of flitting around. I added a CPP "500" box with 14:1 and it made a huge difference but still not what I think it should be. I haven't gotten around to the caster change yet and I also would like to try the pressure change kit which was mentioned above and I have read about elsewhere.

 

To be clear, the light steering feel does NOT mean the car is drifting or steering itself, that is a separate and more serious issue.