too much assist from power steering

[bradnree]

I have a 1985 350 with power steering. It has too much power assist to the power steering. I can spin the wheel freely.
Fix ??
thanks
brad

[cadillac_al]

Those were the good old days when you could drive with 2 fingers. My Jap car barely feels like it has power steering and sometimes I have to put my beer in the cup holder and drive with 2 hands to get through some twistys. I guess that's why the new cars all have cup holders, the power steering sucks.

[MikeB]

Found this in a Hot Rod Magazine article about GM Saginaw steering boxes:

Excessive response/touchy steering: This is generally caused by excessive pump pressure, Borgeson offers a pressure reduction kit (part number 899001) that will allow the customer to adjust the internal bypass pressure of the P/S pump (self-contained and Type II with a remote reservoir).

Also found this on Borgeson's website:

GM power steering pumps will produce up to 1,500 PSI. We
recommend 1,200 PSI for steering box applications and 800–
900 PSI for Mustang rack & pinions. If a pump is generating too
much pressure for the rack or box you are using, the steering
will be over assisted resulting in twitchy steering at speed. This
can be corrected by adjusting the pumps internal pressure valve.
To properly adjust this pressure order part #899001-Pressure
Reducing Kit.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

Those were the good old days when you could drive with 2 fingers. My Jap car barely feels like it has power steering and sometimes I have to put my beer in the cup holder and drive with 2 hands to get through some twistys. I guess that's why the new cars all have cup holders, the power steering sucks.

It's called "better road feel" and was invented by M.A.D.D.

Yeah, those were the good old days when Buicks and Lincolns and Olds 98s wandered all over the road. But hey, they would stop from 70 mph in 30 seconds or so.