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Ted's Steering Upgrade, With A Twist

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by garage gnome, Jan 6, 2018.

  1. Feb 8, 2018
    cadwelder

    cadwelder Member

    Milton KY
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    Nate, are you saying that your steering box is reaching its limit before the knuckles reach theirs when turning left?
     
  2. Feb 8, 2018
    Bill F

    Bill F Finally running

    Hillsboro NH
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    Great idea Nate. Cant wait to see it in person
     
  3. Feb 8, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    That is part of the issue, but it is more the ratio is off. The wandering and darting is a direct result of that. Never had an issue before.
     
  4. Feb 8, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Did you set the valve centering adjustment?

    EDIT- cruising the corvette forums reveals that air in the system can cause your symptoms.
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2018
  5. Feb 8, 2018
    cadwelder

    cadwelder Member

    Milton KY
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    Sounds like 2 different issues to me. The ratio difference is only an issue if the knuckle range of travel is greater the the pitman arm range of travel. If you can turn full lock right but not full lock left then the drag link may be too long; or, in other words, your wheel may not be centered with steering box.
    Shorten the drag link until you get equal results left and right and if knuckles don't hit stops then ratio is the problem.
    It could also e possible that the cylinder is bottoming ( or topping) out before the knuckles reach full lock left.
    As for darting, try driving with PS disabled (belt and cylinder removed) to see how it feels. Valve could be too sensitive (possibly remedied with stiffer springs?) or cylinder could be oversized. Another option may be to somehow reduce the pumps operating pressure, if that's even possible...larger pulley or lighter spring on the pressure relief maybe.
    Just some thoughts. Keep us posted on what you find.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2018
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  6. Feb 9, 2018
    cadwelder

    cadwelder Member

    Milton KY
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    One more possible cause for darting, especially if the control valve is too sensitive, would be bump steer. While your drag link angle is not bad it may be enough to engage the valve when hitting a bump and steer the wheels to the right.
     
  7. Feb 9, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    I see your point but that would imply a sticky valve- if working properly the system should act like an active steering damper which is actively fighting any bump movement of the steering linkage away from where the steering wheel says it should be. Once the bump is over and the valve is centered by the springs the cylinder should go back to a "no force" condition, not continue t he push against the now departed bump steer.
     
  8. Feb 9, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The Y link steering setup solved most of the steering issues. There is still one issue, but I think it is in the valve itself. There seems to be a delayed response for the hydraulics to kick in and it still moves after I stop turning the wheel. Might have to adjust it like you guys were saying.

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. Feb 9, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    So, was it worth it?
     
  10. Feb 9, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I would say so. I still have to make some final adjustments to the linkages too. Only time will tell how well it works.
     
  11. Feb 9, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    That sounds like an air pocket is stuck somewhere.
     
  12. Feb 9, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I was thinking that too. Tomorrow I'll pull the cylinder out and put the ports up to get the air out. That's my guess. I was just reading up the adjustment procedure for the valve. It doesn't seem to difficult to adjust.
     
  13. Feb 10, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Took Ted out on some trails and I'm totally sold on this. Granted it is snowy, but it steers much easier than the '46 2A I just got. I also don't even notice if the locker is engaged in the front or not.

    [​IMG]
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  14. Feb 10, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Have you read the bleeding proceedure as per the corvette sites?
     
  15. Feb 10, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I did, but I took the cylinder out and held it so the ports were facing up. I pushed it in and I could hear the air moving. I pulled it out and it was the same thing. So I started the jeep up and did the same thing until I could no longer hear the air. I think it was just trapped in the cylinder.
     
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  16. Feb 10, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    AH! You're not using the corvette cylinder, that may negate the standard bleeding procedure.
     
  17. Feb 10, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I used a 6" stroke, 1.5" diameter cylinder from summit racing. It was a kit from trail gear that is meant for toyota's with a solid front axle. I liked it because it had #6 JIC fittings on it.
     
  18. Feb 10, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    From these rebuild instructions that might be a bit large on the diameter-

    http://www.cssbinc.com/images/ads/howto/Instructions_Power_Steering_Cylinder_for_1963.pdf

    I guess it's a crap shoot between how much force you want for off-road situations (un-likely to be seen by a Corvette :D) and the pump's/valve's ability to to keep the cylinder up with fast/abrupt steering movements.

    Do you find the 6" stroke adequate? Seems a little short to me. :rolleyes:
     
  19. Feb 10, 2018
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Its actually a little long. I think there is about a 1/2" left of travel on either side. I figured that everyone who puts hydro assist on their rig uses a 1.5" diameter cylinder, there must be a reason. It works, and I am happy with it. If someone else does this, maybe they will find a more adequate cylinder. [​IMG]
     
  20. Feb 10, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Hey, if it works it works :)

    I've got both a Ford & the Packard cylinder to work with, we'll see what happens.

    Thanks for all the leg work on this, I'm certain others besides myself who want power steering but don't want to hack things up to fit a saggy box will find it extremely helpful :)
     
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