Power steering "chatter"

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Zuluman

Zuluman

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The front suspension of my 1975 Valiant is built by "Control Freak Suspensions" with power-assisted rack and pinion steering.

I'm using the factory power steering pump which connects to the steering rack with Mustang II lines. The wheels are 7" x 17" American Racing Salt Flats with 245/45 YR17 91 Pirelli P-Zero Assimetrico tyres.

My problem is that the power steering chatters during low-speed maneuvers (eg - parking) in the same manner as when the old system was at full right- or left lock.

My guess is that this may be due to the pump itself (capacity, speed), the tyres (significantly wider than stock), or a combination of both. But I'm not sure. Any suggestions, Gentlemen ?
 

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A smaller diameter pulley on that ps pump would up the GPM at low engine rpm.
 
Chevy Lumina vans had this problem too. The fix for that was to install a new ps hose that was knurled on the inside. Maybe something like that exists in the aftermarket?
 
RedFish said:
A smaller diameter pulley on that ps pump would up the GPM at low engine rpm.
Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking of too. There's more fluid in the rack & pinion steering than the original steering box. That would call for a shorter belt as well.

Best regards,

Zuluman
 
a rack requires quite abit more pressure, without the pressure the belt will chatter at low speeds and can even stop the pump

mopar mucle had an article for lowering the pressure by installing (thicker?) shims in the pump. my guess is you could install thinner shims for higher pressures

also you can get PS pumps built for racks now off ebay for mopar

it looks like your using an old federal pump, which is lower pressure from the newer signaw pump built in the late 70's and 80's
 
66plyValiant said:
a rack requires quite abit more pressure, without the pressure the belt will chatter at low speeds and can even stop the pump

mopar mucle had an article for lowering the pressure by installing (thicker?) shims in the pump. my guess is you could install thinner shims for higher pressures

also you can get PS pumps built for racks now off ebay for mopar

it looks like your using an old federal pump, which is lower pressure from the newer signaw pump built in the late 70's and 80's
Click to expand...

Thanks. Just to confirm, I believe you are referring to the company "Saginaw" ? I'll also follow up on the use of thinner shims, but can you help me ? I'm not an angophone and I don't know what you mean by the word "shim". Can you pls provide a photo or drawing ?

Merci,

Zuluman
 
Zuluman said:
Thanks. Just to confirm, I believe you are referring to the company "Saginaw" ? I'll also follow up on the use of thinner shims, but can you help me ? I'm not an angophone and I don't know what you mean by the word "shim". Can you pls provide a photo or drawing ?

Merci,

Zuluman
Click to expand...

There is an article called "pump it down" and it described how to give more road feel and less overpower of the pump by using a thicker washer between the pump body and pressure regulator valve.
The idea is that the farther out the valve sits in the pump, the less pressure the pump put out.

He is referring to that article thinking maybe upping the pressure on your pump may be possible by using a thinner washer.
Here's the article [ame]http://www.moparaction.com/tech/beep/PUMP_IT_DOWN-re-v1.4.pdf[/ame]
 
Saginaw power steering pumps were in most Mopars ~1973 - 1981, thru Dodge Aspens and Plymouth Volares. The pump has a tall reservoir, not round like your pump. You need the mounting brackets too. I don't know much about brackets for a slant six. I did take a large bracket off a Volare slant that had a Sanden compressor and a Saginaw pump further out. Might have been after-market. I left the pump in the junkyard. Some after-market, like Bouichillon Performance, sell brackets for Mopar, but I don't recall if they have one for a slant.

BTW, "shim" means a thin washer or (flat sheet-metal) used to adjust spacing. As a verb, it means "make a position adjustment". Don't feel bad. Much of the lingo here is new to English speakers too, and is "Greek" to all new-comers. To elaborate, "Greek to me" is a U.S. expression for something new that you have no understanding about.
 
TrailBeast said:
There is an article called "pump it down" and it described how to give more road feel and less overpower of the pump by using a thicker washer between the pump body and pressure regulator valve.
The idea is that the farther out the valve sits in the pump, the less pressure the pump put out.

He is referring to that article thinking maybe upping the pressure on your pump may be possible by using a thinner washer.
Here's the article http://www.moparaction.com/tech/beep/PUMP_IT_DOWN-re-v1.4.pdf
Click to expand...

Thank you for the article. I've printed it and will follow up on any adjustments I can make. In the interim, I've tightend the drive belt and that seems to have helped.

Zuluman
 
BillGrissom said:
Saginaw power steering pumps were in most Mopars ~1973 - 1981, thru Dodge Aspens and Plymouth Volares. The pump has a tall reservoir, not round like your pump. You need the mounting brackets too. I don't know much about brackets for a slant six. I did take a large bracket off a Volare slant that had a Sanden compressor and a Saginaw pump further out. Might have been after-market. I left the pump in the junkyard. Some after-market, like Bouichillon Performance, sell brackets for Mopar, but I don't recall if they have one for a slant.

BTW, "shim" means a thin washer or (flat sheet-metal) used to adjust spacing. As a verb, it means "make a position adjustment". Don't feel bad. Much of the lingo here is new to English speakers too, and is "Greek" to all new-comers. To elaborate, "Greek to me" is a U.S. expression for something new that you have no understanding about.
Click to expand...

My car appears to have the tall, cylindrical reservoir. I shall do all I can to increase the pressure in the system.

And thank you for the etymological enlightenment ! I'm not a native anglophone so some things are not immediately obvious. The problem is compounded by the Brits haveing different expressions from the Americans for the same part (I also own a 1981 Triumph TR7 16-valve Sprint cabriolet).

Zuluman
 
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