Slow, Driving Rustoration 1972 Dart
You can make minor adjustments to the box worm and sector gear to tighten it up, also if your 72 runs a saginaw steering pump "ham can style", try lowering the pump pressure. Mopar V8 steering pumps are notoriously over pressured compared to slanty 6 pumps, peobably because of the extra weight from the V8. Typical output is 1,100 psi. This gives a floaty boaty disconnected feel. Dropping it to 800-850 psi still gives enough assist for low speed turning and parking, but keeps the pressure low enough for a decent road feel, and tightens up the box feel. This little number below is about $15 and easily installed without full dissassembly of the pump.
If you dont have headers, and have enough exhaust clearance, add a 69 C body pitman arm and idler arm. They are slightly longer, will move the centerlink back about 1 inch and will increase the ratio speed and decrease turns from lock to lock making it feel more like rack and pinion. This only jacks up ackerman angle at full lock for parking. Was a trick used on trans am dodge challengers and plymouth cudas to get fast ratio steering back in 1970.
You can make minor adjustments to the box worm and sector gear to tighten it up, also if your 72 runs a saginaw steering pump "ham can style", try lowering the pump pressure. Mopar V8 steering pumps are notoriously over pressured compared to slanty 6 pumps, peobably because of the extra weight from the V8. Typical output is 1,100 psi. This gives a floaty boaty disconnected feel. Dropping it to 800-850 psi still gives enough assist for low speed turning and parking, but keeps the pressure low enough for a decent road feel, and tightens up the box feel. This little number below is about $15 and easily installed without full dissassembly of the pump.
If you dont have headers, and have enough exhaust clearance, add a 69 C body pitman arm and idler arm. They are slightly longer, will move the centerlink back about 1 inch and will increase the ratio speed and decrease turns from lock to lock making it feel more like rack and pinion. This only jacks up ackerman angle at full lock for parking. Was a trick used on trans am dodge challengers and plymouth cudas to get fast ratio steering back in 1970.
