Pump It Down....EASY

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I didn't read all the posts (a lot), so someone might have said it already but, I used a copper washer from a brake caliper hose to caliper fitting washer on mine. It's a perfect fit. Some may like a lighter or firmer feel, so you'll have to make washer adjustments, (thickness) but works great & it was free cause' I had the washers lying around.
It is time consuming doing this mod, but well worth it.
 
Does someone actually have a picture of WHERE the shims install in a Federal pump? Thank you drive through.
 
Just to add info, I pulled my 73 Challenger Saginaw pump out for a rebuild and found 3 washers measuring .072.
The car was always a little loosey goosey but no problems.
I have added .030 as a test with a locally built firm feel chuck.
It's not back up and running yet but i am sure of improvement.
One change I made before rebuild was to install a tuff wheel with a smaller diameter.

This made a noticeable difference in feel because of decreased radius.
 
Since Jeff started this thread, I found and clicked on Del's link to Rick's article. As stated perfection is not required but he recommended adding .062. I started with a brake washer as well, ground and filed a bit. Tomorrow I'll install and test if the monsoons quit. I don’t know what is in the 68, but both these pumps had the same skinny shim.

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I thought that my pump was the problem.

I put a pressure tester on my Federal and found that the pump only put out 3 or 4 hundred pounds while turning the wheels. When I dead headed it, I got 750lbs. My steering had "pinky" steering mode, which was terrible.

We have a guy here in Ontario that "firm feels" steering boxes and is 3rd generation doing it. Don't shoot the messenger, but he scoffed at the idea of "pumping it down". I had him build my box and it is freaking amazing. My steering feels like assisted manual at all times (can palm the wheel in a parking lot), and the car handles beautifully down the road.......LOL, best of all, it was $395 CDN, and a 2 day turn around.
 
I thought that my pump was the problem.

I put a pressure tester on my Federal and found that the pump only put out 3 or 4 hundred pounds while turning the wheels. When I dead headed it, I got 750lbs. My steering had "pinky" steering mode, which was terrible.

We have a guy here in Ontario that "firm feels" steering boxes and is 3rd generation doing it. Don't shoot the messenger, but he scoffed at the idea of "pumping it down". I had him build my box and it is freaking amazing. My steering feels like assisted manual at all times (can palm the wheel in a parking lot), and the car handles beautifully down the road.......LOL, best of all, it was $395 CDN, and a 2 day turn around.

Who is the guy?
 
I pulled the 68 valve and it had a slightly larger shim. My combo ended up at .093. I put them on the spare valve I had. It feels tighter sitting still in the shop. Too muddy. But I tried to place the skinniest shim onto the 68 original valve and it would not tighten. Must be some variables in production out there. Meh, no worries.

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