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steering effort |
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Ralph G.
AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/06/2016 Location: Cincinnati Status: Offline Points: 185 |
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Posted: Apr/15/2018 at 9:47am |
The biggest complaint I have with my '68 AMX concerns the power steering. It is so feather light and devoid of feel that driving on winding roads is almost scary. (I have read old road tests that complained of the same thing.) I'm thinking of installing one of those adjustable valves that reduce the amount of steering assist. Does anyone here have any experience with using one of them? Alternately, I have considered replacing my power steering box with a factory manual or (preferably) a quick-ratio manual box. Do these units have any better road feel without raising steering effort to unbearable levels? The car is used for car show and highway cruising use, so parallel parking is not much of a concern. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
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304-dude
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/29/2008 Location: Central Illinoi Status: Offline Points: 9082 |
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I had a manual box on my 71. It must have been a quick ratio, as it was a bear to drive in the parking lots, or from making a standing u turn at the light.
I could live the manual box away from city driving, but that is it. I had fairly good feel with the GM box on my 73, but I too expected better sporty road feel. It was no better than driving any other GM full sized car of that period. |
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71 Javelin SST body
390 69 crank, 70 block & heads NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons 78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low 50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension 79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker |
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tyrodtom
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/14/2007 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 6214 |
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Any manual steering box is going to give you better road feel, but the quicker steering they have, the more muscle it's gonna take.
How much is too much effort to steer is a personal choice, everybody's is different. You might be happier converting to one of the more modern Saginaw, faster steering power steering boxes. Plus I think their effort can be adjusted. In my opinion, any time you reduce steering effort, you lose some road feel. All road feel is you feeling that the front wheels get easier to turn as they lose road grip. It's still there in a low effort steering system, it's that the difference in the effort is so small most people won't feel it.
Edited by tyrodtom - Apr/15/2018 at 11:26am |
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66 American SW, 66 American 2dr, 82 J10, 70 Hornet, Pound, Va.
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Ralph G.
AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/06/2016 Location: Cincinnati Status: Offline Points: 185 |
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I had a Firebird 400 and a Dodge Super Bee with manual steering back in the day, but I don't know if I want to relive the total experience any more. The Super bee was a real bear to parallel park. And I'm 40 years older now!
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Sonic Silver
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Nov/23/2011 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 7969 |
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The front tire size also makes quite a bit of difference in steering effort on a manual car, too.
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purple72Gremlin
AMC Addicted Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 16614 |
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I believe the 1968 & 69 AMXs have a same ratio box. I think 1970 and later have a variable ratio box.......maybe an improvement?
Also... caster can make a difference. more caster makes it harder to steer, but will track better, less caster makes it easier to steer, but will wander.....(All things created equal)
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Ollie
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/17/2012 Location: Brandon, MS Status: Offline Points: 2803 |
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That's the way power steering was in the day. All of them, regardless of the manufacture, were very sensitive.
Steering wheels were bigger to make turning easier too. Silver Sonic is correct as most use tire sizes bigger than in the day. Its been my experience, that I prefer manual steering. Most of my driving tends to be highway. as tyrodtom says....everybody is different. Having AMC Fun, Ollie |
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1966 American Convertible -- "The Rambler"..SOLD
1974 Postal Jeep -- "Rapid Delivery"...SOLD 1969 Rambler 220 post car--"Road Warrior" 1989 Jeep Comanche Pioneer, 4.0L, auto, 2wd |
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Ralph G.
AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/06/2016 Location: Cincinnati Status: Offline Points: 185 |
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When I had the car aligned I asked the shop to put in some more caster. I also installed a smaller steering wheel to possibly increase the effort needed to steer the car. The tires are 225/70R14's. Still steers WAY too easy for my taste. Maybe the adjustable valve is worth looking into.
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Sonic Silver
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Nov/23/2011 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 7969 |
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one bad rambler
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/09/2008 Location: On The Island Status: Offline Points: 2007 |
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68 AMX 390 4 Speed,68 American,64 American 2 Door Wagon Altered Wheelbase,78 Concord Build 360,727,8.8
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