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Bigger power steering pump pulley?

13K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  xxllmm4 
#1 ·
Hey everyone,

Just curious can you install a larger power steering pulley to slow the pump down and get a little more road feel? It feels way over boosted to me. Its a Chevy PS pump with a Volare front end.

Thanks
 
#2 ·
Using a larger pulley would reduce boost across the range, so it would make it harder to turn at low speeds. I don't know how the pump works, but my guess is that at road speed you would be running the pump fast enough to have full boost, so it might not improve feel at all.

I think you would have better results with a variable ratio steering box, or a way to vary pump pressure. Variable ratio boxes are not that unusual, but there may not be one for your vehicle. One of the Honda's I had several years ago used a mechanical speed sensor in the PS pump line, and it reduced the steering boost as soon as you went above a certain road speed. You could turn the wheel with your pinky at idle, but it retained very good feel at road speed.

Bruce
 
#3 ·
If your steering is feeling to loose they make flow control valve that decreases the flow of the GM pump for around $28. We use these for cars with GM pumps on MII racks.It drop the flow 1 Gallon per minute. For pressure problems there is a shim kit that goes in behind the valve on the pump,but it is trial and error.I would try the flow valve first this works 90% of the time.
 
#5 ·
I'll throw my two cents in here too-as has been mentioned, your Pump is putting too much pressure to the Rack, and causing the "over-sensitive" feel-while it is time consuming (and a bit messy) to shim the pressure valve, that is the best way to handle the situation (IMHO)-many "diverter" or "pressure control" valves certainly do the job (I think they are band-aids.,as you are not directly addressing the problem where it begins), however you are still putting the Oil through an additional orifice, which will generally heat the oil-
 
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