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Power steering       #: 422
 Moderated by: NoPower, Mike69, MaDMaXX
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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 01:39 am
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JAMMAN

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 Mine isn't noisy LOL.

What can you do for power steering? Are there any upgrades? The last 3 rangers I have driven including my DD could steer a little easier, you kinda have to fight it. My explorer and mountaineer were much easier and I had 2 crown vics that were like butter, one finger steering.

Can you turn the pressure up or is there a rack upgrade or?



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 02:45 pm
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mhoward
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 That's a good question, the answer to which I would be interested to know as well.



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 03:17 pm
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CBB9M
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 My observation and experience has been that vintage, one finger power steering that provided virtually no road feel at all fell from favor with all but the eldest of drivers back in the 80's (even the 70's on some cars). The replacement power steering designs are more of a compromise that deliver much improved road feel, tighter ratio and thus the quicker response that people like, yet still make parallel parking something that the most petite of people can do without breaking a sweat and/or blocking rush hour, downtown traffic. Gotta remember that a lot of the old people that kept that one finger power steering around for so long were also people who remembered what life was like when cars weren't available with the feature, so being able to twiddle the steering wheel with one finger when a car was stopped was quite a big deal back in the day.

Last edited on Thu Dec 28th, 2017 03:19 pm by CBB9M



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 04:04 pm
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mhoward
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 Yeah, I remember a 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 my dad had. You couldn't feel the road at all, which was a drastic difference to my 1966 Olds F85 with NO power steering. I just wish the Ranger was a bit easier, but I don't want the "no road feel" like the Dodge.



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 05:01 pm
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CBB9M
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 Thinking back on this plus having owned five first year Firebirds (goofy one finger power steering with the numb, no road feel), I do recall how steering was made easier for manual steering cars. Gigantic steering wheels, LARGE diameter and therefore, lots of torque input to that steering box. Steering wheel swap of some kind maybe? :)



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 06:57 pm
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MaDMaXX

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 Power steering should be an assist in my eyes, and i echo the whole feeling/feedback thing already mentioned.

However, if you feel that the steering seems a little stiff and/or strained, it would suggest it might need flushing and/or new fluid.


From all my reading on specifically Ford pumps, on top of what i know on power steering in the first place, people throw in any old fluid - which is fine and will work, but won't last the same.

ATF is specified, MerconV has been the variation of ATF specified for many years now, full synthetic MerconV is better still.

Stiff and/or slightly uncooperative power steering needs new oil if there aren't any other issues with it.


I'm just about to throw in some additive to mine (not that thick molasses crap) not to fix any issues with weight or operation, just to see if it will quieten it down any.

I'll get some feedback in here on the results, lots of the additives out there (if they're not for leak stopping) do advertise smoother steering etc etc. all the buzzwords.



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 08:00 pm
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 My '72 Ranger did not have power steering, power brakes, or power anything but to the rear wheels. That was my first truck that I bought for $400 in 1978 and it had flipped the odometer twice according to the plumber I bought it from.



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 08:06 pm
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MaDMaXX

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 Very few things outside of America had power steering, chassis design and overall weight meant it wasn't really needed - with the advent and more common use of power steering, designs changed to the point where you can't just remove it from most vehicles that were designed with it.



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 08:44 pm
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mhoward
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 CBB9M wrote: Thinking back on this plus having owned five first year Firebirds (goofy one finger power steering with the numb, no road feel), I do recall how steering was made easier for manual steering cars. Gigantic steering wheels, LARGE diameter and therefore, lots of torque input to that steering box. Steering wheel swap of some kind maybe? :)
Yeah, I did do a steering wheel swap on the Olds... to a little walnut custom jobby that you probably remember seeing around in the '60s and '70s... you may have had one or two yourself.  Kind of went the opposite direction with the whole torque thing though...



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 08:54 pm
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JAMMAN

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 I'm old and want my one finger steering back!!!!

I had a friend in school with an old chevy (forgot the model but it had a 409) and when parked you could start the steering wheel in one direction, it would continue turning by itself till the end of the limit. That is too much but I would like it to be softer than it is. Eventually.



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 Posted: Thu Dec 28th, 2017 09:03 pm
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mhoward
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 The last year for the 409 was 1965, so your friends' Chevy was that or older (1960 - 1965). I remember seeing some of those steering wheel antics... pretty scary if you think about it.



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 Posted: Fri Dec 29th, 2017 12:50 am
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MaDMaXX

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 I put in that treatment this afternoon and went for a few short drives locally - for now i'll say that i don't think there is any difference in my case.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 30th, 2017 12:08 am
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Mike69

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 Every one of the old Mustangs I have owned had that "numb/no road feel" steering which I hated always having to correct the steering to keep it straight. Me for one I like the steering feel in my 2000 Ranger, it steers fine for me. Remember you are driving a truck not a luxury car or any car for that matter.



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 Posted: Sat Dec 30th, 2017 02:29 pm
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mhoward
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 Wait... my truck isn't luxury? LOL

I had a 1969 Mustang coupe and I don't remember the power steering being that easy.  Now granted, I swapped the wheel out for a walnut 3-spoke Grant custom steering wheel which was smaller. Ah, memory fades...



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