_Remi

Hi,

I had a power steering before and I had it removed for the usual reasons (terrible loose feeling and leaking problems). I really like what I have now but it is really heavy (I have 225 on the front).

I have been told that installing a power steering removal kit and keeping the original steering box makes it very heavy. Would it be nice to have it change to use a manual steering box?

I don't want to go rack and pinion, it seems crazy expensive. I was just wondering if there was a "cheap" (i.e. $500 max) to make it a little lighter.

Thanks!

calbear289

I installed a manual steering adapter that takes the place of the control valve, and I really like the way it drives. It's a bit heavy in parking lots, but not too bad once you get going. I replaced my stock idler arm with a rollerized one from Opentracker which lightened up the steering a bit as well.

Stepman

Wimp! No, really. I have always had manual. After my box wore out, I replaced it with the only other box I could find at the wrecking yard which was a power box. There is a LITTLE difference but not really enough to complain about. Why not just get a manual box?


AND...what is a power steering removal kit?

Starfury

There are no such things as "power" and "manual" steering boxes for early Mustangs. A steering box is a steering box. GT and power steering cars got 16:1 boxes, non-GT m/s cars got 19:1 or 22:1 boxes, depending on the year. In addition, there were 7 different boxes used in '67, depending on options and when the car was built.

Basically, you're running the same setup as a GT car from '67. Switching to the 19:1 box will make it easier to turn the wheel, but it also requires just shy of 5 full turns lock to lock, whereas your current wheel is about 4 turns. As a non-GT m/s car owner, I'm looking at swapping to a 16:1 box to improve steering response.

You might look at a roller idler, as calbear mentioned. It helps smooth the steering out a bit, and slightly reduces steering effort. It does reduce the return-to-center function of the steering, though, but you can mostly fix it by running more caster.

knuckless

ill trade you my manual steering box, pitman arm and center link if you want

tx65coupe

My 65 has manual steering and the steering box was completely shot. It now has a quick ratio steering box out of a 66 parts car that had power steering. My car is still manual steering. I haven't been able to drive it yet to tell if there is a noticable difference. I imagine it will be harder to turn while trying to park, but the rest of the time the quick ratio should be more responsive and fun to drive. You could go 215 or 205 up front instead of 225. This is why I decided to go 215 front and 235 rear.

urban_cowboy

Well said, Starfury.

There are two different sector sizes and two different shaft sizes used in classic mustangs. I am not sure what you have, but I am pretty sure Flaming River only sells the 16:1 for the sector size and shaft you have. Maybe you can find a 19:1 somewhere, but I cannot tell you where to look.

Starfury

Since he has a '67, we actually don't know whether he has a short or long input either. That was the split, in about May of '67.