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  1. #1

    Default Power Steering Pump

    I've always felt that the power steering in my 85 GT is too light. Short of swapping out to a manual rack, is there a way to increase steering effort? Maybe a custom larger pulley to slow it down or a flow restrictor of some sort?
    1985 GT owned since new

  2. #2
    FEP Power Member 4-barrel Mike's Avatar
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    Perhaps: http://www.heidts.com/part/adjustabl...-valve-ps-101/ ??

    They sometimes show up on eBay for less.

    Mike

  3. #3

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    I recently started a long discussion on Fast Foxbodies on FB about the same thing. The easiest option I found was to change the alignment. Lucky for me my buddy owns a shop with an alignment rack so we tried three different settings on my car and I feel right now its the best it can be but not perfect.
    We ended up adding as much caster as my MM camber/caster plates could give me and almost double the toe out
    Brian R. of Michigan
    83 TBird 5.0
    88 Ranger 2.3t
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...83-Tbird-build

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by 4-barrel Mike View Post
    Perhaps: http://www.heidts.com/part/adjustabl...-valve-ps-101/ ??

    They sometimes show up on eBay for less.

    Mike
    Thanks, I had found something similar awhile back but was getting conflicting info in my searches about the best way to accomplish it. I have a mini-lathe and was thinking I could make several different orifices to try out.
    1985 GT owned since new

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by deathbypsi View Post
    We ended up adding as much caster as my MM camber/caster plates could give me and almost double the toe out
    I don't currently have caster/camber plates, but have considered that as well. Thanks.
    1985 GT owned since new

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by 4-barrel Mike View Post
    Perhaps: http://www.heidts.com/part/adjustabl...-valve-ps-101/ ??

    They sometimes show up on eBay for less.

    Mike
    Nice! Never seen that one before. Seems like a great idea. I wonder why it's not something that's not mentioned/used more especially with all the "Fox Mustang PS system is over-boosted" comments/feedback throughout the years?

    OP, don't forget a great upgrade for Foxes is swapping to a SN95 rack or preferably a '03-04 Cobra unit. I've done the swap and I'm pretty happy with the road feel. It was a little costly but I think worth it.
    '85 GT

  7. #7
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    I went with:
    - reman stock 86 PS pump
    - aftermarket fluid cooler replacing stock loop
    - synthetic PS fluid
    - reman stock 86 rack
    - off the shelf underdrive crank pulley
    - 93 Cobra style "overdrive" water pump pulley sourced from Summit
    - 93 cobra length belt
    - X2 balljoints
    - SN95 spindles
    - 99 GT calipers
    - Baer drilled/slotted rotors
    - stock GT springs
    - 87-93 struts
    - new A-arm bushings
    - MM SN95 on fox bumpsteer kit
    - Camber bolts
    - HPM caster/camber plates set max caster, 2 degrees camber, zero toe
    - 245/45/17 tires on SN95 tribar rims

    I have zero complaints about steering feel or performance. I honestly prefer the steering feel on my 1986 Mustang over my new Lincoln MKX now.

    I don't know what would happen if I went with an 03-04 rack swap. I've heard good things from others on the topic...... openly I do not see any changes in the frontend coming an time soon. My car drives better than it ever has and has outstanding street manners. It also does very well when pushed towards the edge.

    Any time I want a reminder of how much progress I've made I drive my son's stock 86 mustang. Night and day different.

    I do need to get busy on shortening the 93 4cyl springs a 1/2 coil and installing my MM panhard in the rear, etc. Time for progress has been so short though.

  8. #8
    FEP Super Member cb84capri's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by swearint View Post
    I've always felt that the power steering in my 85 GT is too light. Short of swapping out to a manual rack, is there a way to increase steering effort? Maybe a custom larger pulley to slow it down or a flow restrictor of some sort?
    Increasing caster does get rid of a lot of the over-booosted feeling. A larger pulley off of a v6 foureye and a crank underdrive pulley got rid of the rest of it for me. Be warned though, increasing caster throws off the bumpsteer geometry and you really should dial bumpsteer back in with adjustable tie rods (bumpsteer kit).

    Cale
    Last edited by cb84capri; 07-27-2017 at 11:49 PM.

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    I have numerous Foxes and all seem to have decent power steering (84 SVO, 85 McLaren, 88 McLaren, 92 GT). My 89 LX Sport has heavy steering. Everything seems to be in good shape but it's still heavy. There is a pressure relief at the high pressure outlet fitting on the pump. Just remove the line and then unscrew the fitting from the pump. The pressure relief valve will drop out. BTW, the plastic reservoir housing can be removed a this point as well. I have not tried changing the valve out yet. If it is a pump pressure problem, this should affect it. If not, then its probably in the rack.
    Fox Body/3rd Gen MCA Gold Card Judge
    84 SVO 24K miles, 85 Mclaren Capri Vert. 84 GT Turbo Vert.
    88 Mclaren Mustang Vert 20K miles, 89 Mustang LX Sport Vert,
    03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
    14 Mustang CS/GT, 15 F150 FTX Tuscany, 16 F250 Crewcab, 67 Tbird 47K miles

  10. #10
    FEP Super Member cb84capri's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KevinK View Post
    I have numerous Foxes and all seem to have decent power steering (84 SVO, 85 McLaren, 88 McLaren, 92 GT). My 89 LX Sport has heavy steering. Everything seems to be in good shape but it's still heavy. There is a pressure relief at the high pressure outlet fitting on the pump. Just remove the line and then unscrew the fitting from the pump. The pressure relief valve will drop out. BTW, the plastic reservoir housing can be removed a this point as well. I have not tried changing the valve out yet. If it is a pump pressure problem, this should affect it. If not, then its probably in the rack.
    Don't even touch that thing! Leave it in the pump. If you take it out, there is a very good chance it will not go back in. I learned this the hard way when I rebuilt my Capri's pump. If that flow control valve isn't in there, the steering is really hard. I bought a reman pump for my truck that was missing it, and my friend's 85 Capri came to him with that valve missing as well. Now I try to avoid buying reman power steering parts at all costs because quality control is non existent across the board. I know a guy that had a reman power steering rack come apart at 50mph in his 97 Trans Am right after installing it.

    Cale

  11. #11

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    Thanks for the comments everyone. I have found conflicting info in my previous research. Here is an article I found stating it is a function of flow rather than pressure: https://www.turnone-steering.com/blo...essure-vs-flow

    They have a flow restrictor but it is more than I would want to spend. I may do some experiments using various orifices if I can find an easy way to do it.
    1985 GT owned since new

  12. #12
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    The torsion bar and ratio control weight, the valving is a complicated feedback mechanisim understood by few people. As Ford reduced the low geared nature of the first Mustang II/ Australian Cortina derived steering rack, the weight went on. All Ford power steeering was always set up for a Jaguar like 4 pound rim pull at parking just before full lock, then about the tim Chrysler added Firm Feel steering packages in its Alphabet cars, Ford went to the SVO steering ratio, tire size and Gatorbacks. Going from awful thin 190 section tires to 225 and 245 section tires also helped, and so did the 87 on wards caster and camber changes, and the Ackerman revision to suit the 5 to 8" shorter wheelbase.

    I'd never fiddle with a power steering rack...I did so with my 82 Cortina, the exact same 3.25 truns lock to steering rack, and when my 81 Mustang felt so light and waffly, I just left it allone and dealt with it.

    My steering specialist Bryan Rusbatch in New Zealand said it best..."The Ford Cortina/ Mustang/ Sierra XR4i based rack and pinion power steering is a Jensen/ Jag / Aston Martin rip off, and the only way to safely control weight is with the torsion bar size upgrade, the way Jaguar did it between 1981 and 1984. Its a complicated feedback system. You can try variable assistance like the Japanese and GM Holden did with the Commodore rack and pinion, and the power steering pump is metered with a very small pump like the Mitsubishi Starion , but you have to decide if you want engine speed, which gives you weight change with gear changes, or Servotronic/Hydroboost, which is way on the next step for complication. Re-valving is not an option".

    I'd go the similar to Colt Sapparo small seperate reservoir 1989-1993 3.8 Super Coupe control system

    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...steering-racks

  13. #13

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    I took that valve out of the side of the power steering pump and swapped in the heaviest of the 3 springs i had handy (new one from reman pump, old from old pump, and a spare). Didn't seem like that big of a deal.

    I'm curious to see where this thread goes though.
    Brad

    '79 Mercury Zephyr ES 5.0L GT40 EFI, T-5
    '17 Ford Focus ST
    '14 Ford Fusion SE Manual

  14. #14
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    Solution is to Send a message via Skype to Jack Hidley:- http://vb.foureyedpride.com/sendmess...=skype&u=12645


    Power steering rebuilds are easy, and production parts swaps are too. Once you go off the accepted Ford endorsed process parts, you then have and engineering matter.


    Here are 4 other solutions, not all of them good ones.

    1. "Power Steering Pump Spring Modification"
    http://forums.corral.net/forums/gene...g-mod-mfe.html

    2. The old MM solution was the sold out lower assistance P/S Pump.<---- Best given the 0.245" torsion bar steering rack avaliablity matters

    3. The Heidts adjuster, well, if you can find one, you'll need some engineering advice IMHO.


    4. Jaguar and Ford found the bigger torsion bar was the answer. The best solution in my opinion. As you'll appeciate, the SPR endorsed racks are hard to track.

    Jack




    Flipped over

    The tag to the left has the real information about the rack. The three letters on the bottom right of the tag are SPR, but they are backwards because the tag is flipped over

    and others have posted the best candidate numbers before...

    https://www.svtperformance.com/forum...get-it.680429/

    they are pretty thin on ground. Your got fortunate with yours....

    SN95's are a better steering rack. Jack Hidley notes the importance of the SPR Process control program endorsed racks...you'll find a proper rack is the first option, not the other systems.


    http://www.mustangandfords.com/how-t...ered-straight/


    Quote Originally Posted by qtrracer View Post
    There is a "spring mod" you can do. It is simple and helps but the only true solution is to get a rack with more tension in the torsion bar, similar to the sn95 especially the 2000 Cobra R and the 03/04 Cobra racks. AGR also makes a "performance" t-bar rack but a lot of guys have had trouble with that one. In any event, here is a thread explaining the pump-spring mod: ---> http://forums.corral.net/forums/show....php?t=1112293

  15. #15
    FEP Member vdubn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by qikgts View Post
    OP, don't forget a great upgrade for Foxes is swapping to a SN95 rack or preferably a '03-04 Cobra unit. I've done the swap and I'm pretty happy with the road feel. It was a little costly but I think worth it.
    I've been looking to find information on this swap, but haven't been able to find one place that has all of the information in one spot. Can you post a list of what is needed for this swap, or a link to someone that has already made such a list?

    Thanks

  16. #16
    FEP Supporter
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    Quote Originally Posted by vdubn View Post
    I've been looking to find information on this swap, but haven't been able to find one place that has all of the information in one spot. Can you post a list of what is needed for this swap, or a link to someone that has already made such a list?

    Thanks
    From what I recall, and keep in mind my car has 87-93 V8 spindles and brakes:

    I installed a used '03 Cobra rack and had 87-93 Fox V8 style inner tie rods put in it.
    I used the Maximum Motorsports conversion steering shaft.
    Initially I used 87-93 Fox V8 style tie rod ends and later swapped to a 87-93 Fox V8 style MM bumpsteer kit.

    Hope this helps...
    '85 GT

  17. #17

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    Awesome thread. Answered so many questions I had. ��������

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