power steering to soft fj40 help

[marcovgv]

I did a saginaw PS conversion on my fj40. yesterday was the first test drive and I was concerned with how easy the steering wheel turns. I mean it almost feels as if the steering wheel is not connected and just spinning so freely. will adding a larger steering damper or maybe a return-to-center type damper help the issue?

I was looking at these Tough Dog XHD Return to Center Steering Damper/Stabilizer

let me know what you think.

thanks for all the help throughout the years, yesterdays test drive would not have been possible without all your guys help with my questions

marco

 

[kjohnson]

I did a saginaw PS conversion on my fj40. yesterday was the first test drive and I was concerned with how easy the steering wheel turns. I mean it almost feels as if the steering wheel is not connected and just spinning so freely. will adding a larger steering damper or maybe a return-to-center type damper help the issue?



marco

I will be interested to see what other guys have done, mine is the same way, thinking the steering damper would help.

Kevin

 

[John Smith]

Increasing the caster will aid in the return to center of your steering wheel. I just did the Saginaw swap also and you are correct that it has a very different "feel" than the stock steering. Kind of like a 70s era Cadillac it is almost over powered. When you lost all those extra linkages from the original system you lost some steering wheel "drag". I am not running a steering stabilizer and don't plan on installing one.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Put some 36" Swampers on it, you'll get that old feeling right back.

Seriously it took me while to get use to PS after driving a rig with a manual gear box. As long as the truck tracks straight, doesn't wonder around, and doesn't feel to "dodgy" I'd give it some time before I got to worried.

 

[marcovgv]

Im running 35x12.5r17 bfg mt km2s and it literally feels like im steering on air or like the truck is up on jackstands. no resistance whatsoever. its really wierd. ive driven all kinds of cars new and old with power steering from factory and converted and have never felt steering this "smooth " i guess you could call it. i will check the caster and advise. but I cant imagine it would make that much of a difference. any pros in running a damper or will it just create resistance but wear out the box quicker?

 

[rusty_tlc]

Im running 35x12.5r17 bfg mt km2s and it literally feels like im steering on air or like the truck is up on jackstands. no resistance whatsoever. its really wierd. ive driven all kinds of cars new and old with power steering from factory and converted and have never felt steering this "smooth " i guess you could call it. i will check the caster and advise. but I cant imagine it would make that much of a difference. any pros in running a damper or will it just create resistance but wear out the box quicker?

Does it feel like the steering responds too quickly? Do you have over steering?

 

[marcovgv]

no I dont think its to quick.

but please explain oversteer. when the steering reaches its limit righ or left. I do kind of feel like any more turn or preasure on the steering wheel might snap something .. if thats what your talking about. is there any way to limit that?

 

[kbill45]

ps box

smaller steering wheel will help some. most of the old 4 bolt boxes had the same casting # 569-1676 but they had several different ratios from 3.5 to 4.1 turns. check the ratio first.
a 3 bolt box is usually around 3 turns. for a normal tire size I use the mini truck(79 to 85) set up.