Power Steering Question

[NYCARGUY]

I recently purchased my MKIV roadster from its original owner. It has power steering and the steering is a bit light for me. It looks like it has a March performance GM gen 2 type power steering pump (part p315). I'm planning to order the shim kit to reduce the pressure to the rack. If someone could please let me know what the operating pressure for the FF factory power steering rack, it would be much appreciated. Also if anyone has experience using a Turn One Steering Flow Restrictor instead of the shims would appreciate hearing about your experience. Thanks.

[mburger]

Just curious, if you’re thinking flow restriction, why not go with the Heidts valve?

[johnnybgoode]

I used this kit from Borgeson to reduce the pressure in my GM type II pump to about 900-1000 PSI (3 shims if I remember right, it's in the instructions) which works well with my Mustang rack and has a nice feel. Scott

160019

[cob427sc]

You definitely need the pressure reducing valve available from many sources and used throughout the hot rod world. I tried driving a hot rod without it several years ago and can't believe someone drove a cobra without the valve. Must have felt like there was no connection to the road. Easy parallel parking I guess.

[Jacob McCrea]

This doesn't answer the exact question but I offer it in case it helps: I just used the Borgeson $20 shim kit in a 1970 Grand Prix to try to make it steer more like a modern car. I ended up using all 5 shims in the Borgeson kit and the reduction in steering effort was noticeable, but not as much as I would have liked. Next time I feel like digging into it, I'll install a flow restrictor fitting. There are some articles and forum threads on the internet saying essentially that you want to reduce both flow rate and pressure with the flow restrictor and the shim kit, respectively, and that just reducing the pressure is not the best way to accomplish what you are trying to do. Or use the Heidt's valve. That's all the info I have and hope it helps.

[NYCARGUY]

thank you everyone. I was planning on using a heidt's valve but am thinking it would be preferable to use shims and/or a flow restrictor given all the addition fittings and plumbing that would be needed to retrofit the heidt's valve