Heidts power hydro power steering adjustment valve

[golfobsessed71@gmail.com]

Anyone using the Heidts adjustment value with their hydro power steering?

How much can I adjust or better question how many turns, all the way in is full assist, want to take a bit of assist out for freeway driving and I read I can back the valve out (counter clockwise) too much and perhaps cause problems.

How many turns from all the way in to all the way or "too much" out if anyone is familiar with this set up.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I’ve run one for almost 15 years on mine. I go to full assist for autocross and road course then back it out about 3 turns in the street. The car actually drives the same either way but I just like a little more resistance at the wheel for everyday driving.

Heff

[mburger]

Because I haven’t yet tracked my Cobra, I wasn’t getting the benefit out of the valve, which is the ability to adjust the boost for your use, just the way “Heff” uses it. I took mine out to limit leak points and additional hoses in the engine compartment.
For me, it was half turns at a time until it felt right with my tire pressures and alignment.

[golfobsessed71@gmail.com]

Thanks guys...frankly wasn't sure if half a turn could make a difference or a dozen turns.

I do enjoy the full assist around town but think I want a little more resistance on the freeway

I'm gonna try a number of rides tomorrow with small increments

[weendoggy]

I've had mine for over 20yrs. First use was with the stock Ford p/s pump. You needed to relieve the pressure on that for sure and some did the cut spring, washer, etc. but for finesse, use the valve. I had it almost full restriction because the steering was wicked. I switched to a GM Type II pump (much better) and have been able to dial in a better feel with the valve. I don't touch it for street or track driving, quick ratio rack and 14" wheel since day one.

[2bking]

I had a problem with mine when I tried to back off of full assist by a few turns. It did add resistance to the steering effort but when trying to do quick turns such as a U-turn with low engine RPMs, the rack needed more volume than the lower pressure setting would provide, and it ran out of assistance about mid-way through the turn. I was suddenly in manual steering mode. I turned the pressure back to full and locked the adjuster. It been at that setting since the initial experimentation.

[GWL]

I've been experimenting with mine. At first, I was not happy with the quickness of the front end and thought that adding a Heidt Valve would help slow that quickness down. As I began dialing the assist out of the steering, I began to worry about screwing it out too far and dumping the fluid.

I still have some assist but how far can you go without the screw popping out and dumping the fluid? I should have counted the turns while I had it on the bench because I did take it apart when I got it.

I just got back from a 1000 mile road trip and have gotten used to the quickness of the steering.

Going forward, I'm going to dial more assist back into the steering and see how I like it. I marked the top of the screw to make it easier to count the turns.

George

[golfobsessed71@gmail.com]

Thanks guys... I played with ait a bit yesterday and turned out about 4 full turns and got just what I was looking for I think (shorter freeway rides as yesterday was crazy hot here)

I love the assist but thought I had a little "wander" on the freeway, not bad (my 33 hotrod was worse with electric PS) the four turns out made a big difference on the freeway... 80 pluse MPH with great stability

[rich grsc]

Twitchy and wandering on the highway is usually an alignment issue. May need more caster?

[golfobsessed71@gmail.com]

I am absolutely going to get it final aligned though it's been done once and tracks down the road just fine... definitely not twitchy and when I say "wander" it's not dangerous just needed some resistance and feel, almost too easy... much better with a little assist taken out.

I researched many threads for the best MK4/IRS alignment specs now just searching a place to do it.

[CraigS]

I had a problem with mine when I tried to back off of full assist by a few turns. It did add resistance to the steering effort but when trying to do quick turns such as a U-turn with low engine RPMs, the rack needed more volume than the lower pressure setting would provide, and it ran out of assistance about mid-way through the turn. I was suddenly in manual steering mode. I turned the pressure back to full and locked the adjuster. It been at that setting since the initial experimentation.

I had the same problem w/ mine. It came off the car and trashed after about 3 weeks. I cut the spring in mine. It took a little experimentation which is sloppy but worked much better. BTW for anyone reading this there is a much better but still inexpensive pump available from a 99 Explorer.
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I am 99% sure it is GM style and it uses a remote reservoir.