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LS Roadster Lessons Learned - Power Steering
Lesson #1
Hello all,
Now that I worked out the kinks in my LS Roadster build I will share my lessons learned regarding the power steering pump and rack-and-pinion system to help out my fellow builders. I was able to find most of the info I needed here in the forum but I would get conflicting messages at times. I'm not saying my way is the only way but my way got the system to work together.
If you ordered the Roadster kit with power steering rack-and-pinion(a.k.a. Mustang II) you will run into a couple problems using a GM type II pump. The power steering is awesome but it comes with a couple annoying things you will have to work out.
The pump on my build is the typical type II pump that is found on many GM cars. My particular pump is the Cardone 96-69849, pulley Cardone 3P-15138. It's the Camaro style pump that has the built-in reservoir.
In a nut-shell these GM-style pumps put out too much pressure and flow for the rack system.
You run the risk of damaging the rack without dialing back the pressure from the pump. The steering will not feel right and will most likely be twitchy and/or have no feel for the road. Until I got the pump and rack system sorted my steering was way too sensitive to the point of being scary at any speed greater than 50mph.
For my pump I installed the popular Borgeson 899001 pressure reducing kit and used 5 shims to produce 700ish PSI. In addition to the pressure reduction I installed the Turnone TN1-301-020 1.3GPM flow restrictor. This combo is working perfectly and I can now enjoy cruising without white-knuckling the wheel.
And another thing - make sure your alignment is done by someone who knows what they are doing. My experience tells me the more gray hair in the garage the better.:D
My build:
6.0L LS LQ4
Howards Cam
11:1 Wiseco
Tremec TKX-600
8.8" solid axle (lesson #2)
