LS Roadster Lessons Learned - Power Steering

[1Down5up]

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.

My build:
6.0L LS LQ4
Howards Cam
11:1 Wiseco
Tremec TKX-600
8.8" solid axle (lesson #2)

[Its Bruce]

Did you ever run it with only one of those (pressure reducer vs flow resistrictor) and not both? How much caster are you running?

[Mike.Bray]

I have the Type II pump with one of these pressure reducing valves installed. Running 7 degrees of caster, drives like a dream.

[1Down5up]

Hey Guys,
I'm running about 6.2 deg of caster, -0.4 deg camber, less than 0.1 deg toe.
I started out with only the pressure reducer installed with 4 shims based on a lot of feedback on this forum. The steering was still too sensitive so I installed the 1.3gpm reducer and that made a big difference.
What pressures are you guys running and is your alignment close to mine?
Thanks in advance.

[danmas]

I have the Type II pump with one of these pressure reducing valves installed. Running 7 degrees of caster, drives like a dream.

So the ps kit doesn’t come with this valve and you need to order it separately? Huh. Good to know…

[OB6]

I want to say my pump was adjusted to 850 psi or so before it was delivered.

[Etraugott]

Thanks for the heads up. Im putting a ls1 out of camaro in mine with power rack.

[Grubester]

...and since I'm going to receive a BP 347 WITH pwr steering... and that BP is working "with" FFR regarding the crate engine packages:
do you think that the pump, etc. will work w/o the additions y'all have discussed?