IMHO the valve is the culprit when using wider tires in the front. The tracking and following lines in the pavement makes it that much worse. Rack and pinion is the best choice to correct this issue but it is a lot more involved and/or expensive than the stock arrangement(bad). This suspension is Falcon leftovers that was designed for REALLY skinny tires and ANY slop will seem like it's worn slap out. For the cheap, I think Bryant is right on with the electric upgrade and there are some street rod outfits that were working on something similar because it can be hidden from view and still retain the stock outside appearance. To give you an idea, I rebuilt that control valve, set the preload to exact specs and greased it and it drove great... for about 5 minutes until the grease settled out of the valve ball joint at the pitman arm and then it was sloppy again. I grease that thing all of the time with the same exact results. If you want to run a tire that will actually take a curve, you're going to have to get rid of that valve. On a side note, setting the front spindle for maximum caster will help to a degree and works well with power steering. It's not recommended for manual steering due to increased effort in parking lot manuevers.
Maybe I'll see if I can borrow some skinnies and see if I like how it drives. I've been thinking hard about a wheel change anyway.
this has all the relevant info in it http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/m...-100-electric-power-steering-here-you-go.html
This is Waid. I posted the electric steer info on the Mustang's forums. The guys over at the Ford Falcon Network are making a lot more progress and more info there: http://www.tffn.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32444&start=30 A guys here made his own module: http://www.super7thheaven.co.uk/blog/corsa-c-electric-power-steering-epas-a118.html 55crownvic, Since the inner tie rods are close to center of the rack, is there any issue with bump steer at all ? Thanks Waid
55crownvic, Since the inner tie rods are close to center of the rack, is there any issue with bump steer at all ? Thanks Waid[/QUOTE] No problems with bump steer at all.
That just might work, the main thing I worry about is not enough travel, might be a little too sensitive. You will also need to make a different bracket to move the tie rods to the front of the rack.
The Honda Civic has 2.75 turns lock to lock. The rack travel is 5-3/8". What is the lock to lock turns on the Cavalier Rack? What is the travel? The Honda Civic's rack housing looks longer than the cavalier. As you can see from the picture, it sticks out in the passenger side. What is the housing length of the Cavalier's rack? Not to make any claims but the Civic was much better handling sporty car than the Cavalier. The Civic's rack might have better "feel" any maybe better refined. Don't know for sure. Waid
My skinnies up front is fine with manual steering. Plus manual steering does not weigh much now how do I get rid of my 150 pound bumpers thats a whole different story
hrmmm 200 dollars for a front fiberglass for my 1974 I wonder what parts I can get rid of if I do this? I can weld up a bumper under it if have to remove tons of bumper material so it stays strong. -rex thanks for fiberglass info
Just do the small bumper swap, plenty of info on this site for that. I did that to the mav in my avatar.
The Civic's rack is about 35" with the rack in the center. It has 2.75 turns lock to lock and travel is 5-3/8". I laid the Falcon's and Civic's inner and outer tie rods flat on the floor and as it turns out the Falcon's is about 3" longer at about 47" over all wide. This is actually a good thing. The Civic's outer tie rod is 2.5" from the end to the center of the ball. Therefore I need a tie rod that is additional 1.5" longer at about 4" front end of the tie rod the center of the ball and with M14x1.5 metric threads and correct taper. I can not believe it. As it turns a 2005 Mustang's tie rod is perfect at 4 inch in length and more importantly it has same taper as the 78 Granada !!! Oh yeh, they are $12.83 each from Rock Auto. Waid
