I now have put some time in the Maverick and the power steering scares me. Quick is ok, but I can blow at the wheel and the car turns. The feel is way to light, can the power assist be reduced or eliminated easy?
scary power steering Hello and greetings. I also thought that the power steering was a bit touchy. that was on my 76 two door. after driving the car for bout two years with no power steering at all.I did a lil research in the matter . i didnt find any kind of valve for the hydrolics and was told at the part stores that an adjustible type wasnt available. this isnt an answer just the fact that your not alone with this same question
Not Maverick related, but we use to have 74' Ford LTD and the steering was the same way. IMO, this was called power steering when it was first introduced (way too sensitive), but as the years advanced, they made improvements, and now they call it 'power assisted' steering, which gives you better feel for the road etc.
I have never liked Fords power steering on these cars for this very reason. Its the nature of the beast. The easiest way to remove it is with an adapter from any mustang supply house. They use the same set up. Then remove all the ps crap and install the adapter. Its a fairly easy thing to do and cost is about $120 for the part.
Idler arm. Disconnect you idler arm and try to move it by hand. It should be stiff. If not, then it is probably worn out. There is no way to rebuild them, replace it. If you don't know what I am talking about; climb under the passenger side and look for a piece mounted to the inside of the frame behind the passenger side shock tower below the firewall. It is attached with two bolts and is an L-shaped part. Here's a pic of a similar arm. Seth :bananaman I like the smilies
Thanks guys. One of the things I thought of was to remove the power crap and replace the centerlink with a non poer part. has anyone done this?
Just one thought, the manual and power idler arms are different. The manual is easy to turn and the power uses rubber bushing witch is hard to turn. On the power version it also helps center the steering. One of my vintage racing buddys tells me that they put a valve in the high presure line and can bleed some of the pressure off to the return hose, to get the feel they want. Although he has never told me what valve they use this may be an idea for you.
One thing that may help is this valve from Heidts. It is usually used to reduce pressure on a GM pump when used with a Mustang II rack, but it could be plumbed to reduce pressure on the Ford pump as well. That would increase the effort needed to turn the wheel, but it would not eliminate the built in slop that's designed into the control valve. I had Mav PS on my Mustang for a while, and when I eliminated it I used a PS elimination kit for a 67 Mustang the replace the control valve. It's very easy and probably more cost effective than converting the whole linkage to manual.
Couldn't a guy just take out the relief valve in the power steering pump and squish it in a vice or put a lighter spring in . Maybe it would reduce the pressure to the slave / control cylinder and be a little harder to turn . Worth a shot if you got time and it really bugs you .
Bugs me a lot. My daily driver has power assist and is firm, but my personal cars do not have power steering except the Mav. It's flat all over the road. Front end has been recently rebuilt so everything is tight, but the steering effort is almost nothing so it seems strange to drive. The Valve idea from Heidts is an option. Still looking at swapping center links and elimitating power steering all together. Wonder if I would have to change the pitman arm as well as the idler?
I remember watching the old Ford commercials when I was a kid, in the 60's. Driver had a piece of thread, and they would say that the steering was so effortless, you could steer it with a piece of thread. Those big old cars were all over the road. Funny how we are complaining about it now, and they were so proud of it back then. Earl
i believe the idler arm is the same... i was hunting one down for a fellow mavtologist and my moog parts book showed no difference except for given years... not ps or not
