Power steering pump

[Bruceynz]

Hi everyone,

My power steering gear has started weaping, when I put the 360 magnum into my Cordoba I used the pump that it came with, I believe in the later years in bigger trucks they ran a higher pressure. I can't find exact details but possibly upto 2000 psi, seems my steering box designed for around 1000psi, I want to change the pressure relief valve to the 1970s spec which is I think is around 1000psi maybe a bit more. Would anyone have a valve and spring to suit my pump out of a 1970s early 80s vintage power steering pump?

I have attached photos of my pump, I think it's a Saginaw.

Thanks
Bruce

 

[Bruceynz]

Back of pump

 

[80mirada]

You might be able to swap the one from your original pump into it

 

[Bruceynz]

You might be able to swap the one from your original pump into it

Original pump was sold on old motor

 

[Bruceynz]

Hello,

If you change the valve over do you need a different spring as well? The Lares valves come in 800, 1150 psi but unsure if the the spring is matched to the vlave.

Thanks
Bruce

 

[Bruceynz]

found this

 

[SRTMirada]

The pump is a GM saginaw power steering pump. Parts from GM vehicles are interchangeable so you have lots of potential donors. Follow this link for some good info. Just keep in mind that they're talking about trucks. In my experience the original steering gear on our cars is very forgiving of pressure.
https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/modifiying-saginaw-power-steering-pump-revive.2712489/

 

[M_Body_Coupe]

You could take a look at the Borgeson 899001 'Power Steerign Flow Valve Kit', this is the one that comes with multiple washers that you use to adjust the output PSI the pump itself provides.

The kicker here is that you need something to start off with that hopefully gets you to the ballpark of where you need to be.

So, from personal experience:

1) I started with a Mopar reman power steering pump# R4470377
- the factory (reman) FLOW CONTROL VALVE SHIM = 0.037" thick

2) I then replaced that setup and installed 5 (five) of the Borgeson washers
- this gave me a total shim spacing of 0.100" (where each shim is 0.020" thick)

This, with a factory power steering box (which granted was in a nice & tight shape) gave a really nice feel: not over powered at all, just right, but still feeling that Mopar 'wow, that thing need barely eny effort' feel.

Since then I had moved to the Borgeson power steering gear, but kept the very same pump shim combination.

I find that at dead stop/idle, when the car is not moving, the steering wheel effort is a little more than what you would expect of a 'power steering' ride. However, at anything above that, the feel is very good!!

Take a look at the Borgeson site for the PDF instructions for the kit. I would suggest that you take apart what you have, measure the flow control valve shim thickness and replace as needed. The instructions have a rought estimate of how the # of shims translate to the pump PSI output, here is a quick copy/paste:

No Shim - 1350 PSI
1 Shims - 1200 PSI
2 Shims - 1100 PSI
3 Shims - 1000 PSI
4 Shims - 850 PSI
5 Shims - 700PSI

 

[80mirada]

I think the spring stays the same, you could probably make the shims to adjust the pressure, using the Borgeson instructions and measurements off of the shim that is already in the valve

 

[Duke5A]

First time I ever did this I used copper crush washers with the correct ID and turned them down using a drill and a file to get the correct OD. I was broke. And it worked.