70 Duster steering ???
#3269994
11/12/24 08:00 AM
11/12/24 08:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 413
Big Island ,VA
JC Childress
OP
mopar
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OP
mopar
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 413
Big Island ,VA
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I have a bone stock 70 340 Duster. Just replaced ball joints, tie rods, etc. I drove it down the street and good gracious...this thing has the most sensitive steering I've ever experienced. My dad drove it and he agreed. It does have power steering. Any input,suggestions or advice ?
J.C. Childress
(434) 665-9541
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Re: 70 Duster steering ???
[Re: topside]
#3270026
11/12/24 10:52 AM
11/12/24 10:52 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,562
north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,562
north of coder
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i have a [factory] saginaw pump on my charger, and i followed e-booger's advice on shimming the spool valve in the pump. i added a couple more washers than he recommended in that article, and MAN, what a difference that made ! as my car is not original, and the next caretaker can "restore" it if he/she wants, i could have gone with the borg [?] box, but the shimmed spool valve was a super cheap and easy way to improve the "feel" of the over assisted factory box. as the car just turned over 19k original miles a couple of weeks back, it still has the original box, pump, and hoses, but very early in my ownership, i changed the factory woodgrain steering wheel to a 13" grant wood wheel to [kind of] slow down the factory steering. it still has that same grant wood wheel today. 
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Re: 70 Duster steering ???
[Re: topside]
#3270206
11/13/24 11:29 AM
11/13/24 11:29 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,564
Michigan
MarkZ
Worthy
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Worthy
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,564
Michigan
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I've done the shimming trick on the PS pressure valve and while it did help, don't expect a world of difference. You'll still have the slop at 12 'o clock too. I was never happy with the steering until I swapped in a Borgeson steering gear. Not cheap though. If it's something you're interested in doing I recommend contacting Bergman Autocraft and using their column adapter.
1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
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Re: 70 Duster steering ???
[Re: moparx]
#3270576
11/15/24 09:42 AM
11/15/24 09:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,840
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
Itch Nutz
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Itch Nutz
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,840
fredericksburg,va
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i have a [factory] saginaw pump on my charger, and i followed e-booger's advice on shimming the spool valve in the pump. i added a couple more washers than he recommended in that article, and MAN, what a difference that made ! as my car is not original, and the next caretaker can "restore" it if he/she wants, i could have gone with the borg [?] box, but the shimmed spool valve was a super cheap and easy way to improve the "feel" of the over assisted factory box. as the car just turned over 19k original miles a couple of weeks back, it still has the original box, pump, and hoses, but very early in my ownership, i changed the factory woodgrain steering wheel to a 13" grant wood wheel to [kind of] slow down the factory steering. it still has that same grant wood wheel today. Do you have a picture of what you’re saying?
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Re: 70 Duster steering ???
[Re: cudaman1969]
#3270589
11/15/24 11:37 AM
11/15/24 11:37 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,562
north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,562
north of coder
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unfortunately, i don't. however, i scanned the page from the FSM showing the pump and valve i'm talking about. in the exploded view of the valve, it shows two shims. i added a bunch more, but i forget just how many. they need to be approximately 1/2" od x 3/8" id [if i remember right] i used copper caliper washers that had a 3/8" id, and turned them down on the lathe. if a lathe is not available, one could stack several of these washers on a tight fitting bolt, tightened with nuts on both sides, then chuck them in a drill press and use a semi-course file to rough them to almost the 1/2" size,then finish sizing them with a smooth file. hopefully, the scanned page will be big enough to see.
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Re: 70 Duster steering ???
[Re: BDW]
#3271476
11/20/24 03:14 PM
11/20/24 03:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,099
Berlin, N.J.
abodyjoe
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,099
Berlin, N.J.
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whats the alignment specs? that may have a lot to do with it.
stock power steering in these cars are over assisted for sure... i went with the borgeson box kit.. man what a difference that made.. that box feels better then any stock mopar box i have driven, i don't autocross. its a cruiser and we just recently made a 5000 mile trip in our dart and it was a pleasure to drive..
Last edited by abodyjoe; 11/20/24 03:16 PM.
It's better to keep your mouth shut and give the impression that you're stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. www.MoparMisfits.com
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Re: 70 Duster steering ???
[Re: abodyjoe]
#3271524
11/20/24 05:59 PM
11/20/24 05:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,797
A collage of whims
topside
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,797
A collage of whims
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Alignment specs definitely play into it, and here's an example:
Had one that was very spooky to drive - the guy had swapped in a PS Firm Feel box, then a 2nd FF box, trying to get where he wanted.
Steering had a bit of resistance, but the car was all over the place going down the road even @ 50 MPH.
I swapped out the PS for a factory manual box - car's going drag racing - and took it to my alignment guy.
The car had 2.5 neg caster, 1.0-1.2 neg camber, and IIRC the toe was off a bit.
My guy got 1.5 pos caster, 0 camber, and 1/16 toe, and the car drives properly now.
FWIW, manual steering on A-bodies has always seemed fine to me for stuff I wasn't running through canyons with.
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