He has hard-turning power steering

Question:

I have a 1964 Chevy Impala with a stock power steering system and have replaced the power steering slave and slave cylinder. However, it is still hard to turn. I want to get your thoughts on upgrading to either the 605 gearbox or some kind of rack-and-pinion setup.

The car is a family project, so safety and reliability are both key. Furthermore, at some time I want to get the I did it chrome tilt steering column and I don’t want to invest in something now that won’t work properly with that steering column. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer:

If your dissatisfaction with the stock power steering system in your Impala stems from difficulty turning the car I suggest fixing the underlying problem. I say that because if it really is difficult to turn the wheels then there surely is an underlying problem.

If anything, the power steering system in Impalas and virtually every other car of the era gave way too much assist, at least by today’s standings.

Possible causes of difficult steering in your car include incorrect wheel alignment, bent steering and/or suspension parts, a weak power steering pump, binding in the steering column, and grossly under-inflated front tires.

Having said all this, there are plenty of good reasons to ditch your car’s original steering system in favor of something more modern, preferably a new rack and pinion setup. You don’t need to be concerned with incompatibility between the I did it column and an updated steering box or rack-and-pinion system because various companies (such as Flaming River, www.flamingriver.com) sell the joints, shafts, brackets and other parts needed to make all the parts work together.