2 Gallon Per Minute Flow Kit - Seems Not Enough Assist At Low Speed (Good Highway Feel)

[m002922]

1998 K1500. Stock suspension and tires - nothing crazy. Power steering pump was going bad (weak and erratic at low speed - and I think the EVO was also going bad). Bought a 1998 pump (not sure if that was the right decision, or if I should have bought an earlier unit), didn't put the EVO back into it, and installed this . . .

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Powe...e-Kit,379646.html?sku=91603018&utm_matchtype={match_type}&msclkid=006a752f35d21e7b8bd01091c0416a69

after reading about it here (2nd page of discussion):

Too Much Steering Assist

...or make two adjustments in the correct order, and see what happens. I tried setting mine by the book and it sucked. Had to pull some bearing preload out so it'd function which meant over center was too loose. It did give me a feel for the bearing preload setting though so that's how I'll be...

www.gmt400.com

I like the feel at highway speeds (less assist, even without EVO), but now the steering assist at low speeds does not seem like enough.

Anyone had this issue, anyone have a solution? Maybe a slightly smaller power steering pulley?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Komet]

Might still have air in it. Is it sucking down any fluid over time?

 

[m002922]

Good question. I'm keeping an eye on it - no adding fluid so far and Ive driven it a bit. Also, I had it in the air and did a bunch of cycles after the pump and line changes to try and get the air out before the wheels were on the ground.

Interestingly, I just got in it on a cold startup and it was fine at low speed. Today it got bad at low speed at the end of my trip. So maybe it's an intermittent problem. I'll see what it does at the end of the trip tomorrow morning after I drive it a while and it's warm.

 

[GoToGuy]

Why would you want to reduce the flow? My 95K2500 is firm steering, not a one finger type. But the 98 suburban is a one finger turning the wheel anytime. And a GM tech said " all the soccer moms complaining about heavy steering, so they made it easier for them " .

 

[m002922]

Why would you want to reduce the flow? My 95K2500 is firm steering, not a one finger type. But the 98 suburban is a one finger turning the wheel anytime. And a GM tech said " all the soccer moms complaining about heavy steering, so they made it easier for them " .

I found it twitchy on the highway (with EVO, or perhaps EVO was failing and that is why it felt twitchy). The reduced flow is better feel everywhere - it seems - except occasionally - not even all the time - when parking. I'm happy with the tradeoff.

 

[AuroraGirl]

decrease pulley size of either the drive pulley (if v belt , so probably the water pump or the water pump/crank) relationship to the ps pulley (so the ps pulley could be changed too) if this fixes your concern, you need to increase flow not decrease it. Modify your pressure with your flow control valve, which is where you bolt the hose in .

 

[AuroraGirl]

1998 K1500. Stock suspension and tires - nothing crazy. Power steering pump was going bad (weak and erratic at low speed - and I think the EVO was also going bad). Bought a 1998 pump (not sure if that was the right decision, or if I should have bought an earlier unit), didn't put the EVO back into it, and installed this . . .

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Powe...e-Kit,379646.html?sku=91603018&utm_matchtype={match_type}&msclkid=006a752f35d21e7b8bd01091c0416a69

after reading about it here (2nd page of discussion):

Too Much Steering Assist

...or make two adjustments in the correct order, and see what happens. I tried setting mine by the book and it sucked. Had to pull some bearing preload out so it'd function which meant over center was too loose. It did give me a feel for the bearing preload setting though so that's how I'll be...

www.gmt400.com

I like the feel at highway speeds (less assist, even without EVO), but now the steering assist at low speeds does not seem like enough.

Anyone had this issue, anyone have a solution? Maybe a slightly smaller power steering pulley?

Thank you in advance.

What climate do you live in, and what temps do you see now

 

[Supercharged111]

Twitchy steering means the EVO wasn't working properly. My 1500 was that way when I bought it. I fixed the EVO by replacing the sensor on the column and now life is grand. Effortless steering in a parking lot and actual feel at speed.

 

[AuroraGirl]

easiest way to diagnose the issue is to remove the connector, because with no power it should have full output. with power, it reduces flow at speed

 

[df2x4]

Interestingly, I just got in it on a cold startup and it was fine at low speed. Today it got bad at low speed at the end of my trip. So maybe it's an intermittent problem.

This makes me wonder if your new pump is bad out of the box... Maybe it's not moving enough fluid at low speed once everything's warmed up?

Bought a 1998 pump (not sure if that was the right decision, or if I should have bought an earlier unit)

1996 pump would've been the way to go IMO. You'd need a '96 pressure line too, but that's the cleanest way to eliminate the EVO I'm aware of and most of the '96 pumps will come with a control valve that's set up for the pre-EVO system. That one from Speedway that you used may be fine, but personally I'd do some research and make sure it's an appropriate choice for this application.