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Olds steering too hard


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jmb_65
Anonymous Poster
johnbenz@bellsouth.net

Apr 2, 2007, 2:48 PM

Post #1 of 3 (1388 views)
Olds steering too hard Sign In

My 85 Olds Cutless Supreme V6 seems to not steer as easily as it used to...driving it causes my bad back to hurt. Using a spring scale, my mechanic measured the torque it takes to turn the wheel at idle at about 2.5 lbs, which doesn't sound like a lot, but my back thinks so. Does anyone know if this is in spec? I would have thought it should be no more than a pound or less, but don't know. Wish I had the original GM spec on this. Seems like it used to have that really easy GM steering that would let you turn the wheel with your little finger. Thanks for any help.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Apr 3, 2007, 3:11 PM

Post #2 of 3 (1381 views)
Re: Olds steering too hard Sign In

Hmmm. I just tried to find something that weighed about 2.5 lbs and it did seem like enough force but hard to say.

I don't know of an adjustment for this?

Pretty sure you have just lower ball joints and the outer tie rod ends that are greasable for front end parts but I doubt that's it.

A couple things would change it some. 1--- real low tire pressure, 2---possibly new tires grab the road stronger.

I helps any car to be rolling even just a tad to help. Hard to always do that for any tight parking though.

Perhaps let another person try it for an opinion as most cars don't surprise me with that. Let us know if you do find a fault with it and the correction, T



jmb_65
Anonymous Poster
johnbenz@bellsouth.net

Apr 3, 2007, 8:12 PM

Post #3 of 3 (1380 views)
Re: Olds steering too hard Sign In

Tom, thanks for the feedback. Actually, my mechanic was already able to ease the steering some by thoroughly greasing the areas you mentioned, in addition to flushing the PS fluid and replacing it with fresh PS (not transmission) fluid. It lessened the force it took to turn the wheel at idle from about 5 pounds to about 2.5 pounds where it is presently. But I just wish I could find GM's original spec on torque required to turn the wheel, along with their spec for pump pressure. You're right, once moving, it's not such a problem. But backing out of the carport, turning sharply, backing again and turning again so as to go out of the long driveway forward, that's when the steering seems too hard and causes my back to hurt.






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