In looking at another thread regarding rebuilt steering boxes for our cars, I ran across one post that referenced a brand new power steering gear:
I thought these should be highlighted in their own thread since they seem to be new developments not available before to my knowledge.....
Steering gear box choices
and I also am aware of a new Federal style power steering pump now being offered by NAPA.
Here are firect links to these products:
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PS_381047N?impressionRank=5
I bought two of these power steering pumps and they both performed flawlessly just like new and they also look identical.
I am now considering buying one of these new power steering gears to try out - it is claimed to perform identically to OEM and is also brand new but looks slightly different on the top at least:
BuyAutoParts 82-00475AN - Buy Auto Parts
Both are fairly expensive but so would finding nos ones available by some miracle.
For me at least, my reason for probably trying one of the newly manufactured steering boxes would be to see if they have possibly improved on the relatively poor steering tracking and feedback feel of the original Chrysler steering boxes - the one aspect of our cars that I really do not like is the lack of steering tracking precision. Back in the day, both GM and Ford cars were better in their steering systems (I owned a Dodge van with a Saginaw steering box in it from the factory and it was substantially better than the Chrysler system and I drove some Fords as competitive vehicles as part of my job when I worked for Chrysler in the 70s, and they too were a little better, but not as good as the GM boxes).
While Firm Feel and Steer and Gear can improve on the lightness of the steering that needs some firming up, they are still using worn Chrysler original components perhaps selected for better ones in cases of really bad ones to rebuild their boxes, they really track no better than the original Chrysler boxes did even when the suspension alignment specs are set to maximize steering precision/tracking from my past experience with them. Rack and pinion steering systems of today are excellent in that respect by comparison and cause me to drive my older vehicles in crowded California traffic less.
I have said it before but to me Chrysler managment in the 70s was not on top of things, especially in the later 70s and they didn't focus hard enough on being competitive with their competition. In particular, Chrysler didn't fix the steering systems nor the air conditioning systems with the outdated RV-2 compressors nearly fast enough to be competitive with GM and Ford in customer satisfaction overall.
That put Chrysler in solid third place every year and ultimately landed them in bankruptcy in 1980. Good managment matters is what I learned.
I thought these should be highlighted in their own thread since they seem to be new developments not available before to my knowledge.....
Steering gear box choices
and I also am aware of a new Federal style power steering pump now being offered by NAPA.
Here are firect links to these products:
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PS_381047N?impressionRank=5
I bought two of these power steering pumps and they both performed flawlessly just like new and they also look identical.
I am now considering buying one of these new power steering gears to try out - it is claimed to perform identically to OEM and is also brand new but looks slightly different on the top at least:
BuyAutoParts 82-00475AN - Buy Auto Parts
Both are fairly expensive but so would finding nos ones available by some miracle.
For me at least, my reason for probably trying one of the newly manufactured steering boxes would be to see if they have possibly improved on the relatively poor steering tracking and feedback feel of the original Chrysler steering boxes - the one aspect of our cars that I really do not like is the lack of steering tracking precision. Back in the day, both GM and Ford cars were better in their steering systems (I owned a Dodge van with a Saginaw steering box in it from the factory and it was substantially better than the Chrysler system and I drove some Fords as competitive vehicles as part of my job when I worked for Chrysler in the 70s, and they too were a little better, but not as good as the GM boxes).
While Firm Feel and Steer and Gear can improve on the lightness of the steering that needs some firming up, they are still using worn Chrysler original components perhaps selected for better ones in cases of really bad ones to rebuild their boxes, they really track no better than the original Chrysler boxes did even when the suspension alignment specs are set to maximize steering precision/tracking from my past experience with them. Rack and pinion steering systems of today are excellent in that respect by comparison and cause me to drive my older vehicles in crowded California traffic less.
I have said it before but to me Chrysler managment in the 70s was not on top of things, especially in the later 70s and they didn't focus hard enough on being competitive with their competition. In particular, Chrysler didn't fix the steering systems nor the air conditioning systems with the outdated RV-2 compressors nearly fast enough to be competitive with GM and Ford in customer satisfaction overall.
That put Chrysler in solid third place every year and ultimately landed them in bankruptcy in 1980. Good managment matters is what I learned.
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