Technical Tips > Brakes, Suspensions, Steering, Wheels & Tyres

C3 steering

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metalhead:
Ok, I have put a few kms on my new-to-me 1979 C3 now, and got it out onto the open road.  I felt very unhappy with the (power) steering, as I really couldn't tell what the front wheels were doing, there was just no feel/feedback at all.  Keep in mind that my daily driver is a 1979 F250 with power steering, so I am used to heavily assisted recirculating ball steering.  I found it very disconcerting, the steering was responsive, but I couldn't tell by feel/feedback what the front wheels were doing!  Is this normal?  Or maybe due to not enough caster, or a fault in the power steering?

I actually disconnected the power steering belt as a test, and instantly felt much more comfortable - I could now tell the small amount of slop in the steering (the car does need a suspension and steering refresh), and could feel the steering take up and respond.  I was much happier to push the car a little harder, and actually drive the country roads around my house at a reasonable speed.  I didn't think it unreasonably heavy at low speed either (lighter than my wife's Datsun 260Z), though I'd expect a lot of people would disagree with me on that.

I guess I'm just wondering if this lack of feel is an inherent feature of the power steering in C3's (in which case I will definitely not be staying with the factory power steer), or if there's something else to be chasing here?  It might be worth noting that I didn't find this an issue around the slower suburban streets where I test drove the car before purchase.  At 80-90km/h+ though it became quite disconcerting, at least for me.  Maybe it's something people get used to?

Thanks in advance!

sirfixalot:
The power steering originally came out on about a 57 chev it is not variable ratio like a modern p/steer basically has the same assist at 10k as 100k

metalhead:
Thanks heaps for your quick reply, and for your help on other issues via PM!

I understand that the assist from the power steering is constant, and the steering will get lighter as speed increases.  My '79 F250 doesn't have variable assist on the power steering either (to the best of my knowledge), and of course the steering is lighter at higher speeds.  Put it this way though, with the power steering hooked up on the Vette, I am more comfortable driving the F250 at higher speeds than the Vette as I can at least feel what the front wheels are doing!  Take off the power steering belt and it's a totally different story.  I guess what I'm asking is, how much feedback (if any) should the factory power steering provide, particularly at 90km/h+?  Is it normal to have no feedback/feel at those speeds?

Thanks,

Andrew.

bfit:
 I don't like the original power steering, to me it just did not feel rite .
If you want too its posible to get a set of earlier steering arms and convert the car to Armstrong steering.

Another thought
When you are sitting in you c3 going 200k you will get a different view of the car .
C3 don't have provision for a lot of caster in stock form.
It will tend to tram and that can be difficult at times.
Especially when you pointing it one way and it's going somewhere else.
Bfit

Vettech:
My 78 was original and was disgusting, had it changed to a Toyota Cresida arrangement - better but still not rack & pinion. One of our members up in Port or Lake Cathie fitted his own R&P to a C3 - oh! And Frank Ingall over Bondi/Tamarama has also perfected fitting early Commodore  R&P to his C3. I think he may have had some pics on the forum at one stage.

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