Power steering questions

OGMB2K

The truck I bought has power steering, barely, the pump was just sitting off the bracket against the frame with the lines.
If the pump is bad and I therefore decide to remove it from the motor, do I have to change the steering box or just cap the outlets?
For those not running PS, is it really that bad? I've owned several vehicles without PS and did not find it difficult to drive at all, plus the less drag on these engines the better IMO. Without PS I know steering wheels size and such plays a part in making steering easier, so I'll ask about having custom wheels with smaller diameters as well.

Thanks

MazdaMitch

OGMB2K my red truck and my gray truck do not have power steering they are manual steering trucks and I love them. I have driven some power steering trucks and I do not like them they are too floating do not feel the road.

The new project truck has power steering so I will get into that at some time and it will probably confirm my already confirmed thoughts about how power steering is not that great unless you're parallel parking these trucks just don't need it.

However a friend of mine had a power steering cab plus truck and we cut and pinched the lines.
It was noticeably not the same as the manual steering trucks and later found out that the boxes the gearboxes are geared different. So a power steering box is geared so that it needs the power steering pump to assist it.
The manual steering box is geared in such a way that it's actually easy to turn.

lizardkingjr

My truck doesn't have PS. The only time I notice that I could use PS is when I parallel park. That's about it.

OGMB2K

MazdaMitch Perfect, now then .. will a manual steering box swap directly with what the truck has now?

Thank you for the insight

Cusser

OGMB2K will a manual steering box swap directly with what the truck has now?

Yes.

One night about 15 years ago I was taking a daughter to her club softball tournament, and the alternator belt broke on my '88 B2200. I pulled off the freeway and parked under some lights, cut off the PS belt and replaced the alternator/fan belt as I had a spare in my crossbed tool box. So I dove onward, and for at least a week, without replacing the PS belt. The only time I could feel a difference - and it wasn't that much - was when I was going very slow like pulling into or out of a parking spot.

OGMB2K

I ask because this is a current problem, there is something wrong with the PS system. To which I feel it best just to replace it with a manual box and move on. As it has been said these trucks are not heavy, their may not be a noticeable difference between the two, and my daughter will never know the difference as she hasn't driven it yet. Less stuff to break IMO.
Plus you get one less component dragging on the engine, every HP counts .. lol

lizardkingjr

The only PS that I would switch to is electronic. No drain on hp that way. Unfortunately, I don't know of a single "how to" fabricate a Prius PS module into a B-series truck.

Axel-Breaker-Earl

I have a 1989 B2200 that I drive nearly every day. It has PS. It was the first PS B2200 that I had owned.......I rebuilt the engine in it and have been driving it for years now. I actually love the PS in it, and it sure doesn't feel like it has hurt the performance of the engine, as it gets around pretty darned good! I always have friends that see me driving through town and they comment on how I zip by or how hard it is to catch up to me when driving around town. They call it the red flash! LOL.

lizardkingjr

Axel-Breaker-Earl

I'm bringing my truck down to Florida (Gainesville?) if my engine ever requires a rebuild!

Cusser

lizardkingjr I'm bringing my truck down to Florida (Gainesville?) if my engine ever requires a rebuild!

Ha ! I asked him about same for my B2200 over a decade ago !

Axel-Breaker-Earl

I can do it Lizard!

My 1989 B2200 has really been a good truck. My rebuild is getting older now.......so I might decide to rebuild one of the other 2.2 engines that I have stowed away, then swap it in one day.

A photo of when I was building it, with a photo date......this engine is still a standard bore rebuild.......I reused the original pistons, and installed new standard sized rings.

Cleaning the original pistons.....

lizardkingjr

Axel-Breaker-Earl

This is why you're my MVP for all things B-series trucks!

Axel-Breaker-Earl

lizardkingjr This is why you're my MVP for all things B-series trucks!

LOL.....I appreciate the compliment Lizard!

Cusser Ha ! I asked him about same for my B2200 over a decade ago !

You never brought it to Florida! I had to come out to AZ last year......just to check up on you! LOL.

Cusser

Axel-Breaker-Earl You never brought it to Florida!

I would've had to ship it; by that time I would've "crop-dusted" the entire length of I-10 !!! Anyway, you were still working and awfully busy with projects, know how that gets. I just received the replacement VW convertible window regulator yesterday, have additional door parts on order, will start that soon. I also ordered new control arm bushings for that 1971 VW and need to pick up a right outer tie rod end for it as I want to do a little suspension work (it has a little steering wheel shimmy at about 45mph, and those parts have a little looseness in them).