No Power Steering assist at low rpm

[familymopar]

Hello all,

I have been having an issue I have been trying to figure out so I figured I would come here for help.  My 68 is a 440 with power steering, federal style pump.  All stock, including pulley size and wheel and tire sizes (everything except mild upgrades in motor guts).

At low rpm I lose all assist out of my pump.  Once I am moving at 5-10 miles per hour, all is well.  Below that and no assist at all.  It makes parking, especially at tight spaced shows, a beast.  Tight driveways and garages too.

My initial thought, and what I will likely experiment with first, is to try a smaller pulley on the pump.  It seems to me though that with all stock I should not be having this problem.

Has anybody had these issues?  Any ideas for solutions?

Thanks for any help!

[Hard Charger]

hi family mopar:

I would say a stock pulley with stock pump and box and your having this issue then you have a problem. a faulty component.

is the fluid low?  is the belt loose? I would look at the pump first since with a higher RPM your steering seems to get better. does the pump sound sick?

I believe when a box goes it leaks or it drifts while driving.

concentrate on the pump

[familymopar]

Hard Charger - Yes a stock pulley on a stock pump with a stock box.  Fluid is good, belt is good.  Pump makes no sound at all that I can pick up.  And yes, once the car s just barely moving the ps is great all the way on up to very very fast.  It is only when creeping that I have no assist at all and actually feels a lot harder than no ps at all.  Maybe I just need to replace the pump altogether.  I just thought it may be something small and simple since it works so well at anything-higher-than-tight-parking speeds.  Thanks for the advice!

[Hard Charger]

sure the belt is tight?

mechanic friend heard a slight squeal in my alternator belt one day when I was reving up the engine, I swore it was tight and ignored him. he proved me wrong, I snugged it up and the slight noise went away. I drove like that for a couple years with out realizing. it did effect my battery charging.

one of my cars with a lumpy idle gives me a little trouble from time to time with my steering moving from idle. But it was not so bad that it felt like manuel steering. I would look into the steering pump, replace or rebuild.

[Steve P.]

Do you have power assist if you raise the RPMs in Park or Neutral?? If so I would say your pump is going South on you.
While you are driving it may feel as if you still have power but you may not.. Check stopped in Park with fluid topped off. This may also be a blocked hose, but more than likely you would hear the pump scream as if you were at full lock.

Let us know what you find..

[A383Wing]

I say bad pump

[Dino]

Your pump is dying.  Replace asap before it starts cutting in and out at higher speeds.  We don't want you to become a statistic.