Tightening up the steering - 2nd gen

[bhm1712]

Ive always thought the steering on my Firebird is very light, maybe a little too light. When compared to say my missus's Focus, which feels really positive and has a bit of resistance inherent in it, the Firebird is so light that you can steer it with your little finger. I prefer the more positive and resistive feel. Can the steering be tightened up a bit?

[SUPERCHARGEDGTA]

replace steering box with one from a transam, they have more feel and higher ratio

[bhm1712]

Ok Jon - cheers for that. I will certainly do that when it comes to replacing the box - its slightly leaking anyway from the pitman arm shaft so it will need doing soon.

[thirdgen]

I had a ws6 one on my firebird much better . The corvette is alot heavier than the firebird tho more sporty I guess ....

[SuperDuty455]

replace steering box with one from a transam, they have more feel and higher ratio

Not necessarily true. It has been debated many times on various forums I go to and some have found typical 3 turns lock to lock boxes even on all original WS6 2nd Gens. Apart from testing them, the most sure way to get a close ratio box is to get one from a 3rd Gen IROC or GTA with WS6 or F41 suspension. Even the one in my '89 base Firebird parts car is a "Z" code Saginaw 800 with 2.5 turns lock to lock. Cars with 16" rims had the 2.25 turns box. BUT, 1980-up boxes fittings are metric and not imperial. So you will need adapters for the pump hoses or ideally a 1980-up steering pump. Other than that they're a straight swap if you keep the 2nd Gen pitman arm.

[SUPERCHARGEDGTA]

only had 2 second gens and the transam was a lot less "over assisted"
assumed they were all the same, thanks for the input

[bhm1712]

Hmm interesting stuff