Is it possible to tighten down the power steering? Too easy to steer the car.

[RamonetB]

Hello once again, everybody.

Basically, the question is as the title states. On my 1990 240sx, the power steering is really, well, powerful. It's very easy to steer the car about. This is different than the steering on my 1989 240sx, which is tighter and takes a little more effort to turn the wheel.

Anyone know a quick way to tighten this up on the 90 or is this indicative of a problem somewhere?

Thanks,

-kirk

[onosqv]

Um, have you tried getting an alignment to check toe-out & caster? That could be it...

More toe-in, more positive caster, and it should help.

I don't know why you are complaining how easy it is to steer the car tho...

[InsanityInc]

If it's really easy to steer and offers no feedback, the steering sucks to drive with. Most new cars are like that, which is why I hate new cars.

[s13satch]

I'm not sure if there is a way to "tighten" a power steering rack. However the pump can be adjusted by replacing the torsion bar with a larger diameter one if available (which I seriously doubt).

I would check your tie rods. Worn ball joints can cause on-center slack and a slightly loose feeling to your steering. I thought the steering on my ‘91 sucked after owning an RX-7 w/o power steering. But after I replace my outer tie rods and upper strut mounts with OEM units, the feeling in the steering is great.

[guyaverage]

You can adjust the tension on the steering rack. I tightened mine up about 6 months ago because mine was also really loose. On the driver side of the steering rack is the adjustment bolt (you have to be under the car to do this). Loosen the outer lock nut, tighten in the inner bolt to tighten up the steering, then secure it with the locknut. Its going to take some trial and error to get it to where you want it. Dont tighten it too tight, a very small adjustment goes a long way.

[RamonetB]

That's exactly it, InsanityInc. It's not as though there is play in the wheel, it just feels as though I have a super power steering unit. There is very little feedback from the road when turning and I can literally steer the car with a finger or two. I'm far more used to, and enjoy, the feel of a sturdier turning, something that requires the whole hand, not just a finger. It's also just less strain on the arms when driving for long periods on the highway.

I just had an alignment done, so I'm pretty sure it's nothing to do with that.

Guyaverage, I believe you're onto what I'm after. Is this a pretty ovbious bolt? I've not done much on that part of the car before and the service manuals aren't helping much in locating it.

Thanks again guys!

BTW, I'll be selling the old 89 here shortly in case anyone is interested. NOthing fancy and all stock but in pretty good shape mechanically aside from the frame rot. I'll be posting in the classifieds soon, but figured I'd pop the idea out here first.

-kirk

[amolao]

Yes the guyaverage is right, look in steering rack, directly under drivers location. There is a screw cap that you can tighten and adjust how tight your steering is...it puts pressure in your steering rack spring, which controls the pressure on the rack. Yes, my 91 steering is a lot looser than my 89...

[guyaverage]

If you have the factory manual, go to page ST-5 (the ST (Steering) section, page 5), it tells you what to do to adjust the rack retainer. If you put the front of the car up on jackstands you can get a relative feeling of how much tighter you are making it as you adjust. Like I mentioned earlier, a little bit of adjustment, even just 10-15 degrees or so of tightening at a time, goes a long way so dont overdo it.

You might want to mark the current position with white-out or something similar before you start adjusting it so that you can see where to put it if you really screw it up and want to start over from where you were.

[RamonetB]

Hey guys!

I hate to bring up such an old topic, but I was under the car the other day (finally) trying to find this screw cap. Now, I'm not sure if I found it or not, so I figured (with prudence being the better part of valor) I'd ask here first.

What exactly am I looking for to tighten down? I was looking on the steering rack directly below the driver's seat (or driver's foot well) and I saw what looked like what I was after. Located right at the rack below the where the steering column connect, next to where the driver's side tie rod connects, it was facing the rear of the car and was rather large (larger than a quarter and smaller than a 50 cent piece). It almost looks like a drain plug.

Is this what I'm after? I was under the impression this screw cap was facing the front of the car.

Thanks!

P.S. Navigating the FSM isn't very easy, as the ones I downloaded don't have page numbers.

[Bronze MFP]

245 wide tires and a 13.5" steering wheel made my steering a lot harder/ direct.

[RamonetB]

Actually, quickly looking at the FSm again and the exploded view of the rack, I think that's exactly what I'm after.

I guess I thought it was towards the front of the car because the diagram is situated such that you're looking at it from the front towards the back, and not the driver's seat out!

Still, a confirmation on this would be great!

[guyaverage]

Yes that is it. The outer part is the locknut, the inner part is what you tighten (after you loosen the outer locknut). Once you get the inner part as tight as you need it, hold it with a wrench/whatever and retighten the locknut (making sure the inner part doesnt turn with it, otherwise your steering will get that much tighter).