This makes no damn sense.

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67fish383S

67fish383S

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I bought a '72 Duster a few weeks ago and one of the first things on my list to take care of was the power steering. It goes down the road nice and straight, but it felt choppy, for the lack of a better description, when returning to center from either direction after making a turn. It did not want to return to center without a little assistance, and would come back in what felt like a few 'stages'; not a smooth motion.

I even had a really knowledgeable local Mopar guy drive it to get his opinion. His thought was that the steering box needed rebuilding, which made sense to me. When I started looking online for rebuilt or rebuild options, I came a across the Borgeson master kit from Bergman Autocraft. Because I plan to have this car forever, I decided to pop for the full package, with a new box, pump, lines, and cooler. To the tune of $1400. Shipping on Monday.

So today I installed a nice new aftermarket woodgrain Grant steering wheel because the stock wheel was well worn and I felt like sprucing up the interior a bit. Of course I had to take the new wheel for a test drive. Felt great in my hands and looks pretty damn nice too. Almost immediately I noticed how much more smooth the steering felt. I thought it had to be my imagination at first, but I took it for a nice long drive and I felt none of the choppiness in the wheel. How is that even possible. That an old stock steering wheel would cause what felt like a worn out steering box?

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67fish383S said:
I bought a '72 Duster a few weeks ago and one of the first things on my list to take care of was the power steering. It goes down the road nice and straight, but it felt choppy, for the lack of a better description, when returning to center from either direction after making a turn. It did not want to return to center without a little assistance, and would come back in what felt like a few 'stages'; not a smooth motion.

I even had a really knowledgeable local Mopar guy drive it to get his opinion. His thought was that the steering box needed rebuilding, which made sense to me. When I started looking online for rebuilt or rebuild options, I came a across the Borgeson master kit from Bergman Autocraft. Because I plan to have this car forever, I decided to pop for the full package, with a new box, pump, lines, and cooler. To the tune of $1400. Shipping on Monday.

So today I installed a nice new aftermarket woodgrain Grant steering wheel because the stock wheel was well worn and I felt like sprucing up the interior a bit. Of course I had to take the new wheel for a test drive. Felt great in my hands and looks pretty damn nice too. Almost immediately I noticed how much more smooth the steering felt. I though it had to be my imagination at first, but I took it for a nice long drive and I felt none of the choppiness in the wheel. How is that even possible. That an old stock steering wheel would cause what felt like a worn out steering box?

View attachment 1715741354 View attachment 1715741355
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The steering wheel shouldnt have changed a thing. So,lets investigate. Can you detail the process you used to remove/replace wheel?
 
Tooljunkie said:
The steering wheel shouldnt have changed a thing. So,lets investigate. Can you detail the process you used to remove/replace wheel?
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Nothing out of the ordinary. Used a standard puller to remove the old wheel and installed the new wheel with the Grant kit. It has its own turn signal return detent and horn mech.
 
Maybe a chunk of grease or crud in the box that pulling on the wheel/shaft knocked loose/broke up?
 
Although, replying to my post, if the shaft moved that much in the box you'd have more problems, lol.
 
RSie said:
Maybe a chunk of grease or crud in the box that pulling on the wheel/shaft knocked loose/broke up?
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That’s as good a theory as any. Makes me a little less excited to install the new gear, but I’m sure it will be a nice upgrade.
 
Maybe there was something interfering with the OEM turn signal switch and the OEM wheel
 
“Bergman Autocraft.”

Good move, he’s a good man.
 
Sounds more like an issue with the reaction shaft assembly in the PS box. However, changing the steering wheel wouldnt fix it.
 
a couple of more things which can affect steering wheel return to center: If somebody has over adjusted the steering box it can affect the smoothness of mesh on the steering box gears;
caster directly affects the steering wheel return to center, so anything worn or maladjusted in the suspension/steering/wheel alignment can adversely affect steering wheel return to center.
of course, none of this connected to just changing the steering wheel.
 
Does the steering input ssd's shaft have a universal joint in it? I have had them frozen on one side of the cross, causes a stiff spot at 90 degree intervals while turning the steering wheel. Often overlooked
 
Maybe your car is possessed and it was not happy with an ugly green steering wheel....
 
I've had issues with aftermarket wheels rubbing on the column, but not with OE wheels..

I'm betting lower column bearing is munched, and removing the wheel allowed it to loosen a bit, something along those lines. I'm trying to remember what holds the shaft axially..... there is a friction ring at the bottom holding that bearing in, what's at the top?

In either case, I'd pull the column from the pot coupler up, it should spin freely. If not.... you know where to go next.
 
When you removed or installed the wheel, did you pound on the shaft at all? If so that could have knocked something loose that was binding.
 
Either way, new steering gear on a 50 year old car is a smart purchase. Don't feel bad about it.
 
dirty white boy said:
look at back side of old wheel and see if it was rubbing where it meets the column!
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No visible wear marks on the old wheel. Pulling on the shaft must have changed things enough somewhere down the line to make it feel different, but I suspect the change is temporary anyway. Whatever was causing the binding I'm sure will be resolved when I install the new setup. I just won't have the satisfaction of feeling a major difference after $1400 and what I'm sure will be some knuckle busting lol.
 
I've had a few cases of crap being inside the column.

Some you could hear and some you could feel.

Funny thing, I never actually saw anything come out when I removed the wheel and/or collar, but after replacing them, the issues were gone.
 
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