Hi, if i ever bought a 1990-92 Brougham, is there any way to tighten up the steering to give it more feel?
Any way to tighten up steering?
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Change powert steering boxes, which will change the ratio, make it less turns to hard over, etc.
There is some room for increasing caster over the alignment specification. This will help with road feel quite a bit. Certain mid 70's GM bodystyles were quite similar to these cars and used caster numbers in the high 5's and sixes. As stated, there are a number of different steering boxes which can be used in this car. The ones with less lock to lock turns really wake the car up. Some '80's Fleetwoods already came stock with pretty quick ratios in the box. The Devilles didn't and you can tell the difference right away.
Assuming all is mechanically sound:
Adding a lot of caster helps some, low caster gives more wander and less feel, more caster also improves returnability. And definately helps cornering. Make sure you have polyurethane sway bar end links in front, and they are snug. when I got my car there was nearly 1 inch play on one side. Enough it rattled because the washers weren't even compressed at all.
Change the alignment to get as much caster as possible, 0 Camber, to -0.25 degrees, and 0 to 0.1 degree toe in. GM spec cross caster and GM spec cross camber or tighter, tighter the better.
1978 to 1992 Trans AM WS6 is best steering box for our cars. Constant ratio and 2 turns lock to lock with best road feel. Impala SS box should also be a good choice, but can get pricey. Any Trans AM WS6 is a good solid choice. However, 1978-1981 had limited steering turn radius, specific for the F Body. This may or may not be an issue to you. If you have stock tires you might see a difference, if larger than stock, you will likely welcome it.
Constant ratio boxes are best for repsonse and manners, but at 100+ mph may feel more twitchy, as less input is needed to make a correction. My 1980 T/A has a constant ratio 3 turns lock to lock box and it is excellent at 135 mph. It is a non WS6 box.
Avoid most Good Year tires. They have weak lame sidewalls that contribute to less steering repsonse. When you shop for tire feel the sidewalls, thicker is more reponsive, thinner gives less road feel. Tires rock easier side to side in corners, you feel them shift in a hard corner. Yuk in my book. These cars are bad enough handling to make them worse.
Adding a lot of caster helps some, low caster gives more wander and less feel, more caster also improves returnability. And definately helps cornering. Make sure you have polyurethane sway bar end links in front, and they are snug. when I got my car there was nearly 1 inch play on one side. Enough it rattled because the washers weren't even compressed at all.
Change the alignment to get as much caster as possible, 0 Camber, to -0.25 degrees, and 0 to 0.1 degree toe in. GM spec cross caster and GM spec cross camber or tighter, tighter the better.
1978 to 1992 Trans AM WS6 is best steering box for our cars. Constant ratio and 2 turns lock to lock with best road feel. Impala SS box should also be a good choice, but can get pricey. Any Trans AM WS6 is a good solid choice. However, 1978-1981 had limited steering turn radius, specific for the F Body. This may or may not be an issue to you. If you have stock tires you might see a difference, if larger than stock, you will likely welcome it.
Constant ratio boxes are best for repsonse and manners, but at 100+ mph may feel more twitchy, as less input is needed to make a correction. My 1980 T/A has a constant ratio 3 turns lock to lock box and it is excellent at 135 mph. It is a non WS6 box.
Avoid most Good Year tires. They have weak lame sidewalls that contribute to less steering repsonse. When you shop for tire feel the sidewalls, thicker is more reponsive, thinner gives less road feel. Tires rock easier side to side in corners, you feel them shift in a hard corner. Yuk in my book. These cars are bad enough handling to make them worse.
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