"Quick" steering vs. "Standard" position

[Ken K.]

This question is about the two different holes in the front spindle arm for the tie rod. I heard the terms: "Quick" steering position vs. "Standard" steering position.
What is better for a non-power steering small block car? What would be some advantage and disadvantage at each location? Would you feel more "Play" in the steering wheel with one or the other location?

[George C.]

Re: "Quick" steering vs. "Standard" position

Ken,
I have had the same question and hope you get some good response. My guess is that the "quicker" steering position will increase the effort required at low speeds, and since I also have a non power steering car I have not tried it. I don't expect it would create any addtional feeling of play in the wheel, but probably have the opposite efect by making the ratio quicker.

George

[Patrick T.]

Re: "Quick" steering vs. "Standard" position

For a non power steering car, the standard steering position is best. I had mine in the quick steering position for a few months...too much effort to turn the wheels and I put it back to the standard position. Go ahead and try it, you will see! PT

[Joe L.]

Re: "Quick" steering vs. "Standard" position

Ken-----

The "quick" ratio steering position on the steering arms MUST be used for power steering applications. In fact, most, if not all, 1977 and later PRODUCTION steering arms (when power steering became standard) don't even have the standard ratio holes on the arms.

For standard steering cars, the "outer" or "slow" ratio steering holes are usually used. However, one can change a manual steering car to the "quick" ratio, "inner" holes. As others have mentioned, the "downside" is that steering effort increases significantly. A manual steering Corvette is hard enough to steer. You don't want to make it harder on yourself by switching to the "quick ratio" positions.

The Perfect Solution: convert the car to power steering. Then, you get the quick ratio PLUS greatly reduced steering effort. The only way to go.

[Mark #28455]

Do you parallel park?

I have several BB cars without and with power steering. If you're just driving, it doesn't make that much difference for somebody with reasonable upper body strength. On the other hand, I have to use significant effort to parallel park regardless of which position is used. My wife only likes to drive our power steering car due to the steering effort.

Mark

[Duke W.]

Re: Do you parallel park?

Fast manual steering, fast clutch ratio, no power brakes - ain't no "chick car"!

If your wife/GF ever wants to drive your non-power steering, no power brakes, quick steering and clutch linkage ratio vintage Corvette, the drive will be short, and she will NEVER want to drive it again.

That can have advantages.

Duke

[Michael H.]

Re: Do you parallel park?

Duke,

I agree, my G-Friend can drive my BB car but she's going to have to deal with it. It's a sports car after all. Real sports cars are supposed to be a little more difficult to drive. No P/S, no P/B and no vanity mirror for her. Or me. Today, there are probably four times as many P/S C2 cars on road than were ever built. When I was young, (grampa used to say that a lot) no one wanted anything to do with these silly options. Big motor, 4-speed and maybe a radio. THAT was a Corvette.

Another point on fast steering. Over the years, just about every C2 that had some or all of the steering column upper tabs broken off were the same cars that had the tie rods in the "fast steering"; holes, but didn't have power steering. The extra side load on the steering wheel/column when parking usually broke these tabs off.

[James W.]

Re: "Quick" steering vs. "Standard" position

So on a C2, the outer holes on the steering knuckles are for standard "non-power steering" car and the inner holes on the steering knuckles is for the fast steering ratio or power steering equipped cars... correct???

I had someone ask me this the other day that is re-installing his '65 non-power steering front suspension back together. I think I may have gave him the wrong information.

Thanks,

James West

[Joe L.]

Re: "Quick" steering vs. "Standard" position

James-----

Yes, the "inner" position is for power steering or "quick ratio" standard steering. To be clearer, by "inner" I am referring to the hole closest the steering knuckle.

The "outer" hole is for standard ratio, manual steering.

[John H.]

Re: "Quick" steering vs. "Standard" position

James -

Power steering cars from the factory used the "inner" (faster-ratio) holes, and had large aluminum rivets installed in the "outer" (slower-ratio manual steering) holes to prevent owners from moving the tie rod ends to the "outer" holes; doing so on a power steering car can over-travel the power cylinder rod and damage the seal.