Vanshaman

Hi folks, new to the site.

I've been having major serpentine belt issues... correct size belts running off pulleys, smaller/tighter belts squeaking and eventually wearing out tensioner... I've replaced alt, tensioner, ps pump and now removed ax from the system.... I do a lot of camping in this truck and want it to be as simple and bullet proof as I can.

I'm now interested in removing the power steering from the equation, for a more classic/ dependable feel. My question is that I have had vans w/o power steering before and they steered with ease... when my belt has broken in they past I lost steering and it was quite harder to steer, even more so than a van w/o power steering.. is the something I need to remove or replace to have a non power steering system that works correctly?

canucklehead

Correct me if im wrong, but doesnt a factory manual steering system have different castor on the front wheels, different steering components etc? Its not as simple as just going without a power steering pump.

Vanshaman

No your probably right, the terminology helped... after googling "manual steering" vs non power steering or power steering bypass I got a lot of results. There is more to it than I thought. I did not find any conversions sold for vans though so I guess I could try the junkyard but I don't come by manual steering vans that often.

Twscarp

I think one is avialable, don't know if the pitman arm and linkages are interchangeable though. With a P/S box your trying to push a hydraulic cylinder, and trying to force the oil pass the valving and check valves.
1989 Chevrolet Van Manual Steering Gear Box

https://chevroletforum.com/forum/att...1&d=1492173316

oldchevy

Are all of your pulleys in alignment with each other? One of them just being off a little bit can cause your belt to run off.

Vanshaman

Hey thanks carp, nice find & definitely a start.

Vanshaman

Old chevy: when I look at the pulleys with the belt off, my power steering pump pulley was the only one that just a **** hair off. I bought a new pump and pulley with a larger lip. When I installed them the tiny difference was still barely visible. I can't imagine how the bracket which is one giant bracket serving multiple components could get bent... it's thick steel. So at this point I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone in removing the possible power steering pulley culprit and increasing dependability with a manual system.