Power steering to manual

[soldierman79]

My power steering box on my M1009 has developed a leak around the steering shaft. I already bought the seal and will most probably fix it soon.

But,

If I were to convert it to manual steering it would eliminate the power steering pump drawing down on the engine (yes, I realize it is a miniscule amount). I am familiar with driving vehicles with manual steering. It seems that's all I owned growing up.

Besides a manual steering box, what else is required for the conversion?

 

[Warthog]

The issue is that the power steering pump also supplies power to the brakes. You will still need the pump.

Diesel engines do not produce a vacuum like a gasser engine. So they use the hydrostat brake assist instead of the vacuum assist.

 

[soldierman79]

The issue is that the power steering pump also supplies power to the brakes. You will still need the pump.

Diesel engines do not produce a vacuum like a gasser engine. So they use the hydrostat brake assist instead of the vacuum assist.

Ah, I see. Didn't realize that.

Welp, looks like i'm fixin the stock power steering then!

Thanks Warthog you're the man!

 

[Barrman]

Another problem is the truck was set up for power steering. Caster angles used to be changed between non power and power steering vehicles. The K5 had only power as your choice. Putting a non power box in there would make it very, very hard to steer at slow speeds. I just searched and could not find a manual gear box for any Chevy truck 1973 or newer that was a 4x4. 2wd, yes but not 4x4. It was never designed to have manual steering.

Joe already pointed out the brake booster issue too.

The best way to describe the caster difference between a power steering and manual vehicle is with a bike. Low rider bikes with the super long forks have gobs of positive caster, are super stable at just about any speed but require effort to turn at slow speeds.

Bikes built for off road have very little forward rake of the forks in front of the pivot point at the frame. Just a few degree's of caster in other words. They aren't as stable at high speeds, but they are super quick to steer and easy to steer at lower speeds.

Just for fun, get a neighborhood kid you don't like to turn his front forks around so the wheel is behind the pivot point of the frame. Then, ride his bike. That is negative caster and is it very, very unstable. Just thinking about turning the handle bars with have them moving too much.

Manual steering cars and trucks had either 0° caster or negative caster so the effort was little.

Sorry for the lecture. I just wanted to throw some fact behind the above post telling you it is a bad idea.

 

[Skinny]

Lowering caster on a truck with big tires may make it steer easier, good luck with wander and bumpsteer. That will get ugly fast...

This is crazy, going to the gym is an easier way to build your biceps. Removing power steering is not a good idea.

 

[MakersTeleMark]

If you have ever run out of fuel, then you realize how difficult it is to steer and stop a CUCV, especially going down a hill.