A while back I read a lot of posts about installing a Jeep GC Lares 972 quick ratio steering gear. So I put one in my 69 Cutlass. When I got the car it needed a lot of work and I hadn't driven it more than a few times. I felt the steering was sloppy and went through the suspension and decided to install the quick ratio steering gear. I have a turn near my house, maybe 130 degree (just a guess) and can't make it without backing up. I can do it no problem in any other car. I wish I had tried it before making the change but I hadn't. Is this a result of the steering gear or is something else going on?

Steve

 

I used a lares 974 w no issues

I previously read that some gears have stops in them and didnt turn as far, ie instead of 3.5 turns lock to lock you could only get 2.5 turns l-l which increases your turning radius

 

I never thought about "how many turns lock to lock" may effect the turning radius. Just thought less turns is better. Always more to know I guess. I'm not happy with this situation. Thanks for the info.

Steve

 

I just looked on larescorp the only different listed between 974 and 972 is the 3 or 4 hole mount, both say 2.5 turns l-l.

 

heres something form another site same issues

https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba...r-steering-box

 

Turns lock-to-lock has nothing to do with turning radius. The thing that matters is the internal stops in the box. The problem with many steering box conversions is that the internal stops on the new box are different from OEM, which causes problems like yours. The WS6 box swap was a classic, because when installed in an A-body, the stops weren't symmetric. It turned more tightly in one direction than in the other.

 

Did you make any wheel/tire changes or upgrades? Just to make sure you didn't go with wider wheels or new wheels with more backspacing and now the front tires are hitting the front sway bar BEFORE you hit the stops. If no changes there then disregard but the front tires hitting the sway bar while trying to do a U turn would cause the same issue.

-Joe

 

All else remained the same, 14" wheels etc
Steve

 

[Remove bottom section of steering box. If you had no oil in box all the dirt inside collects at the bottom as the steering shaft is not sealed. You may find the bearing spacer at the bottom is all rusted out and making turning difficult.
GM used 2 kinds of bearings, a barrel shaped roller and a cylindrical roller bearing.Easier to do this than to strip out the entire column.

 

Try the same turn from the opposite direction, If you can complete the same turn without backing up
that would indicate that your Pitman arm was not installed correctly or you did not have the Gear correctly clocked when hooked up to
the steering flex coupler
I had the same issue when I changed out my Gear, ended up having to reclock the gear and then reset the pitman arm and finally adjust the Tie rods on both sides
to get everything straight..
Good luck