Make power steering lighter?

[Circlotron]

Is there any way to make VN/VP power steering lighter? Some kind of adjustment? I want to be able to steer with one finger.

[Burnout124]

get hold of a vp calais system they are 1 finger stering (unsure if it is a different pump or rack)

[wraith]

Err why do you do need to be able to steer with 1 finger o.O Are you handicapped?

[Circlotron]

I don't need to - I want to :-)
After I get out of the missus' Camry the VP feels like a truck.
I just like the idea of not having to wrap my fingers around the steering wheel, just wind it around with the palm of my hand.
I don't care nuthin about road feel; I don't drive fast around corners. Straight roads are my thing. Curvy roaded housing estates are pesky.

Years ago a mate had a 1958 Jaguar. You could tap the steering wheel and it would rotate lock to lock like the steering column was cut. THAT was cool.

[wraith]

I have driven a few VN's and the power steering as always been easy enough to wind around with a palm as you say. Maybe check your fluid levels and make sure your rack isn't leaking.

[nathanVY]

Calais have variotronic steering racks, so yes the rack is different. Not sure if there is any other differences

Big difference from an exec to a calais though

[Cheap6]

In addition to the rack and the BCM to control it (the variable part) the outlet on the pumps are different but interchangeable (there is also a spool and spring inside the standard pump outlet which has to be removed with it).

A Calais/Statesman rack and pump outlet, without the BCM, would give very light steering at all speeds. There may be a way to later the weight without the BCM as it's only a PWM signal.

[Circlotron]

Actually the pump is a little bit noisy. When they start to wear out does the available pressure drop and cause the steering to get heavier?

[wraith]

Given the age of the vehicle if it hasn't had a new pump put in wouldn't surprise me. Same goes with the rack. Notorious problem.

[MasterOfReality]

Yeah the pumps do give issues which results in no power steering.

Strangely enough its fixed by removing and replacing the fuel pump relay

[Circlotron]

In the p/s box of my HJ it had sort of springy, twistable valve and the harder you had to turn the wheel the more it twisted and the greater the amount of pressurised fluid it let through to give assistance. How does the rack I have got work?

[Cheap6]

Same way, only the twisty bit is in the 'rack tower.

If you want to experiment, maybe try to find the VP Calais/VQ SII Statesman pump outlet at a wrecker and swap it over (assuming that your current pump is OK and not as described ^^).

It will up the pump pressure so will be harder on the 'rack seals so be prepared for the possibility of the rack leaking.