What is the logic behind this design? What is the intended effect?

My new hose does not have a restrictor, and I'm not sure I like the different feel. Is there anyway I can fit a restrictor at the connection to the pump or rack?

TIA

 

Paul, tell us what it feels like... not just that it is different... ok?

 

Too light, in fact it feels like other cars now.

I was told this would only be noticeable at parking speeds, but this does not seem to be the case at all.

 

I believe the hard steering at low speeds gives you that solid feeling when traveling at high speeds.

 

I did that swap wih my 87, it steers similar to my 85...no restrictor without any resistance..like power steering and not power assisted. The 88 is hard enough that I used an offset adapter for the steering wheel to add an inch of leverage. At speed the 88 and 87 feel about the same. I'm glad that I needed to do it on the 87, my daily driver, because if your not doing a lot of "parking lot" driving, I don't think its worth the effort. That's why I not planning to swap out my 88. Ed

 

I think the idea behind the restrictor is to keep constant pressure regardless of engine RPM. The lack of a restrictor should have more effect when the engine is at higher RPMs (highspeed) because the pump is pushing more fluid and can gernerate more pressure then. It doesn't make much sense for it to change in low speed, low RPM parking lot driving.

 

It seems to me that a restrictor is going to restrict flow, and therefore make large movements of the steering more difficult. But how is this going to interact with engine speed? And how does the 'speed sensitive' power steering actually work?

 

I lost the restrictor on my 1990 GT and have not noticed any difference in the feel at speeds up to hitting the limiter in 5th I am also glad to report that the hose is still looking new 2 years and 25,000 miles on since I changed it...