Poor Mans Power Steering

[johnny99]

Heres my story, I am putting a CP500 power steering box in my car NOW! When I bought the car about a year ago the soon to be former owner told me he had installed a "poor mans power steering" I am thinking that this is a needle bearing idler arm, am I correct? The idler arm looks new so I got a feeling thats what he installed. My question is will this idler arm work with my new steering set up, or should I ditch it for a stock idler arm. Merry Christmas :) John

[chevman57]

Johnthe idler arm isn`t different. It is just the inner workings. The stock had a plastic bushing and the poor mans is a bearing replacement. I wouldn`t think it would change anything.
Terry

[Chevynut]

The stock had a plastic bushing and the poor mans is a bearing replacement.

I think the stock bushing is actually rubber, and it twists as you turn so the further you turn the harder it is to steer. The bearing eliminates that. :D

[grandmas55]

Hi, Johnny:
I installed poor man's power steering in my '55 years ago and it does help. No, you do not need to install different idler-arm bushings. A whole thread along with a poll was done a few weeks back which is informative.
Mark

[chevman57]

Laszlo when i replaced mine years ago the idler arm bushing was a hard plastic. I think the drag link bushing was a rubber one.
Terry

[johnny99]

Thanks guys, after Christmas breakfast I was back out in the shop, ripped the rest of the steering off the 56, yep idler has bearings not bushings, I am going to run with it, cant wait to put all the new junk back on!
Merry Christmas :cool: John

[Jalapeno]

Terry, the plastic bushing you removed was an aftermarket replacement, the OEM bushings were rubber with a steel jacket outside and a steel sleeve inside.

John, the idler bearing kit probably has ball bearings and not needle bearings. There were needle bearing kits made back in the day but they are extremely rare. The ball bearing kit is being reproduced.

[Blt2Lst]

Does the stock idler arm bushing need to be pressed out with a press or will a big hammer due?

Thanks

Al :tu:tu

[Ontario55]

http://www.danchuk.com/PDF/Instruction_Sheets/2872.pdf

[Blt2Lst]

http://www.danchuk.com/PDF/Instruction_Sheets/2872.pdf

Thanks, that says it all. :tu:tu

[fiftee6]

When I put my 500 box in, I also used the bearing type idler setup. Works great. It is close to the BB header on that side so it worked out real good for me. It should work out great for you:tu Phil...