Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

A minor point to be sure, but when adding the hydraulic assist to a car that wasn't originally fitted with power steering, you don't get the complete effect as cars factory equipped with PS used a different ratio in the steering gear. Some sample data:

1954 with power steering: 18.2/1 for the juniors, 18.6 for the seniors.

1954 w/o power steering: 20.03 for juniors and 22.3 for the seniors.

1951 w/o power steering: 20.4/1 for juniors, 22.3 for seniors. 1952 numbers assumed to be the same.

So adding PS without a corresponding change in the steering gear box means you retain the higher number of turns lock-to-lock and thus may loose a bit of road feel. Not to say it's not a conversion that makes driving easier.