Do all 95 Bonne SSEi'* have variable assist? If so, and my car has it, why does it need so much effort at speeds under 20mph? I mean it seems like I have less assist at higher speeds, which is a good thing, but I just thought there'd be much more assist at low speed, such as when parking, etc. My SHO had a preety nice assist at low speeds and tightened up at higher speeds. I only needed one finger to turn the wheel when parking, and my Bonne needs some good oomph. Would a power steering flush help?

How can I tell if I do have variable assist? And if I do, is there any way to increase the amount of assist at lower speeds?

Thanks.

I don't think I can do mine with one finger. I know the steering on my car at low speeds takes more effort than my dad'* Delta 88, which has a much more numb steering.

You don't happen to have your original window sticker do you? Because thats how I knew mine had magnasteer.

If you do have it can be adjusted at a dealership. I had mine adjusted to the lowest assist setting. Made a HUGE improvement. The GM tech didnt even know you could adjust it. He said he was going to adjust his Bonneville later that day.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. But aren't the systems called Variable Assist and Magnasteer different from each other in that variable-assist systems vary the amount of steering effort according to vehicle speed. While Magnasteer is a more sophisticated Variable Assist set up whose characteristics can only be changed, primarily, by a dealer. It was introduced around 1996.

Yes, magnasteer and variable-assist power steering are different.

Didn't know they were different. What are the differences between the 2 systems?

I think Ol' Timer has got it. I know my system increases power assist at low speeds.

Here'* an article I found

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf20224.htm