Too much is like not enough. If you're pushing too much then you might end up squeezing your vocal cords and that might explain why you don't feel vocally free. As you ascend the scale, more pressure is required and that should occur naturally without having to give it an extra pus assuming that you are already doing it correctly. Same for the ribs. If you try to expand them on top of what is already naturally occurring, then you might be applying too much effort into it creating stress.

Watch my video on supporting the voice to learn how to do it correctly. Hope that helps. If you need extra guidance, contact me at valbastien@gmail.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Ro2ao80Lo

@oiselle:
Thank you so much for your reply that certainly is going to help!!! Maybe it it might help you to watch my videos I´ve posted above (use earphones), maybe you can find out if I´m pushing too hard. I am using the two belt technique so I make sure that I keep my ribs expanded and support correctly but maybe you hear more than I feel ;))

René

Thanks a lot for the link Oiselle - that video is very helpful. I am realizing that I have a tendency to push way too hard to try and hit the higher notes in my range. This is going to help me start backing off the pressure a bit (and probably improve endurance as well).

@Tim
Thank you for your reply, I tried your exercise (cool one) for bridging the passaggio today but something strange happened, something strange but also predictable (because I know my voice). As I got higher I started to add more and more pharyngeal resonance!!! I know that I can´t bridge the passagio when adding to much pharyngeal resonance, how much pharyngeal resonance should I use when trying to bridge beyond my breaking point.....or shouldn´t I add pharyneal resonance at all. That would be quite difficult for me because I am used to add it when reaching the end of my lower register....well I know confusing ;)

Oh yeah I know that ozzy isn´t a number one road model for vocalists but I love his voice and I love his music. I love his use of vowels and his great sense of pitch, even when he sounds off pitch, he still sounds in pitch.....does that make any sense???
Further I love it when he sings and suddenly pulls his chest voice a lot higher. But I try to avoid his sometimes heavy straining by using more resonance and better support and avoid his sometimes heavy chest pulling by using more pharyngeal resonance. But don´t worry ozzy is not the only vocal influence and certainly not the only music I sing :))
ah yeah thank you for helping me with my "ribs" confusion ;))

René

Actually, they sound sharp, not flat. Be very careful with your intonation, especially when singing Ozzy-style stuff, he tends to sustain notes with no vibrato or anything, making any deviations extremely obvious.