im in the mood for a Free mod. just finished the TB mod. i was just thinking, do i really need the power steering?

does it affect the streetability of the car at all?
is it harder to drive around town at slow speeds?
how about under AutoX conditions; is steering feedback increased or decreased?

i just dont want to end up having a slip-sliding, understeering, uncontrollable car cuz i cant feel the ground anymore.

and if i take it off, does the steering rack have to have fluid in it? what if theres air bubbles in it? its not really a Hydraulic rack? i never really did learn how PS really worked.

i really wanna dump it, and i could probably make some compromises. but, i dont want to make the car undesireable for the next prospective buyer since it has no PS (ill make sure the next owner is the go-fast type of person)

anyhow, i just need some input.

thanks
chris

 

Dump it. Steering feel will be increased.
If you wanna get an idea of what it feels like, just take off your p/s belt.
Most people leave the fluid in the rack and just splice the lines together.
Its really not that bad, my g/f can drive my car no probs and it has the p/s removed.
Sean

 

where can i pick up a manual steering rack??

Justin

 

Id prefer gutting the ps pump as opposed to getting a manual rack....the ratio for the power rack is15:1, manual is 20:1. PS rack=quicker steering response

 

I would advise against it, My 87T2 didn't have it from the factory and although it wasn't bad, you really need to keep both hands on the wheel, almost at all times. I drive mostly city driving & parking and most situations are harder to steer. Any imperfections in the road and the wheels will jerk or pull to one side or another. Its also harder to steer if someone pulled rightout in front of you or you had to make a split second change of direction! I have had 2 T2's and my 88T2 was the better daily driver, because it had PS! IMHO

 

Sometimes it depends on where you live, you may want PS for city and take it out if you live more in the country.

 

It's nice when you're moving but a PITA when you're going slow. No thanks.

 

mine dosnt have p/s and its a bitch backing up and turning 5mph and below once it getts going it has a very nice feel

 

well taking off the PS belt and removing it are NOT THE SAME.

i know cuz i did it on my trans am and the rx7. w/o the pump turning the chambers in it are stationary, and do not allow the fluid to pass from one side of the rack to the other, and this makes it REALLY hard to steer. the comment about bump steer being increased significantly is true about this aspect.

however, if you bypass the pump, and just connect the 2 lines coming from the rack, the fluid is free to travel back and forth unrestricted.

i just dont know how it will feel, if it will be more race-friendly than operation PS or not. thats what im tryin to find out.

it sure as hell is race-friendly in terms of weight loss.

btw, if you say your PS is removed, and the bump steer is a bitch, and parking lot driving too, try this: do some 50lb curls, and the butterfly press. thatll work out your biceps and pecks. itll make your power steering *magically* return!!!!


thanks
chris

 

hey i got a quick connection.... i removed the belt tonight and took it for a spin.. i noticed driving was a lot smoother.. the p/s put a drag on my engine... i did not remove the whole thing because i was confused... i am not really bright at mechanics but if i have good directions i can make it.. i was wondering how you take the whole thing out? there are a few lines going into it that look like metal.. and i see the two big rubber lines you guys are talking about i just stick them together... ok so how do i do this plz help and try to keep it really basic!! thanks

 

my car drives beautifully with a manual rack. Super easy to turn the wheel, even with sticky 225's in the front. Much better than running the power steering rack with no power.

 

cym, i take it you drove a PS rack w/o the power? did you just drive it w/ the belt off and still intact, or was it all removed and the PS lines were connected?

to remove it, just look in the Haynes repair manual, itll say how to remove the power steering pump. and ones all that BS is off, then take the 2 tubes that are coming out of the power steering rack, and connect them w/ a hose, so that the fluid circulates freely from one side to the other. if you leavve it open the oil will spew out as you turn the wheels side to side. if you PLug the lines its just like removing the belt from the PS pump while its all intact: very hard to turn, the fluid cant move and creates resistance.

chris

 

My opinon on the P/S removal:

if it is a series 5 car yes, gut and remove it. The engine speed sensitive system was too soft for decent handling.

if it is a series 4 car leave it in if you are using tires bigger than 205... the speed sensitive steering control is much better on the series 4 and it doesn't mask the handling as much. Further more the series 4 system is completely off by the time you hit 45MPH.

 

I drove my vert in every way possible. With and without the belt, with and without the pump and lines capped, and with the lines connected. Then I swapped in the manual rack and in the end the manual rack is the best overall solution. The manual may have a worse turning radius but if you can make it turn five times easier, in the end, the turning response is by far better. The manual is also a HELL OF ALOT CLEANER when installed; all of those lines are gone and all that crap is just not there. The weight savings are preaty good and the road feel is awesome. I hated driving with the power steering with no power aid, it was just to hard to do the simple things; kinda took the fun out of driving. I would associate it with removing your radio to loose 10 pounds, sometimes it just aint worth it on a car that you drive just for fun. Just buy a manual rack for $100 and swap it in.