Power steering, what do you think???
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Northern California
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Power steering, what do you think???
Ok, i have a 89 turbo that going to be in Nopi Street in about 2-3 months, and i need to do some stuff to make it look even better. On thing i was thinking about is removing my power steering and changing it to a manual rack. I have access to a manual rack and all the stuff i need, but ive never actually driven an rx7 with the manual rack on it. So what does everyone think, should i change it? Here is my engine as of a month ago, not the best pic but its what i have right now. Let me know what you think!!!
Graham
Graham
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Northern California
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So not a big deal driveability wise with the manual rack? Agian, never driven an rx7 with manual steering, but have driven rotor trucks and they werent too bad at all. I tend to feel that those with automatic trannys are the ghey ones, but maybe that applies to power steering too
Alright, who has more input on if i should change it??
Alright, who has more input on if i should change it??
Trending Topics
#10
Rotary Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: The Boro, TN
Posts: 775
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Man the best way is to just cut out the powersteering and leave the power rack in there blocked off. It gives a better feeling at high speed, and has a better turning radious then the manual rack.
-CHris
-CHris
#11
Originally posted by chris-reedtn
Man the best way is to just cut out the powersteering and leave the power rack in there blocked off. It gives a better feeling at high speed, and has a better turning radious then the manual rack.
-CHris
Man the best way is to just cut out the powersteering and leave the power rack in there blocked off. It gives a better feeling at high speed, and has a better turning radious then the manual rack.
-CHris
I concur whole-heartedly!
This is what I have, and I love the feel of the steering - much tighter! The manual rack requires more turns lock-to-lock than the power steering rack. Other than at a dead stop, or <5mph, the steering is easy - just that at the low speeds it requires 2 hands to turn, instead of one.
#12
Track Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you only need 1 belt on that engine there! 2 if you run a double pulley... get rid of the p/s, and air pump. its really not that hard at all to drive with no p/s... its actually kinda scary when you get used to it then go and drive a car with p/s, because it feels like you are hardly in control over the car... without feels much better!
#13
long term project
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ya agreed. i think you have alot more control and feel for the car without P/S. way more feel for drifting.
Also you dont need 2 hands, just dump the clutch and kick her sideways :-).
Also you dont need 2 hands, just dump the clutch and kick her sideways :-).
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Northern California
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
so i suppose that if i just removed the PS belt i could see what it would be like if i blocked off the rack?
Interesting the mixed feelings on blocking off PS or just changing the rack...
Interesting the mixed feelings on blocking off PS or just changing the rack...
#20
Eat Rice Don't Drive it.
iTrader: (3)
I personally still have the PS rack. The only reason that I plan to change in the future is because I have heard that the PS rack tends to collapse after time passes and becomes unusable.
Santiago
PS- Taking off the belt gives you an idea of how it will feel but not a complete view because after about three or four days you don't feel the same way.
Santiago
PS- Taking off the belt gives you an idea of how it will feel but not a complete view because after about three or four days you don't feel the same way.
#22
Originally posted by Fatty_FC3S
so i suppose that if i just removed the PS belt i could see what it would be like if i blocked off the rack?
Interesting the mixed feelings on blocking off PS or just changing the rack...
so i suppose that if i just removed the PS belt i could see what it would be like if i blocked off the rack?
Interesting the mixed feelings on blocking off PS or just changing the rack...
No that will not give you the feel. Just removing the belt will actually be heavier and harder to turn than if you drain the system and remove the pump. The reason is because if you just remove the belt, there will still be fluid in the rack and when you try to turn the wheel you will also have to move all the power steering fluid; whereas if you do it properly (draining the fluid and plugging the holes) it will be a great feeling.
#23
Rotary Freak
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MN
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just went through the whole process. Went from full PS, to a power rack without the pump and the lines looped, to a real manual rack.
I must be honest and say that the manual rack and full PS fell identical at speed. The PS rack w/o the pump sucks ***. I really prefer the manual rack. It looks cool, the engine bay is a ton cleaner. and you feel teh road much better, with a marginally more difficult steering effort while moving slow.
Verdict - swicth to a real manual rack. Do not loop the lines on a power rack.
I must be honest and say that the manual rack and full PS fell identical at speed. The PS rack w/o the pump sucks ***. I really prefer the manual rack. It looks cool, the engine bay is a ton cleaner. and you feel teh road much better, with a marginally more difficult steering effort while moving slow.
Verdict - swicth to a real manual rack. Do not loop the lines on a power rack.
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Northern California
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your posts, by the way sunshine, thats a cool avitar. I think ill definitely be changing my power steering. I may try the loop, but it seems that a manual rack would make sense since it was designed to be manual in the first place.
Basically the only advantage to the PS drained rack is that its has a slightly faster ratio, but its harder to turn. The mazda book says a PS rack is 2.7 turns lock to lock, whereas the Manual is 3.5. I really like how i barely have to move the steering wheel to change lanes, but i wonder how much steering feel id be gaining from no power. Intriguing indeed, looks like i need to try it
Basically the only advantage to the PS drained rack is that its has a slightly faster ratio, but its harder to turn. The mazda book says a PS rack is 2.7 turns lock to lock, whereas the Manual is 3.5. I really like how i barely have to move the steering wheel to change lanes, but i wonder how much steering feel id be gaining from no power. Intriguing indeed, looks like i need to try it
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Northern California
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UPDATE
I decided to try and loop the lines on my PS today. After driving it a few miles at varying speeds, i can say that Sunshine was right when he said the "looped lines suck ***". Even though i have a faster ratio that the manual rack, the difficulty in making fast turns at slow speeds is annoying. It makes it slower and in some ways more dangerous. Im going to change to a full manual rack since im not very happy with the looped PS rack. On the highway i can tell no difference though....
Just thought id give an update in case others are considering this mod. Ill update again when i get the manual in there.
Graham
I decided to try and loop the lines on my PS today. After driving it a few miles at varying speeds, i can say that Sunshine was right when he said the "looped lines suck ***". Even though i have a faster ratio that the manual rack, the difficulty in making fast turns at slow speeds is annoying. It makes it slower and in some ways more dangerous. Im going to change to a full manual rack since im not very happy with the looped PS rack. On the highway i can tell no difference though....
Just thought id give an update in case others are considering this mod. Ill update again when i get the manual in there.
Graham