jimlab

I didn't say some of them weren't replaced... I said that it was a picture of the parts which weren't going back on the car, and none of those parts did. It wasn't intended to be a picture conveying weight reduction. It was a picture meant to convey the large number of parts pulled off a 4-month old car with 30,000+ miles of warranty left.

I can see how you could draw the conclusion that I was saying "taken off, never to be replaced", but the tail lights should have been a dead giveaway that was not the case. I'm sorry, we didn't have the forethought to take pictures of just the parts that weren't being replaced. We weren't fanatics about weight reduction at that point, so all I took were comparison pictures (new vs. old) like the one below...

Jason93RX7R1

The manual rack is a direct bolt in, provided you use the right tie rod ends. Mine was easy, and was one of the best mods I ever did to my car. I do AGREE that an aftermarket rack would be better for the ratio, but for the cost and the fact its very close it isn't bad at all. I noticed at 150mph+ that is was more touchy, but nothing that was unacceptable.

The main thing with the manual rack conversion is the tie rod ends.
You need to use TRW part number ES2814 .
With them, and the stock *FC* tie rods, the geometry will be the same as the FD's. The steering wheel linkage will bolt right in, and so will the backets, using the ones off the FC; with some tinkering and prodding. Ends up very stable, and much cleaner then the power rack converted.

The basic write up I did of mine is in this thread:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ht=manual+rack

Anyone bring up the reasons why NOT to convert the power rack yet? The quill and steering force applied to it and all that stuff?

Jason

TwinTriangles

I heard it was rather easy to convert our racks to full manual, after taking everything obvious out you have to weld sumthing inside the rack and then its finished, if you take the p/s pump out and stuff & thats it, it is not going to feel anything like a full manual steering rack

fd3s_rx7

iTrader: (13)

Better Drifting Response!
If you are a drifter!!!

malhall

In belated reply to Jason's question as to why not to convert a power rack & pinion gear to manual.
1)There is a torsion bar between the input shaft and pinion which winds up 3-4 deg in each direction (think free play)before you have direct drive to the rack - not good for "feel" when cornering hard at the limit of adhesion.
2) A power steering gear is not designed/tested to operate in manual mode on a continuous basis, questions of durability could arise

AUS-FD3S

Is it possible to just remove the belt to see what it will feel like before committing to ripping everything off?

AUS-FD3S

Anyone? im working on the car today and will try this if it is safe? thanks

Prôdigy2nd

iTrader: (3)

completely different..

in a matter of 1/2 hour I drove all three different types

power steering
looped
and fully converted


it is 3 completely different feels..

when properly converted it does take more effort then powered steering, but is significantly less effort then just looping the lines...

my opinion


keep PS, or fully convert...

no in betweens (for stock rack)

I put 10, 000kms on last summer with a converted rack...

and only once did I ever think it would have been nice to have power steering.. that was when I was parallel parking..

I have yet to track the car.


J.

AUS-FD3S

I am keen on stripping it and doing a full conversion but i want to try it first, i assumed removing the belt will achieve this?

Rxmfn7

iTrader: (4)

No.. As mentioned above , it will feel completely different/harder than a full manual conversion of the stock rack.

AUS-FD3S

Sorry my bad, it was clear that it was safe to remove the belt, i understand it will feel alot harder,however its relatively simple to do, if i don't mind it with the belt off then im gonna be fine when i strip it all.

I underst and its not the same but i would hate to remove it all then not like it. thanks for responding.