Audi Man

I just prefer the manual steering, so I was just wondering if anyone has done a power to manual steering swap, or if there is a kit for that matter.

mad_7tist

why? i lived in chicago lots of parking to be done. how come you want manual? i will try and find the write up.

1badd7

I have a fd and got a manual steering rack from a fc. It's not bad at all. I can still turn with one hand. I removed my power steering and a/c. You have to do a little modification. Didn't need all that clutter!!!

Sponge Bob Square Pants

Manual all the way.
The Rx-7 is a light enough car, and the weight distribution is good enough that power steering isn't required.
You can save lots of weight by changing. Just taking out the pump and lines saves some weight (maybe 25 lbs) but that is actually more steering effort than just a broken pump.
By changing over to a manual steering rack, you can save more weight (maybe over 80lbs) and it's very easy to steer, more responsive, and you can get a better feel for the road.

Plus less clutter, and less parts possible to break.

alberto_mg

Jason from the rx7store did it. Search on it. One of my Turbo IIs had a manual rack and it felt pretty good. Parallel parking took a little more effort, but no biggee.

clayne

Sponge,

25 lb reduction from removing the pump, but 80 lb reduction from removing the power steering rack?

No.

Weight reduction from a straight manual rack compared to a manual w/ power assist fitted rack is not more than 5 lb.

Removing the pump and lines is not more effort than leaving the pump installed but not driven by a belt - in fact, it's less effort in the former.

Sponge Bob Square Pants

I did a bit of touch up research on this. I couldn't find any hard evidence where people had done the conversion and weighed the differences. I found a few claims though...

10-25 lbs came up a lot when talking about removing the pump (including brackets, etc)
It was hard to find info on the rack, but I found a few numbers mentioned: 20 lbs, 60lbs, and 100lbs difference. Hmm.

So basically, this is of no help, I have no idea what the weight savings are. I'm going to do some more research, see what I can come up with, b/c it's something that really should be known.
I think there used to be a listing of weight of parts on www.fc3s-pro.com that *might* have had the racks listed, but the site is down now.

Also, is there different ratios between the two racks?

jdhuegel1

Here's all the information you need my friend. Jason is the man!

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=224664

Fatman0203

Quick question. Manual, as in just straight line through?? My father is into his old Bel Airs, and he this thing called *poor mans* power steering that works with bearings. They feeling is good, you can park ALOT easier and you still get that "manuaL" feeling. Possible to do this to an FD?

clayne

Don't bother.

Guys, the power assisted rack in the FD is STILL a rack and pinion manual rack, at the core.

Audi Man

Thanks alot Fatman0203, i looked for it but could not find it. That answers all my questions.

Fatman0203

Np, but has anyone answer my question. Can you do some sort of bearings to do the steering of the FD to make turning easier but still keep the manual feeling?

clayne

No.

The manual steering is not hard at all when the fluid is drained to a lubrication level only.

jdhuegel1

Did you guys read the discussion in the link I posted? I didn't read through all of it.. But there's a lot of information there..

The Power assisted rack in the FD is manual at the core, yes. But I can promise you that the FD rack looped and plugged and a manual rack from a FC feel completely different. I've had both. There are others here that will agree..

Jimlab has some great information on fully converting the FD rack to manual and what it costs and the difference in ratios between the FD and FC racks... All you have to do is search around a little bit. This topis has had the living **** beat out of it on several occasions...

clayne

Yep.

The only reason I'm not running the FC rack is because I'd rather not move up in ratio - I want down.

I myself am looking at the possibility of adapting an S2000 rack to an FD.

jdhuegel1

Yeah... I understand about the ratio.. I figure I'll give it a try and if it's too funky I'll go back to square 1. There is a place (forgot the name) that does the full manual conversion to the FD rack.. Might go that route. I think it's like 115.00 or something.

jimlab

Maval Gear, $165.00 for the conversion, $60 extra if you don't want to send them your rack for the core.

www.mavalgear.com

jdhuegel1

There you are! Thanks jimlab.