Would anyone happen to know the procedure to depower my GSL-SE's powersteering box? My PS pump is super duper dead as the pulley yanked the shaft out. Id like to go ahead and just convert it to manual as it likely wont ever be powered again. I searched but couldnt really find anything for the FB box

 

It's really easy. Cut the lines an inch or two away from the box, run the steering back and forth a lot to pump as much excess fluid out as possible, clamp a short loop of rubber hose over the two line stubs. It's fine to leave the speed sensitive steering connector dangling, IIRC all Series 3s got the connector so there are a lot of cars out there with it dangling

I had probably 80-90k miles on mine this way, after my power steering pump ejected its internals one day.


The amusing thing is that with the pump and lines removed, the steering feels about as light as a manual steering box. The power steering seems to only be necessary to handle the increased nose weight of the power steering system

I like the P/S box because it is 3 turns lock to lock instead of 4.

 

Awesome, thank you. Do I need to fill the box with any oil/grease? What kind?

 

No, that would be counterproductive.

It will have leftover stuff in it, which will be enough. If you add fluid to it, the steering will be very difficult/impossible to turn, which is why you need to spin the steering back and forth a bunch to get as much fluid out as possible.

This is very much an end-of-life kind of thing, if you don't want to get a new power steering pump. From experience, the box will probably only last another 100-150k miles once depowered. If you drive 30k a year that is only 3-5 years or so...

 

Okie doke, roughly what size hose would I need?

 

This is interesting. My first RX-7 was a new 1985 GSL-SE with power steering. I guess it spoiled me because later I bought a used '83 GSL with no power steering and I couldn't get used to it so I sold it. Recently I bought a used '84 GSL-SE with power steering and it was back to the good old days again. A resurrection it had sat for 15 years and I was afraid the power steering was toast. I just add some ATF up to full and it hasn't skipped a beat.

Good to know if the unit does go south there is a fix.

 

Many of us have done as PeeJay relates. I've been running my SE box with no power for 5+ years and about 40k miles with no ill effects. My recommendation if one chooses to do this is to learn to get the car moving before you try and steer, and bump your front tire pressure up a few pounds to reduce friction. This helps to keep the load off of your recirculating ***** in the mechanism, as they will grind down over time. With the original system, the fluid helped to keep the ***** lubricated.

Also, if you can't live without power steering, check out this link for retrofit ideas. Me? I just go without. Feels like my 80LS again, even though it's an SE.

Link: Untitled Document