The RPM sensitive design in my old 91 was bad for autocross.
It would stiffen with high revs - not cool around cones.

My old 87GXL & current 91 turbo have speed sensitive assist, which is a very good design.
Easy in parking.
Completely off-line at 30MPH for road feel & no HP drag.

 

I've got an '88 Base and I don't think it has power steering. Then again,I've only driven the car for like 20 mins and it's in storage at he moment and I only got it like 3 days ago. The steering feels about as heavy as my Celica with it's power steering disconnected,so no,I don't think I'vr got power steering. I drove a 2nd gen automatic (such a thing should not exist) and the steering in that was feather light and had no feeling. You could probably turn the wheel if you breathed on it.

 

*Ahem*..... A horsepower saved is a horsepower earned.

 

I had an '88 SE and the power steering was too light for my liking but since it was speed sensitive, it felt great over 35-40MPH when the steering tightened up.

My current '87 TII has a manual rack. Love the feel at above 10mph. But its a pain parallel parking on a hill with San Francisco traffic and the ratio is slow, like 3.5 turns. My next '88 TII has power steering and I have no plans to take it out.

 

But you have a S4. The power steering was already turned off at above 40MPH returning all the lost HP.

 

My 86 does not have the power steering. But my 90 does, and I plan on keeping it on the car

 

better yet

 

i have it i'm not goint to lose it untill it messes up, then it's gone.

 

I kepy my PS on. I like to hang out the back end with one hand on the wheel and one on the shifter. I rarely ever put both hands on the wheel, just my style of driving.

 

I unhooked it for a few days to see what it'd be like if i took out the p/s, but i HATED IT, so i hooked it back up and never thought about taking it out again

 

It doesn't work like that. The manual rack is totally different. What you hated was a broken PS system, lol.

 

Yup, my friend's power steering pump wasn't working right and the rack was full of fluid. I could barely turn the wheel fast enough when the car was at a stop.

 

I'm not real sure if I've just had good luck or what, but none of my cars with the PS removed are nearly as hard as any of you seem to make it to turn, at a stop or a roll, I auto-x all the time and drive with one hand for 90% of my driving and I have no problems at all, parking and low speed turning is nothing to break a sweat over, I find it to be just about the same as my manual rack.

 

heh, yes, broken power steering can be rough, but even its not that bad; and i'm a twig. i'm still searching for those mystery bolts so i can lose the entire unit. until then, i'm going to enjoy my daily circular work out.

 

Anyone bother to mention some race cars (nascar winston cup for example) have power steering.

I think the speed senstive p/s is the best!!

 

Will the s4 manual rack fit on an s5?

 

I read somewhere that using a PS rack without the pump hooked up would damage the rack and lead to failure of the u-joint at the end of the steering column. Any comments on this?

 

No, it's fine, so long as your cap off everything and leave fluid in the rack.

The s4 rack should fit, I don't see why not.

Steve

 

I have it still because i like luxuary plus the only workin FC i have right now is a vert and i dont think that removing the PS would do much to it performance wise.

 

really? what i did was take off the power steering belt, so you're saying no power steering at all is different than that?

 

Yes

 

my manual rack fc is a one hander in parking lots, if anything its too easy especially over 60mph

 

Hrmm... this is a very interesting read.
I've taken my P/S out but kept the P/S rack, i've looped the lines together and there is a full amount of fluid in the rack. Should I leave it like this or drain some fluid out? I thought having the lines looped together it shouldn't matter how much is in there from an effort point of view, yes?

I havn't had a chance to drive the car since i've done this yet though, but while stationary it doesn't seem all that difficult to turn at all?!
definatly easier than with just the belt removed thats for sure!

 

What kind of surface are you on when your car is stationary? On smooth cement in a garage, I can turn a full fluid filled PS rack with no problem but on asphault, its a different story.

 

Rough concrete....
feels about the same as asphault........