so my car was originally equipped with power steering and as such has the PS rack, but no pump. Its okay once you get rolling but has a real heavy feel to it. At full lock, it goes dead, like there's nothing there. So, feedback is kinda funny.

I'm considering swapping in a manual rack, but wanna get others opinions as to "dont worry about it" "not worth it" "manual rack sucks" etc.

Has anyone done this swap and what are your opinions before/after.

Looking forward to input, thanks.

 

A real manual rack will feel much better than a power rack with no pump.

Well worth doing.

 

Im just assuming, but a simple rack swap will do the deed?

Tie rods from PS rack will work with Manual rack? What about the steering column hookup point? Is there anything more involved other than just swapping the rack itself?

 

tie rods are different(outside)..one is anyways..the power rack tie rods are the same..the manuals have different part #'s.,and the passenger mount is also different..look it up in the Parts Manual.(on line).

 

There's another option. Take the rack out, remove the piston inside and weld up the pinion shaft and you'll be rewarded with more precise, lower effort steering with a faster ratio than the stock manual rack.

http://forum.teamfc3s.org/showthread.php?t=54847

 

Is it complicated to put a TII speed sensitive pump on an N/A. If not, I would do this, depending how much city driving you do. You would get the best of both worlds.

 

I don't know how hard it'd be, but any time you have power assist you're loosing some of the steering feel and feedback, and with our racks you're also having a bit of slop in the system. While it'll be the better of the two power steering systems offered on the FC, to say that it's the best of both worlds is false.

 

it depends, there are 2 p/s systems. the 86 to 88, and 89-91 high option cars, get the 15:1 rack with the computer controlled assist. the 89-91 low option cars get the 17:1 simpler system.

so depending on what car you have, you might already have it

 

real quick- are all S4 power racks 15:1?
i'm looking for the fastest ratio rack made (sorry if its a lil off topic)

 

All S4's and S5 TII's should have the speed sensing 15.2:1 rack with 3 lines going from the pump to the rack. The S5 NA's have a 17.4:1 rack with only 2 lines.