The junk yard is a beautiful thing
 

Today I went to the junk yard and got a manual steering rack out of a 1987 base model. Its in super great shape got both brackets and bushings as well. I have been wanting to do this mod for a long time and I was going to buy one from Victoria British for $229 + $70 core. But now I got one in great shape for $44.00!!! I hate to see RX-7’s in the junk yard dead ready for the crusher but I love a $200 part for $40 hehe. Rotor on people

why spend 40 bucks when removing and looping the power steering is free (essentially). That, and has less turns to lock that the manual. :)

Isnt the power rack harder to turn than a manual with no assistance? Also, how could you loop it without getting air in the system?

If the power rack looped is too hard to turn, then you are an 80 pound woman. :) Seriously, I only weigh 160 and I can drive it with one hand, except at a standstill. Driving it feels SO good. The only way I would see air getting in there is if you were to turn the wheel with the lines cut, mine gives me no trouble at all.

So then do you have fluid in the rack? Im trying to figure out how you put the "loop" on without air getting in there.

After reading what I wrote, I see what you mean. there is still fluid in the rack, along with what little air I trapped in there I guess...doesnt affect the driveability of the car a bit. who knows? One of my friends (FELIX WANKEL) did the same thing to his with the same positive results.

This is the stuff that gets me upset sometimes. I post about being happy finding a manual rack and I don’t get a “nice find on the part” I basically get a “your stupid for spending money, you should have just rigged it”. Well you know what, in my eyes there is a right way to modify/work on a car and a wrong way. And well I think I will trust the Mazda engineer who designed the manual rack with the extra rotation, than your rigged engineering. As my parents told me once if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything at all.

heh, I plan on going junkyard diving sometime in the not-too-distant future to get some random stuff I need to fix up the interior of my '91 base.

Do it right, do it once. Sorry I didn't get to it in time, but congrats.

I didnt mean for my post to come out "asshole-ish". Thats not how I meant it. Congrats and all for finding the part, I was just relaying another option. Again, sorry if it came out wrong.:beerchug:

hy boostd can u show me how to loop the lines?

Hey, congrats on the good find. Glad to see you do it correctly. If a rack was designed to work both manually and powered, why did MAZDA and every other Manufacture go the the Engineering expense, tooling costs, mfg. cost, inventory costs to have 2 seperate designs.? Would have been MUCH cheaper to install power racks in all the cars, loop the manual types and Install pumps for those who wanted power steering.

I talked to a couple of Power steering rack remanufactures and NONE of them recommending doing this. It has to do with the design of the rack teeth and gear loading.

It may work fine in the short term, but what are the long term effects? Are you willing to risk your car, life and other peoples lives and propety on your BACKYARD ENGINEERING MARVEL.
Another thing to consider:
Suppose you get in a wreck, and some HOTSHOT attorney is examining your car and finds that rack?
He would have a field day with it.
Att: So did yout modification to the power steering system cause this wreck?
You: no
Att: So, you are a qualified Mechanical Engineer and you can say this MODIFIED steering system is SAFE?
You: HMMM ughhh geez, the guys on the Internet did it.
Att: Please prove to the court that your modification did not contribute to the car losing control
You: Uhm, I had control.
You can see where this could go.

I would love to have some Ricer with Dark tint, cut springs, wide ass rims, covered taillights, modified headlights hit me. My attorney would own him and his insurance company!!!!!!!

You're right. You're all right. im an idiot and I will swap it out for a marvelous manual rack right now :rolleyes:

What's with people lately??

rotary racer... which junkyard did you go to, and did they have any decent looking fd stuff?

Yo,


Good score Dana! Now find me one!!! *grin* When are you going to throw it in?

KS
1989 GTUs "You and Seth with your manual racks..."

My point is.. If a power rack fuctions the same as a manual rack[ when you remove the PS pump and loop the lines]; Why do the engineers and designers feel the need to tool up and create 2 seperate racks?
No one is calling you an idiot, I was pointing out the exposure to liablity that you are creating for yourself and passing on information that people who make a living with this stuff provided me.

oh yeah, and congratulations for doing it the correct way :)

Nothin beats a good find a the 'yard. I'm looking for front hubs now so I can save myself $300 per just because the bearings are shot (and yes I did get the bearings from M'trix already).

Me thinks its funny that everyone dissables/changes to manual steering when I myself bitch about not having PS sometimes. Maybe I'm just a sap.

-Z

If I had a car with PS, I'd remove it and keep the PS rack. The Mazda engineers design parts to sell to the general public. Most auto companies don't really design for the enthusiast. For some, it would be too tough to steer. I had a '88 and the PS went out. Guess what, my wife would not drive it at all. Personally, I loved it and only fixed it when it was time to sell the car.

I'm not saying that setting up a PS rack w/o PS as mentioned prior does not have any negative impacts (because I really don't know), I'm only arguing against the "Mazda spent money designing and buying the extra parts, so it must be best" point.

The point is:
If a PS rack functions as a Manual Rack, why bother to waste time and money designing a manual rack?

I went to the pick-n-pull in Newark. I have only seen one FD and that was at the Oakland pick-n-pull but that was a while ago. I still find it hard to find S5 2nd gens in the junk yard, yet alone a FD.

As soon as the yard people/annoying people with blowers leave I am going to pull out the Mustang and install the rack!! Can't wait. I will keep ya all posted.

Oh gee, let me think. Maybe it could possibly be because there are TWO DIFFERENT FUCKING RATIOS?

heh, my car has parts from 8 or 9 RX-7s :)

Hey, I go to that pick n pull too :) Best selection of FCs I can find.

S5s I've found at Pick your part, off of Tradezone in Milpenis.. Gotta pay 2 bucks more for their prima section, but I've found 2 or 3 there.

PaulC

Kevin..

Seriously? I'll keep an eye out next time I'm there if you really want one.

PaulC

You notice that too!

Must be a deficiency in members fiber intake.