How much hp is freed up by getting rid of power steering? 10? 20? I don't want to take it off completely, but just the belt and my other question is... Is it harmful to drive with the power steering pump hooked up but the pulley not spinning?

 

a couple perhaps.

 

3? 5? No more than that at the very most.

PaulC

 

Maybe one horse if you are lucky and even that is only under 45 MPH.

The series 4 variable assit stops working at 45 MPH rendering you the same as if only a pully was hooked up at above 45 MPH.

 

what about a series 5? Same thing? I have an 88, thats very interesting.....I did not know that. I keep getting told to ditch my P/S for better throttle response and extra power.....is this true?

 

So... is it harmful to drive with the belt off?

 

Depends on what model in the series 5 cars. The GTU and GTUs and 91 coupes with power steering got the cheaper/save a buck engine speed sensing, whcih is less than optimum and can raise or drop strangely (except 5th gear when it is disabled).

There is almost no power gain. I doubt that you would notice any difference in HP removeing it. If you do, I would suspect that it would be related to psychological HP rather than actual.

But some people prefer the manual racks, where you will gain road feel at the price of additional effort at low speed. I like the manual racks until you get wider than a 205 tire or get tires that are really sticky like the Pirelli Asymeticals.