gizdawg

Hey guys, ... I'm new to FC's, but I have this question... would it be fine to drive the FC without power steering? I have an 86' fc ... and the power steering system is dead (well, the fluid going into the rack and pinion is leaking as well as the hose and I didn't feel like spending over $600 to fix it).
thanks.

vipers

iTrader: (8)

i drove mine w/out a belt on the power steering for 2 years.... no problems..... then just replaced it w/ a non-power steering rack.... much better steering feel in my opinion

MattB

yeah...who needs power steering...its just extra weight

Jaguarx7

My pump went, I just rmoved it and looped the lines ot ensure lubrication. Never have regretted it once. It's a little harder to turn at a stop, but I can still do it one handed without problem, and on the road it feels so much better.

Black91n/a

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-archive-72/how-de-power-your-steering-rack-right-way-440198/

This is how to do it the "right" way. I love the mod and wouldn't want to go back. In fact I may consider swapping in a faster rack in the future. I've got the 17.4:1 and I'd like to get one of the 15:1 racks (I don't remember the exact #, so it may be off by a few decimals). It is harder to turn the wheels when stopped, but you get used to it, it gives more feedback and takes weight off the front left corner of the car (that's the corner that needs it the most). It's also nearly free, as all you need to get are a couple bolts to plug the holes in the rack.

Jaguarx7

That may be the "right" way, but it's a lot more work than is needed: looping the lines does basicly the same thing (providing lubrication to the rack), without having to remove the rack. All you do is remove the pump and loop the lines. Since you leave the fluid in the lines and rack there's contined lubrication. But whichever course you take, DO NOT bolt up the holes in the rack unless you remove the inner seals, else you'll be fighting against those seals every time you try to turn.

turbine

iTrader: (1)

well i happen to love power steering. it enhances the driving experience for me. i noticed that every time i removed or modded something my car became less practical and more of a pain in the *** to drive daily.
soon to be reinstalled is my cruse control

Jaguarx7

There's absolutly nothing wrong with that. Some people like to use technology to make driving more comfortable, and to make their vehicle do more for them. And I'm happy for them. I want everyone tho have the most comfotable and pleasing vehicle posible. What I hate is when I take somthingI don't want or need off my car and people harassing me, saying "that's stupid" or "it was put there for a reason." Some people (like myself) fell most comfortable in a very rudimentry, simple car, and feel that unnessisary gadgets and such are an annoyence at best. The most comfortable vehicle I've ever driven was a 1931 Packard convertible coupe, with no power steering (at 5000 lbs) no air conditioning, no cruise control, etc... What the car did have was a very comfortable seating position, an incredibly smooth ride, mechanical simplicity, and absolutly beautiful body styling. Like the Model A Ford I learned to drive on, it felt like there was just less in the way between me, the car, and the road, and that's where I am most comfortable and happy. That's why I hate the government telling the auto industry how it has to build cars, because they always end up more complicated and less enjoyable. Sorry for the long rant, I'm just tired of always seeing someone telling someone else that what they are doing to their car is wrong. If the owner is pleased with it and is more able to enjoy their car with it then more power to them. That's the whole reason we modify cars from stock in the first place, to get the most enjoyment out of them.

comradegiant

Thats the main thing. What do you want out of your car?

For a comfortable daily driver I'd probably fix the power steering. Makes life easier, in general.

If you want a bare-bones sports car experience you should get rid of the power steering.

Jaguarx7: what was the gear ratio on that Packard? That'd have to be a pretty impressive steering box to get that behemoth turning without having to be Mr. Universe.

Black91n/a

For me I accept the concequences of the mods I do because it makes the car faster and easier to drive. I don't mind putting a bit of muscle into the steering every now and again. For me taking the power steering out enhanced my driving experiance. I have no AC, so taking the PS off made sense to free up loads of room in the engine bay. I've never regretted it for a moment, but then again I think the suspension is way too soft and want an ITS worthy suspension. I guess I'm more willing to accept compromise than others.

The reason I did it in the first place is that I was constantly getting ahead of the power steering boost at autocrosses, which meant that the steering suddenly went from light to extremely heavy, and this was difficult to control and hurt my times. It's honestly not that much more effort to turn the wheel without it other than at parking speeds. My middle aged mom drove the car on a 4-5 hour trip and didn't say a word about it being difficult. Most older (~40+) people drove cars every day that had no power steering when they were younger.

Looping the lines is a legitimate way to depower the steering, and it is faster and easier than the method I used, but it is not as good. You'll either be pumping the fluid back and forth, or if you've drained it then it's not properly lubricated. I packed lots of grease into mine. I chose to do it the best way I could, and put in the extra time and effort to get a better end result.

In the end you are the only owner of your car and you should do what you want with it, whether it be keeping all the AC, PS, power this and automatic that or stripping it all out. It depends on your priorities and I respect that.

Jaguarx7

The Packard's ratio was decently tight, but it had a huge steering wheel.

90FC

Not to thread jack, but can I just go and remove the belt on the powersteering pump? Will it hurt anything?

thanks

Jaguarx7

You could, but you'd be working against the pump every time you turn the wheel. Not to mention that it would put additional strain on the rack seals, and just about everything else involved.

Black91n/a

Just taking the belt off is a VERY BAD THING. You'll hurt something. If it's not the steering rack or the pump, it'll be you from the intense effort that it'll take to steer.

90FC

Ok, thanks