i got everything out of my car and i want to run no power steering for now... is there way i can run it and if i dont like it put it back in.. i read an article saying i have to cut some brasslines which i dont want to do...

 

just loop the 2 big lines to gethers and cap the small one.. thats all i did incase i watned to go back.. but i like it to much so its staying with out it..
Dave

 

Put in a manual steering rack and pinion... that's the right way to do it.

 

My ps is removed and now my stearing wheel is a little off, it like is turned a little to the left to go straight. But teh stearing feels great, goes straight and all.
Where does one get a manual steering rack for our cars??

 

there is an s4 manual steering rack at a junkyard near me. I could pull it off of there for you. Or you could go to the junkyard yourself. Or post a WTB in the for sale section.

 

My take on the P/S removal is different from anyone elses... but it's so easy.

Don't loop ANYTHING!

Buy a 10MM fine thread bolt, and an o-ring that fits around it; and an O-ring to fit around the other "bolt" on the other line. Cut the metal tube away so you have the "bolt" w/ the hole in it. Fill that w/ some magnum steel (hardening filler) and fill it. Put the O-ring around that when it's hard.

Next, turn the wheel one way until all the fluid comes out of that side of the rack (or all that will) and put the respective bolt in. Turn the other way, and plug that. Take out the other bolt, and turn it the other way again (to get rid of all the fluid/air you can. Do that a couple of times, and you've got no P/S that is almost as easy to turn as when you had P/S, and should be pretty easy to convert back, if needbe.

PM me if you have some questions. I think I've been rambling...

 

I plugged all 3 hoses and my car is easier to turn that my friends that is just missing the p/s belt.

 

Removal of power steering, it's the way to go

Do you guys know of a webpage with a step-by-step guide to swapping in a manual steering rack?

Or is it pretty straightforward I could just look at it and do it myself (i'm pretty mechanically inclined)

 

don't you need PS fluid even if it is unassisted? I thought the fluid lubricates the parts and w/o it, you can cause premature wear .

 

Bridge... I would think you could do it with a haynes manual.

 

No write up or anything, but I can give you a little rundown. Its quite simple actually.

Things you will need:
Manual Sterring rack (duh)
Passenger side bracket from the manual rack (drivers side is the same on manual and power racks)

I did it with the engine out, but im sure it isn't much harder with the engine in.

First thing is to get the pump out. For me this just involved a lot of ripping and tearing, but I'm sure there is a more technical way Actually you just need to remove the belt first, then there are some bolts holding it on, as well as a line that runs to the rack and a few electrical connections.

Once you have the pump out, jack up the front of the car and remove the wheels. Behind each brake rotor is the tie rod. You gotta detach this form each side. It can be a bitch to pull out. Haynes says use a puller, but I used a mallet and a screwdriver to hammer it out. Either way you gotta get it out of there.

Remove the brackets attaching the rack the the subframe. You need to save the drivers side one, but the passenger one is of no use anymore.

There is one big long metal line that loops from the rack, goes under the oil cooler and radiator, and back to the rack. Need to crawl under to get the clamps holding that one on.

You will want to use the original steering arm with the manual rack, so you will want to unbolt it where it comes together right above the pinion.

Last thing to remove is the lower stablizer bar below the subframe. It has 2 brackets holding it in place, one on each side of the car, as well as one bolt on each strut. Remove this completely and set it aside.

Then nothing should be holding the rack in anymore (I think), and you will need to pull it out between the radiator and the subframe. More than likely those tie rod ends will get stuck on something, but it will fit through there, I am sure of it.

Once you got it out, reverse the procedure to put the manual rack in (but obviously do not put the ps pump back in. duh.)

Kinda a lame write up, but I'm going completely out of memory since it was a long time ago that I did this. I would be able to answer specific questions easier if you got any

 

Hey liquid can you be a little more specific than metal tube which ones do I block off, maybe if you could get a pic or something

 

Hey thanks man, Doesn't sound too hard to do. I'll save that info.

 

The "metal tube" I was talking about is one of the feed lines for the pump. It has a bolt on the end of it (actually the tube goes through it) that you need to get off.

 

There are two metal lines coming from the top of the pump, and 1 soft line from the bottom front corner if I am not mistaken.

 

The rack will eventually fail without fluid in it. It does need that fluid to lubricate it's internals.

 

you should get an alignment. probably the front toe is off and can be easily reset.

 

"It has a bolt on the end of it (actually the tube goes through it) that you need to get off."

the tube goes through the bolt?

 

You can't make that claim. It is NOT the right way, it is your opinion of the right way.

I personally like a converted PS rack to a manual rack. The PS rack is harder to turn, but I don't want almost a full extra turn lock to lock. (3.5 turns for manual, 2.7 turns for p/s).

The manual rack is easier to turn b/c it has a shorter ratio, but you have to deal with an extra turn of the steering wheel.

A converted PS rack works exactly the same, and I can input the steering faster.

So how exactly is it the "right" way?

 

but how hard is it in the autox sloloms?

 

I agree that is the right way to go if you use your car strictly for autocross.

But for normal every day driving, the manual rack suits better because of the easier turning. I mean try driving around with a drink or a phone or something in your hand. You will be happy you have the shorter ratio.