Is there any way to reduce the number of turns from lock-to-lock in the manual rack? I don't have any problem with the manual rack except with this. Has anyone tried this?

 

Install a power steering rack minus the pump... VIOLA! less turns...

 

Just for my knowledge, what would be the benefit of installing a power steering rack without the pump? If you achieve less turns lock-to-lock what does this apply to? I am assuming low-speed turns such as parallel parking and so on. My base has a manual rack and I have never thought it had too many turns... just curious.

 

well, it was kinda a serious suggestion as well as a joke..

IIRC, the power rack has less turns, and if you remove the pump, you get that manly "MANUAL FEEL".

Maybe I should have put a smiley in there somewhere...

 

I have never driven an RX-7 that had non-functioning power steering. The GXL I have, the power steering works fine and it feels "floaty" and disconnected. The base I have I have just gotten used to the manual rack. In fact, every car I have had or driven for any period of time, the power steering was overwhelming. If you disconnect the pump and cap off the lines on the RX-7 does it feel like a manual rack or is more "heavy?"

 

well, put it to you this way. You will gain some upper arm strength...

 

Get a smaller diameter steering wheel.

 

There are drawbacks to ******* with the steering ratio...

Most noticable will be increased steering effort no matter what method you use.  Are you willing to put up with the increased steering effort?

Easy would be to go with the power steering rack.  Ratio is decreased by 25% (20:1 versus 15:1).  Without the PS pump working, it's a bear.

Relocating steering tie rod point - will increase steering wheel effort due to the change in ratio.  Will be cheap if you can weld.


-Ted

 

I've been wondering about a steering quickener, it would take some welding but for 150 bucks at summit, it might be worth a shot. if I went this way, I would be putting my ps belt back on

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...?part=HRE-5220

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...?part=HRE-5222

--Paul

 

i took my power steering pump off, i liked the steering feel much better. the steering effort was increased a bit but i duno it does take plenty of effort when moving out of a parking space but thats the only hassle i had. otherwise im glad i got rid of the power steering, too numb of a feeling.

 

holy crap anyone saying it takes too much effort to turn the steering wheel after romoving the PS needs to take their vitamins

sorry didn't want to offend anyone just that i can turn my steering wheel by palm almost when coming out of a parking space.. and at speeds over 10km/h it doesn't seem heavy just get more imput from the car??

 

Those will not work in an FC unless you're ready for some serious modification...


-Ted

 

how serious you talking about ted? it looks like the splines on them are for a chev, but it would be easy to find a couple female ones at a wreckers, then weld them into the steering column. that was my plan, but if you have any other ideas that'd be good

--PAul

 

Didnt I say this earlier in the thread?...

 

If we're assuming the gears will mesh nicely with the rack teeth, then it'll be pretty easy.  But what are the chances of that happening?
The case looks pretty huge, and this might cause clearance problems with the engine?


-Ted

 

I was wondering, Didn't the GTUs come with a steering ratio of 17:1 which was power steering, that would make a nice steering rack

 

i don't think they would match our steering components, it sounds like you can mount it anywhere, and it doesn't look like it goes directly on the rack, so i'd imagine you could find room somewhere, and use the factory steering column with that linked into it somewhere via a pair of GM spline thingy's (the female part that the splined shaft fits into, just can't remember the name right now).

Paul

 

The reason is after my first drift day at Irwindale, I noticed it takes a lot of turning to do a feint or just simply countersteer in a turn. I can turn the wheel with one hand around the parking lot as is right now, so steering effort isn't too much of a problem. It's just tricky to do stuff with all that movement. I was just wondering if there would be anything I could realistically do to change it.

 

I still dont really understand why so many people say that power steering with no pump is so hard. I removed all of my power steering components and its not bad at all.

 

A p/s rack with the pump and fluid removed will function just as easily as a manual rack would.

 

Uh ok.


-Ted

 

After you loop the lines together, or remove the fluid, I prefer the former. The steering effort is quite easy, obviously not as easy as a manual rack, but it certainly is not too hard at all, I have no problems with mine so far.

With just the belt removed it's markedly harder than when you loop the lines together without the pump there.

 

word! I removed all the p/s crap and left the cooler and rack. Damn easy.

Course, I was driving a merc mystique with busted p/s (that is a pain in the butt) for six months.

I still say its easy. As long as you are moving (not even enough to register on the speedo) its easy to turn. I have to manuever out of our driveway thats half filled with cars... and its no problem at all.

 

as i understand from the posts....

a PS rack without the pump and fluid is very close to the manual racks? this would be good since i'll have the engine outta the car in the next few weeks and it would let me "convert" it to manual.

 

I drove this way for over a year, and I can assure you, a manual rack is FAAAR easier to drive.