Got My Manual Converted Steering Rack Back from Maval...
 

And it looks amazing. I was a little skeptical about spending $279 for something I could probably do myself, but they really made it worth it. They weld the quill shaft and weld shut then shave off all the fittings. You can't even tell where the fittings used to be. They completely powder coat the entire rack, including the tie rods. And the boots and clips they use are really good quality. It looks more like a custom made manual rack than a converted ps rack.

Just thought I'd share in case anyone is thinking about doing this. I was worried at first but now I'm very happy I did it. Two big thumbs up for Maval Gear/Unisteer.

Contact Info:
Steve Gorski
1-800-338-9080
Ext. #34

pics?

I was impressed as well. Good purchase!

I can post pics tonight if you guys are interested...

I also had this done. They did a very good job. Looks factory stock..........

yeah man, post some pics!

Pics (warning, they're big):

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2569.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2570.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2571.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2572.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2574.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2575.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2576.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2577.jpg

http://www.ihns.org/fd/mavalrack/IMG_2578.jpg

It's a work of art

Looks fantastic!!! I think I am going to have to do that.

future plans of course...do any of you guys ever add up all the mods you want to do and then have a heart attack?

Is the body of the rack STEEL or CAST IRON where the fittings are plug welded shut ?

thanks

I have no idea...

and the purpose of removing PS is?

To feel the road :)

I removed the PS on My FC years ago and While I gotta admit you really could "feel" the road. I didn't like the hassel of lowspeed driving and parking. Does this rack still keep the stock ratio or is this also gonna be hard to turn from a stop?

It keeps the stock ratio.

There are lots of reasons to do it, but it just depends on what you use the car for and personal preference.

For me, the car is used to pleasure and track. I have a second car I use for daily driving and running around town. I hardly ever have to do slow speed parking maneuvers with the FD. I don't like the slow/tight autox courses either, so I'm not worried about that. In addition I have an LS1 swap, and I was never happy with the PS with the LS1. I had a flow restriction valve, and for the steering feel to be acceptable at high speeds, I had it set to very little ps flow anyway. The pump overheats like crazy at the track, the pulley has very little clearance with my CAI, getting rid of the lines would allow the me to raise the rack a little bit closer to stock position, and it's just extra weight and complexity I don't want in a car that I have to work on so much.

But if it's your daily driver and you use the car to buy groceries, run errands, parallel park downtown, etc, you probably want to keep the ps. I use my daily driver for those kinds of things.

Everybody should remove the PS. It sucks. You save weight and complexity, and you can change your plugs without removing anything, and from the topside of the car.

The "real" Maval conversion is perfectly acceptable as far as effort, even for most parking. If ya can't handle it, I suggest:

It definetly does not suck. Auto-X vehicles need PS for most people. I have contemplated doing a complete rack conversion but Auto-X always holds me back. Muscling the car around does not help with concentration and focus it takes run the course. I lift am 5'9 and 190-195 lbs and had trouble with constant quick tight manuevers. Creatine (liver killer) or not.

Glad you're happy with it, let me know what you think once you get it in. I have no complaints with slow speed steering, even with a smaller diameter steering wheel.

I was kidding about the Creatine, but not about the PS. I admitedly don't autocross regularly, but I'd be surprised if a PROPER manual rack would be a hindrance, particularly if your car has an aggressive auto-x alignment. Once you're going more than 5 mph, it's really light and nimble... I don't even notice it, and i'm only 175 lbs.

good luck with rack. by the way thanks for posting contact info i was looking to do this also.

Ugg, this thread is making me want to go manual now. I love the simplicity and the feel of the road of a manual but don't want auto-x's to turn into a nightmare. I am just wondering if most of the people that love the manual say so because its "cool" to have. How many honestly would go back to a proper powered steering if someone did all the work for free?

I thought I'd bump an old thread instead of creating a redundant one. :)

I just drove my car for the first time with the Maval rack installed. This is literally THE best mod I have done to the car. It feels sooo much better than before... I always thought the FD had a crappy power steering system.

Driving without PS is not a problem, AT ALL. I am a scrawny guy (155lb) and I have ZERO issues, even at very slow speeds.

Did you convert from PS, straight to the Maval rack? I have looped lines right now, and plan to have Maval convert mine in the future. Can anyone compare looped lines to the full conversion first hand?

damnit, i was set against removing the PS, and now i see this thread.....