Is it true that if I remove the power steering, I have to replace it with a manual rack and pinion unit?

 

not true. not bad idea though. i think that the manual rack is a little easier to turn at low speeds than a p/s rack w/ out the pump running. you can just take the pump and eveything off and it will be fine. good idea would be to plug up the holes from the pressure lines on the rack w/ bolts, but some people just leave them open

 

I personally wouldnt advise you take the power steering off and thats it...

When you remove the power steering you have to keep fluid circulating through the lines and through the cooler.

If you have steering assist (gets tighter at high speeds) than you can cut that line and plug it up, dont let it hang dry. it will spit fluid when you turn the wheel. plug it.

then connect the line that comes OUT of the cooler to the last line.

The other way is to run the steering assist and the line that goes into the cooler to a resevoir then hook the line that comes out of the cooler to the top of the resevoir so its a continuous circuit.

but the first way is easier.

It will kinda look like this, sorry for the **** poor drawing but i hope this helps.

 

Thanks alot. It'll be a little project of a few friends and I soon. Should I wait until spring being that there WILL be snow and plenty of it?

 

Can I just remove the belt?
Will this have a slight increase in power or throttle response?
Will this ruin my power steering rack and pinion if I decide to put it back on?

 

Swapping in the manual rack for the power rack will make steering a little lighter/easier, because it has a higher steering ratio... it will be less effort to turn, but you have to turn it more with the manual rack to move the wheels the same amount as with the power rack. If you like the feel of the power rack with no PS pump, you're better off skipping the manual swap.

Note that while only taking off the belt will give you an idea of how it feels without PS, you are actually steering with more effort than if the pump is completely removed. When you remove only the belt, your steering system is still trying to use the PS pump, but the pump is no longer moving.

I've driven with and without PS, but not with only the pulley disabled. I prefer no PS in my '90 GTU; it gives an all-around better feel of the road.

 

Will I ruin any mechaism in my power steering driving it without the belt?
Or if when I decide to remove the actual pump out of the way too to make it a little easier will it be easy to put it back on if I decide ro is it irreversible. Is there bleeding involved or anything to that effect when putting the pump back on?

What kind of performance gains will I feel?
Better Idle?
Few more horsies?

Thanks

 

^bump^

 

Yes its completely reversible. I recommend taking off the belt first and seeing how you like it. I removed mine and am VERY happy with the results. There is no bleeding involved. I just remove the pump and connected the two lines that were going into the pump together. You probably won't notice any power gains, slight if any. Just a tad more HP going to the rear-wheels, and better throttle resonse, plus a drop in weight. You won't ruin your steering mechanicsm by doing this. Removing the pump(and your AC) gives you SOOO much more room on the driver side of your engine bay. Makes changing spark plugs 3x as fast.

 

Sweet deal!! I'm pretty pumped cause it sounds pretty easy. So how long have you not used your power steering now?

So first I'll remove the belt and live with that and see how I like it. If I do I will take the entire pump off and will make it slightly easier. Doing this will not hurt my steering mechanism if I decide to put it back on?
Can someone just give me a yes or otherwise if I'm wrong?

Thanks

 

Anyone have pictures or a link as to show what lines need to be plugged? I don't have the money for a manual rack yet, so I'm just gonna rip the summa-a-bitch out. Supposed to do it today but....

 

I wrote this page a while back... I should really update it:

http://www.zeroglabs.com/rx7/psremoval.htm

If you read that you can get some ideas. There are other ways to do things... but I did it that way just for the hell of it.

I also did this to my FD and I did it a little different for that car. For that one, I just connected the two lines together with some rubber tubes.

Anyhow, this should get you started.

Do NOT use Internet Explorer on that page! For some reason it doesn't work with the new version of IE. Stupid MS.

Brian

 

Thanks

 

and I thought that I was confused before....****, I'm completely lost now....I am the self-proclaimed moron