GLHS

I have been running my car for a while without the belt on the power steering.

Can I just cut the hoses and plug them with a bolt and seal it up? Will this cause any problems?

I wanted to remove the pump and rid myself of the added weight.

Thanks

banzaitoyota

put a manual rack in!

scathcart

NO! Plumb the two hoses together.

GLHS

I plumb them together because of pressure changes?

I noticed some pressure changes without the belt on, because of a small amount of fluid was on the pump coming out of the fill tube.

HeavyFoot86

hahahah funny y'all bring this up. I replaced the belts the other day on my car (I feel like a moron).

The power steering belt I bought isn't need, know why?

B/C I DONT HAVE POWER STEERING!! I really did feel like a moron, driven the car for 6 months and never realized it doesnt have power steering, I just thought it was shitty power steering. Yes I'm a retard, I know.

scathcart

Now why in the hell would anyone want an extra turn lock to lock? But you knew that, didn't you?

IMO, with manual steering, you don't want the extra .8 to turn the steering wheel. Yes, it'll be a little easier to turn the wheels with a higher turning ratio (something like 20:1 for a manual as opposed to 15:1 for a power rack and pinion), but its a tiny difference, and with both, turning the wheels at a stop will take effort, so I prefer to get it done faster.

Converting a power rack works fine, costs almost nothing, and has less turns lock to lock. Give me one valid reason to put in a manual rack.


There's a write-up here.
http://2ndgenrx7.freeservers.com/techmaster.html

BoostedRotors

Here's what I did:

First



then



I see NO reason in wasting the time and resources swapping to a manual rack. The converted power rack has almost one less turn to lock. If its too hard to turn, then you should be in bed, because you are probably pretty sick. I love the way mine drives, not to metion the space it opens up! wouldnt trade it!

Felix Wankel

Mine was easier, but not as clean. I cut the high pressure lines and spliced them together, then plugged off the one that goes out to the front of the car. But since they differ so much in size, I had to shove a fuel line on the big one, and then clamp the hell out of it onto the small one.

scathcart

Yes, the fluid on both sides of the rack must be able to equalize, or it'll be really tough to turn the wheels, almost as tough as it is now. It'll get easier to turn once you plymb the lines together.

GLHS

Thanks alot.

95R2-89TII Ground Zero

I'm converting to the manual rack as we speak, but I'm thinking that now I'm going to just convert the power to the manual. LOL

scathcart

Good deal. Like I said, it works great, and you don't get the extra turn from lock to lock.

Only reason I can see to convert to manual rack would be for the mere ounces in weight savings, and if turning a converted power rack was too hard for your girlfriend. Really, though, between the '86 manual car I compared my converted 1990 power rack to, the difference in effort was small, and I had 225's on the front compared to his stock NA tires.

TeamWireRacing

Or if the rules required it! Improved Touring rules do not allow you to disable the existing power steering, you must convert to a manual rack, if you want manual steering. Otherwise, I would have saved myself the hundred bucks!

presetlimits

so you cut those lines and connect the 2 together and rip the rest of the lines out that were cut and what about the pump and those lines up at the top?

BoostedRotors

just yank it all out and plug the holes in the steering gear (think thats what its called), engine looks MUCH less cluttered once you start pulling stuff out.

Felix Wankel

You be needing a 3'' TID

BoostedRotors

stands out, dont it?

GLHS

For some reason my rack looks a bit different.

My lines are farther apart on the rack itself.

The lines that run from the rack run to what looks like a small gear box and then to a small coil in front of the radiator, then back to the pump itself.

Can you guys give a more detailed explanation?

Or maybe pictures? Those speak more than words.

Thanks again.

BoostedRotors

simple, cut the two lines that are on the rack itself and run them together. the rest of the lines and the pump...get rid of. plug the holes on the steering gear and your done. Ill take pics of my steering gear later today for you.

ka8legend

I'm just concerned about the loss of ps fluid once the lines(pressurized????) are cut. Or is it so minimal that refilling it is not necessary?

BoostedRotors

I know that in my car there was enough fluid left in the rack to work. I love the way it feels now

GLHS

how did you guys cut that metal line?

Just use a hacksaw blade?

Thanks

UniqueTII

I hate to revive a dead topic, but I'm still confused as to what to do with the lines. There are three P/S lines on the driver's side of the rack. Do those get plugged?

BoostedRotors

yup.

UniqueTII

Thanks! Is there something in particular I should use to cap them, or just whatever works?