My 88 GXL is very hard to turn, when I bought the car was told the power steering had been removed. Upon further checking I found not only had the pump been removed, but the rack had been changed to a manual one. The steering is ok on the road, very responsive and firm, but parking lots and city streets are a bear making turns. I also own an 87 base with a manual rack and do not remember it being this hard to turn (stock steering wheel on both, stock tires and wheels as well). How can I identify the rack in the 88 and make sure it is the right one for manual steering, or would I be better off just changing the one out of my 87 and forget it, or do I just live with it. All steering componants are good and tight and steering turns easy when on jack stands. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

manual racks are not all that bad.Actually alot of guys prefer them.I went manual because I wanted the feel at higher speed and not "loose".
You can change to a Power steering system but you are going to need the Power rack,lines,cooler lines,pump and bracket,and the PS Ecu.There are 2 types so get the S4 version.

 

The problem is that it is harder to turn than I remember my s4 base turning which is factory manual. I prefer the manual for speed for the same reasons, it's just parking lots and very low speeds I am concerned about. This is why I am wondering if the rack is not the right one for the fc.

 

Factory non-power racks have more turns of the steering wheel lock-to-lock and therefore are easier to turn when stopped.

Factory powersteering racks, converted to manual have less turns lock-to-lock and are therefore harder to turn.

I'm 140lbs and 6'2", have driven thousands of parking-lot miles with depowered racks, my only advice is to quit being a wussie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPuMb4HFnp4

 

I'm 140lbs and 6'2", have driven thousands of parking-lot miles with depowered racks, my only advice is to quit being a wussie.

Your smart *** reply was bull **** jackass. I asked how to identify the rack which was my main question, especially since my factory 87 base model has a manual rack and turns just fine.

 

Take the comment with a grain of salt..it's harmless.
At first I found the rack a bit harder than the power steering I had on the car,But now I don't even notice the 'hard" steering.It just comes naturally.
Maybe you have been out of the car for a while?..But anyways,honestly you wil get used to it.
Oh,and 2 identical cars can have different steering characteristics.
The manual rack is the same whether it be s4 or s5...it is the power racks that change.
Have fun...lol..and If you want to make the steering easier,Just Drive FASTER in the parking lot...(haha,chuckle,,Errt..woops!.. Shopping cart...crash!)

 

LMFAO. Never thought about the manual racks being different in different cars, suppose that is what it is. I can live with it just take some time getting used to it. Bad part is, I drive truck so I am gone about 3 weeks at a time, so getting used to the car will take some time.
And yes, I let nicdchris get to me. I am just tired of stupid people masking a lack of an intelligent answer with ignarance, could have atleast addressed the question I asked.