i was wondering if there was a trick to make the powersteering heavier. such as a different weight oil in the system or something. i don't want to pull it out, just want to "tune" it to make it a bit more solid. more of a bmw feel.

 

A heavier weight oil in the system might make the wheel slightly harder to turn but it will probably decrease the life of your pump.

I know that some racers unhook the pump and run with the power steering rack as if it were a manual steering rack. I have never driven a car like this but it must give a very desireable feel in the wheel because in ITS racing it is illegal to unhook the pump and yet some drivers still run that way risking a disqualification.

It might end up more time and money than you want to invest but manual racks were available in two ratios (I don't know the numbers but the turbo and non-turbo racks are different).

 

no i want to keep my powersteering, just get a bit tighter feedback from it. drove a friend's beemer and the thing has the best felling steering i've ever touched. heavy enough you can feel what its doing but still powered so you aren't strong arming it.

 

wider tires.

 

Have you driven a 2nd gen with manual steering? It's not heavy by any means. Even for parking lot manuvers. Only thing I don't like about it is the slow ratio (which probably is the reason it's not real heavy).

Comparing any car that is between 10 and 15 years old to a (presumably) new BMW is apples and oranges. Hard to top or equal the best.

Chris

 

you'll let me drive your its car at the next autox right? you know, to get a feel for it.

 

Nah, the ITS car doesn't autox anymore. Part of the reason is that the manual rack is way too slow.

I got to thinking about this today. Came up with two possible solutions. One is to use a thinner fluid. Maybe(?) that will produce less pressure in the system and thus less assist. One thing that should work is an underdrive pulley. Slowing the pump would normally lower the pressure and thus give less assist.

We'll figure it out.

Chris

 

I hated the power steering system on the FC, it's either overboosted or not boosted, and I could never predict which it would be.. for auto-x, I can see wanting the faster ratio, but the wierdness of the PS system meant mine was going to the junk pile.. The slower ratio is fine on the road course..

Chris, good to see you again, how's the RX-7?

PaulC

 

I have a 3rd genn and took the PWR Steering out and love it. I wouldn't have it any other way. You should loop the lines together and try it first. You won't regret it, especially at high speeds.

 

Ernie probably has the best idea.

Paul, it all went pretty wel this year. Especially for the first year. Two wins and a couple more podiums. Had some mechanical problems that we worked through real well. The last race of the year was the only disappointment. Went back to Gateway where we won earlier looking to really do well until a gremlin sidelined us for the weekend. Have a couple ideas for next year but nothing exotic. Just fine tuning what we have already. You ready for the spring?

Chris

 

ernie, i've driven manual steering as i had a 79. i was looking at keeping the power, since its a street car. just giving it a more weighted feel and getting more feedback from it.

 

i have a 79 as well, and it is not that bad. .but the advantage of looping out the power steering pump like ernie sugested is that you get the better ratio.

cannot help with the topic though, donot know that much about the pumps.

 

the early fc's have variable assist pumps, they use a stepper motor and a "computer" to decide when to totally over boost the steering or not. if you unplug the computer you get 50% assist (per the shop manual), but you could go a step further and make a stepper motor controller and vary the assist.
i wonder if that pump would fit in an fd?

mike

 

pretty sure only the gtus had the variable steering boost.

 

nope all of the 86-88's had it too, at least

mike

 

Jeremy,

My 88 GXL definitely had it.

Chris,

Good to hear! I'm just about ready, just need to get teched, get my drivers suit, paperwork, physical and licensing test, and I'm good to go. Everything else is ready.

Got a track day next week at Laguna Seca, fabbing up a turndown and supertrap to get me by the 90db limit..

PaulC

 

i think i can put an underdrive pulley and that will bring down the pressure in the system.

 

Paul,

Just want you to know...I hate you Cali guys! It's like 27* here. I'm going to the PRI show in Indy this weekend and that's as close to racing as I'll get for another 4 months.

So Jeremy. Sounds like we're doing the underdrive pulley and unplugging the computer right?

Chris

 

hehe.. Off season? What off season? OTOH, smog laws BITE!

PaulC

 

does anyone make an underdrive pulley for the ps or will i need to bring it to work and machine it? i don't want to underdrive anything else. unplug the computer? you lost me there.

 

under the drivers side of the dash, by the left front speaker you will find the power steering control box.
unplug it and see what you think.

mike

 

in the first gens, that is where the emissions computer is. not sure if the power steering is there too (or part of the same comp).