Please help me love....
12-15-2004, 09:26 PM
#31
Both the power and manual racks are direct drive. You move the wheel.. it physically moves the rack/tie rods/wheels. This makes one just as responsive to the driver as the other.
A power steering rack with the belt disconnected/no fluid is harder to turn than a true manual rack.
12-15-2004, 09:27 PM
#32
Drifting
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My 83 without p/s was a little different to get used to, I had a smooth turning 81 Mustang before that. But I actually preferred the feeling after a while, you are really more in touch with the car. Of course parallel parking was a biatch, but I got used to it just like anything else. When I got my 86 I was surprised to find power steering; I liked it, but I still missed the 83 sometimes for its handling.
12-15-2004, 09:36 PM
#33
Race Director
I am on my second set of rack seals in 8 months!
I want to move to manual but its hard to justify when I have just spent monly on seals. Once it goes again I will go to manual rack.
I want to move to manual but its hard to justify when I have just spent monly on seals. Once it goes again I will go to manual rack.
12-16-2004, 03:25 AM
#35
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EVERY 944 I've seen with power steering has a nice gooey slurry of oily glop all over the rack, hoses, reservoir, and most of the front of the engine as a result. I for one would not miss it.
12-16-2004, 03:31 AM
#36
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You know what'd be great - a clutch, like an a/c pulley type clutch that could toggle the power steering on or off. I bet that could be rigged up without too much difficulty also. You'd probably need a different belt (wider than the standard V-belt, more of a serpentine belt with the appropriate modification to the crank pulley), the clutch assembly off an old a/c compressor, and a switch in the cockpit. That'd just about do it. Perfect "manual" for high-speed twisties and "power" for close-quarters parking & manuvering. Minimal opportunity for leakage. I'm calling - my idea! If I can get a prototype made and working, who'd be interested?
12-16-2004, 04:38 PM
#38
Race Director
Jeff, my Supra had a vacuum-activated bypass-valve that lowered the pressure going from the pump to the rack. As RPMs increased, the pressure from the pump decreased, so that by 4000rpm, there was very little power-assist at all, perhaps only 10% of what it is at idle & parking speeds. Not quite speed-sensitive variable assist, but it worked pretty well. The RX-7 had some sort of true speed-sensitive variable power-assist, but I'm not sure how that worked. The NSX with its electrical assist has the best steering feel out of anything I've ever tried. Easy parallel parking, but incredible feel at a speed. You can tell the difference between a dime or a nickel when you run over it.
12-26-2004, 03:36 AM
#39
Pro
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Luis de Prat
First off, what did you pay for this 83 944, if you don't mind telling us?
The 83 944 was my first Porsche, and indeed the manual steering was a bit stiff at first, but after a few weeks with it I was really enjoying it.
If you're not going to parallel park, you have nothing to worry about. Only time I ever recall the manual steering being an issue was when a girl I was dating asked to drive it and had a hard time getting the car in motion. Once the wheels get turning, it pretty effortless.
The 83 cars are special for several reasons. They were the first model year 944 offered in the U.S. and are relatively rare. Check the production figures in the 944 FAQ and you'll see there were substantially less 83s than 84s, for instance. Also, the engine came with forged rods and they're probably the lightest cars in the 944 series, since equipment wise they have the least amount of gimmicks (no power steering, no cruise, no power sunroof). The European version even had crank windows and optional A/C, whereas all the U.S. cars have power windows and A/C.
In summary, it's a great car and you probably bought it for not much money so if it's in decent mechanical condition, I'd have no buyer's remorse at all and be glad to have found such a neat car to own and love.
The 83 944 was my first Porsche, and indeed the manual steering was a bit stiff at first, but after a few weeks with it I was really enjoying it.
If you're not going to parallel park, you have nothing to worry about. Only time I ever recall the manual steering being an issue was when a girl I was dating asked to drive it and had a hard time getting the car in motion. Once the wheels get turning, it pretty effortless.
The 83 cars are special for several reasons. They were the first model year 944 offered in the U.S. and are relatively rare. Check the production figures in the 944 FAQ and you'll see there were substantially less 83s than 84s, for instance. Also, the engine came with forged rods and they're probably the lightest cars in the 944 series, since equipment wise they have the least amount of gimmicks (no power steering, no cruise, no power sunroof). The European version even had crank windows and optional A/C, whereas all the U.S. cars have power windows and A/C.
In summary, it's a great car and you probably bought it for not much money so if it's in decent mechanical condition, I'd have no buyer's remorse at all and be glad to have found such a neat car to own and love.
About the car, it's still in LA. I will be picking it up this week. I paid $3400 for it. It is in very sound mechanical condition and needs a little interior work and a paint job. I am getting my wheels from 2Tight, so hopefully that will take the attention off the paint until I get a chance to get it sprayed.
I will be giving it a good month or so to get used to the steering. I don't have much, if any, parrallel parking to do here. I am excited, once again, to get behind the wheel of this car!
12-26-2004, 10:08 AM
#40
Nerd Herder
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Give it a good six months. I went from manual to PS in the same vehicle and I really like the manual better. Yes, it felt heavier at lower speeds. You get popeye arms (chicks dont care, they wont drive it!!).
It felt better in curves such as exit ramps at higher speeds
with a bit heavier feel.
..less chance to feel the break into oversteer with the PS pump on IMO.
I am set up at stock height with stock wheels and stock size tires. THIS may attribute to the difference I feel in cornering...
Travis. I'm gonna ship you a box of friggin snow. when it gets there, drop in 6 corona's for me.
Thats my .02.
Gawd.. Tifo's handles like it's on rails.
<everybody sing> feelings....whoa woa woa woa feelings...
It felt better in curves such as exit ramps at higher speeds
with a bit heavier feel. ..less chance to feel the break into oversteer with the PS pump on IMO.
I am set up at stock height with stock wheels and stock size tires. THIS may attribute to the difference I feel in cornering...
Travis. I'm gonna ship you a box of friggin snow. when it gets there, drop in 6 corona's for me.
Thats my .02.
Gawd.. Tifo's handles like it's on rails.
<everybody sing> feelings....whoa woa woa woa feelings...
