After putting the car back together, I wanted to try leaving hte PS pump belt off to get a feel for manual steering. I know several people have capped the lines and retained the PS rack but without the pump and lines.

I'm not sure I like it. Slow speed effort is off the charts but once moving it's not too bad. I kind like it is moving above 30 mph but I doubt I'd keep it on a street car that has to negotiate parking lots.

Maybee I should investigate a turbo with an actual manual rack with the different ratios.....Any volunteers?

 

Do you still have the PS fluid in there? If so, that'll make it much harder to turn the wheel because you have to force the fluid around. It's a completely different feel than draining/capping the system.

BB.

 

When I first bought my car it had been converted to a full manual rack. The parking lot effort overrode any highway-speed advantages for me. I converted back to a PS system. My feeling is that it's only worthwhile for a track-only car or a car that sees significant amounts of DE's. 'nuff said!

 

Streck,

As a father you need all the exercise you can get. Trust me on this one. Man up and view the low speed effort as a cheap workout!

I love manual steering. I personally view it as a big advantage, at least on the track.

TD

 

I had that thought as well.... Funny.

Thought that removing the fluid from a PS rack and capping it would damage the ring/pinion system and that fluid retention was necessary for lubrication.

 

I think you should find a used manual rack. That is what my car has. I think it may be easier to drive than a PS rack without fluid.

 

I've got a stock manual steering 83 NA and there's no way I'd trade it for power steering- There's no comparison to how 'tight' the car feels when turning.

 

This won't be a permanant move. I was just checking it out.

Speaking of steering, I've been driving the Mustang and an old T-bird while working on the 951. Yesterday while driving home from work, I started getting some vibration through the steering wheel and immediatly became concerned. What did I do wrong? Did I not torques the steering rack correctly? What's about to fall off? Will I make it home?
Then it hit me. That's feedback! I can actually feel the road.... D'OH!

 

Yeah, I have had a disabled but not drained PS rack and it sucks. A "real" manual rack is great though - I wish I could have one on all my cars.

 

yeah...but with the REAL manual rack..you better HOLD ON. the wheel has snapped out of my hand before. almost put me into a pole at a gas station once.

 

I've never driven a manual 944, but I loved it in the two VWs I owned, along with the 911s my dad had. I miss it. Although for daily driving purposes I don't mind power steering.

BB.

 

That wouldn't hapen if you put your belt covers on.


This coming from the guy who is currently running coverless. I'll post pics tonight.

 

Main problem is bad road crowns on Massachusetts interstates. Add rain and it'll fight you. Other than that, I've never had a problem.

 

go up a driveway curb too fast and you could break your wrist...

 

Is this just a 944 thing or something? I've never had any of those problems in the several hundred thousand miles I've spent driving cars with manual steering.

BB.