Yummybud924

Is it safe to do? I know some people do it here. but is the rack going ot get damaged?

I don't mind the heavy steering but i'm wondering if it is safe or if the rack will fail. I have disconnected the belt so I run it manually. the fluid all leaks out and I fill the reservoir sometimes but then it goes dry again as it leaks out teh pump and rack.

so is it okay to run a powersteering rack dry without the pump running?

alex

After doing the swap to manual, I would probably just leave the PS rack and not hassle with it because there was not that big of a difference.

If you are keeping the PS rack I think you just put some kind of grease or lube in it and plug the holes where the hoses attach.

Yummybud924

yeah no swapping it....

just wondering if it safe to run a power rack without power, that is no pump running but my lines are still connected but the rack has no fluid in it because it all leaks out.

i'm wondering if the rack can fail without the fluid in there when used manually without the pump.

V2Rocket

ive been doing it without issue since 2006.

knfeparty

totally safe but it you have one of the lines open, the system will generate power steering fluid forever and it will leak out no matter how long you run it.

It will also be a great workout if you drive in parking lots, especially with lots of caster.

Yummybud924

ok thanks. I was worried that the additional force used to turn the wheel by hand would stress the parts and cause something to fail in the future.

I don't really care about it leaking..... I'm pretty sure it has leaked all the fluid out by now so it is running dry.

V2Rocket

this is true.

my car has not had PS fluid in it for like a year (periodically dump some in so that it hits the gears), does not have a coil cooler, does not have any PS lines, does not have a reservoir but it still leaks..

lovemyp-car

same here bro...when i put the v8 in i pulled all of that extra crap out. no reservoir, no lines, sealed up the rack as best as i could, pulled the ps cooler, as well as all of the engine bay A/C stuff...if definitely frees up some room in there and cuts down on the leaks...

For a quick fix to cut down on leaks out of a rack with the lines removed, you can fill the banjo bolts with black silicone (the crap that you use for certain gaskets on sbc's etc)...let the stuff set real well, then put the bolts back in...that way you won't lose all of the fluid...the best way to do it is to find block off bolts for those holes and pack the rack with grease....not really necessary, but i plan on doing it pretty soon anyway.

krystar

i filled mine with motor oil and then capped it. the rack still needs lubrication...

m73m95

I ran mine for over a year with just the belt off. No problems.

If you think its to hard to turn without PS, then you should hit the gym. I didn't think it was bad at all, even when parking.

I've since replaced all my hoses, and NO MORE LEAKS!!.... well, in the PS system anyway

V2Rocket

the only time it really shows itself is parallel parking...even then its not "hard", it just takes more turns...lol

mikey_audiogeek

Just want to point out that the rack and pinion in a powersteer rack are lubricated with grease, not ATF. Of course, if the seals are shot then the rack fills with ATF...

Edit: The above applies to the RHD rack, don't know if the same is true about LHD racks. There are some significant differences - the RHD rack is bolted directly to the crossmember without any rubber isolation.
Anyone know whether the RHD rack is from a RHD Audi or VW?