Well I've been driving around with no fluid in my PS rack since I bought the car so is that about the same as a de-powered rack? Which is easier to turn, de-powered or manual?

 

The consensus after reading a many of these same threads is that a true manual rack is easier to turn than a depowered rack due to the different steering ratio.

 

I've been driving my car with a de-powered rack without much issues. As far as those complaining about parking with a de-powered rack...would you like a straw for that whine? It's not that hard.

 

I took the PS rack out and replaced it with a manual, I have found no difference in "heavyness". Think the manual is just fantastic, even parking wouldnt be an issue. Partly this might be due to the setup and the width of my front wheels as suggested above, but I wouldnt hesitate especially if its for track biased car, extra hp!

and it is not the same as a depowered rack. i'd say the manual rack while rolling is slightly lighter then the ps rack when powered, so the de-powered ps rack will be heavier to use.
H

 

I agree, in terms of lightness I would put them in this order:

power steering
manual rack
de-powered rack with mods
power rack without the mods

The de-powered rack is pretty close in feel to the pure manual in my opinion.

michael

 

How do you de-power the power rack ?

 

well...
you need to accomplish 2 things:
1st. keep fluid in the rack but make some external hoses looped back to the rack (both going to and coming from the rack)OR cap off all the ports (no external hoses except for those fixed metal ones...)and fill with grease and remove the piston on the rack.

the reason you need to remove the piston on a sealed rack without looped hoses is because the piston creates pressure when moved left or right. external hoses fix this because air/fluid has a change to escape to the other side of the rack via the external hose when the piston moves(when the steering wheel is turned) i used standard axle/moly grease in my rack and sealed the rack with some threaded plugs.
2nd. and this is optional, but remove the two springs in the steering valve that allow for 15% rotation in either direction. with power steering in place, this acts as a dampener, with out power steering it will just make your steering feel mushy... you replace these springs with solid replacements so there's no give. i used an old allen key that i cut to fit.

hope this makes sense, i think it will when you get down there and see what everything looks like...

 

I've had both a power and true manual rack. The road feel is night and day going to manual, but you do turn the wheel more due to the slower ratio. Really tight switchbacks took a couple days to get used to, but to me it wasn't a big deal. Parking is more difficult but again, it is managable.

 

I like my power steering.

 

If I remember correctly in the PS pump there is a blow off (regulator) and when the pump hits a set pressure it opens and keeps the pressure at a constant. Otherwise every time you reved the engine you would get lighter steering. The Blow off valve is backed by a spring, simply change that spring out for one with a lower force, say 50% would get you a really nice happen medium.

I've been drinking so this makes alot of sence to me right now..................

 

manual rack should be high on a mod list.
for those who say it's hard to turn. Stop whining!

 

but its sooooo hard

 

Tonight I plan to do some drinking and re-read this post so it will make sense to me too.



Sorry couldn't resist.

michael

 

holy hell...campeck is back? hehe

 

I been chillin in OT.
Pop in here every once in a while. Thinking about buying the honda civic I am currently driving from my GParents and selling it to fund a 951. Can't stand not driving a sports car...