hockeyhead019

Hey guys,

Just a quick question, anybody have any thoughts/experiences with removing the power steering element of the 944 and just making it a manual?

I ask b/c I'm looking at an 87 944 NA with a slight PS leak. I'm just thinking worst case scenario that the rack needs replacement so I was just curious about if there was a downside to just making it a manual and what the process of that was.

Cheers

dykaar

My P/S pump failed and the steering was as heavy as my 83 manual steering with the car at rest. That was heavy. It required a real pull to move the wheel.
I thought the usual move was to run the outlet to the inlet on the rack, in which case you'd have to fix the leak anyway, assuming its the seals.

Regards,

doug

86 951 (http://www.pcaucr.org/visuals/photos...egory&catid=61)
01 E320 (W210) 4matic Wagon (http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...body-do-2.html)
00 540i-6 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...hp?albumid=976)
94 855 turbo Wagon (sold in 09)
85 535i-5 (sold in 07)
76 300D (sold in 92)
83 944 (sold in 86)
I apparently only buy cars designated by numbers

Jrboulder

Easy way: remove PS belt

Harder way: remove everything and pack the rack with grease and plug up the holes.

Expensive way: buy a manual rack and late manual tie rods and then install it and get an alignment.

I depowered the rack on my 84 and it worked pretty well. My S2 threw the alternator belt and I never replaced the PS belt whe I took it off. I like manual steering much more.

mikemyers924s

My 87 924s had this setup. It's totally useable on the road and highway, but can be a struggle in parking lots or when parallel parking. Basically any slow speed maneuvering is slightly difficult but definitely manageable. However, I would not recommend it for Autocrossing. Your best bet is to actually get a manual rack. They are geared to facilitate low speed turns.

fortysixandtwo

There have been a lot of threads on how to convert a power rack to manual operation. Do a search, on this or the 944 Turbo forum and you should find all the answers you need.

mikemyers924s

+1

hockeyhead019

Thanks guys, and yea I'm googling and all that good stuff but thought I'd bounce it off the guys here and see what they're thoughts/opinions were as well as the technical details

fortysixandtwo

Search here also. It gets discussed a little too often and there haven't been any new developments on the ways to properly convert from power to manual.

https://rennlist.com/forums/search.p...=9789560&pp=25

Reimu

Can't really comment on how it works quite yet but this is what I did. The inside is still full of power steering fluid.

F40LM

I have driven all 4 variations:
1. Power
2. Manual
3. No belt
4. Modified de-powered rack

If you want a good economical option to a leaking rack I recommend #4 unless you are planning alot of auto crossing or going with fat tires.

Option 4 will cost you $20 and about 3 hours time. Well worth it.

Manual racks are going for $300 these days.

Good luck
Michael

Jrboulder

A depowered rack has the holes pluged up and it's filled with grease. I think manual steering is too slow and the depowerd rack isn't too heavy.

krystar

putting in more negative camber in front wheels makes turning easier. i have a depowered rack. anything faster than 5mph, there's no effort to turn my 11" tiny steering wheel