RSflared72e

I use the power rack on my S2 with the fluid left in the rack and a jumper line between the two pressure fittings on the rack. Works great. A tad heavy starting off of course, but the tradeoff is great steering response at speed.

Devildog2067

I've been running a dry rack for a couple of months now. Works ok, but I'm just worried that I'm going to break something without having fluid in there.

Manning

Yeah, I would want a part number. I am pretty sure it is a 944 rack though. The 924 racks I have seen are noticably different from what that rack looks like.

Travis - sflraver

Over time without fluid in there it will wear on the internal components of the rack. Remember, in a power rack there are no bushings for the rack itself to ride on, only the wiper seals. If the wiper seals are alredy worn they are not getting any better by running it without fluid.
You could just reseal it you know. Its not that hard.

Skip

As Steve may soon tell you, make sure you can get the intermediate steering input shaft before attempting the manual rack conversion. If you need the manual shaft (944.347.027.01), you're looking at ~$275 new.

Devildog2067

My rack, as far as I know, does not leak. My pump leaks.

I did the conversion because I wanted manual steering. The car is not a daily driver; I'm a sales manager at a Mitsu/Hyundai/Kia dealership. I drive a new car most of the time, the 944 is a toy/there so that if I ever want to quit I don't have to walk home.

Anyway... anyone have a steering shaft off of an 83 944? For cheap? granny...?

BTW Skip, as long as I've got you here... do you guys have the sway bar bushings for 86 turbos? Mine had Dex leaked all over it.

ERAU-944

i certainly did NOT prefer the power rack with no pump to the original manual rack. that is why i converted my car. that and the weight savings.

holy cow! $275 for that little bar... time to jack my price for the manual steering rack.

-Michael-

Skip

Yes, check to see if your bar is original (20mm), Sport (23mm) or other. Most auto parts stores have a very inexpensive plastic caliper that works great for measuring dirty car parts... not for delicate precise measurements.

Manning

By the way, be careful buying used ones. They get crunchy or loose when they wear our and they cannot be rebuilt as the joints are not held in with clips, rather the holes in the yolks are peened over to hold the joints in place.