333pg333

So to clarify, the p/s is the lightest but the least communicative whereas the p/s delete with the same rack is the opposite, heaviest but most communicative, with the manual rack conversion somewhere in between?

Weston Dillard

Dunno about communication with the manual rack. I suspect it is about the same as the dry power rack, but the gearing is quicker so steering should be a bit lighter.

West

333pg333

So what about a compromise and take the belt off on track days and use the p/s around town? I know that this doesn't take advantage of the weight loss but it allows you the best of both worlds in terms of steering inputs.

Jason Judd

Patrick,

Just remove it...replace it with a manual rack...and be done with it...You'll love it.

And you'll have one less thing to worry about leaking!

Jason

tifosiman

Feedback from a power rack with the belt removed is not the same as that from a true manual rack. Think about why that is for a moment.

Taking the belt off a power rack will sort of give you a basic idea of what it is like with a manual rack, but the ratios and feedback really are quite different. You'd be able to make a better educated decision if you could drive someone else's car that has a manual rack. If you weren't on the other side of the world Patrick you could try mine.

SimonK

All of you guys who deleted stacks of things, how much have you saved in weight overall? What is your weight now?

shiners780

Is there a direct relationship between gearing and lightness? If so, I would think the relationship would be opposite of what you suggest. Wouldn't fewer rotations of the steering wheel (unassisted power rack) result in a heavier feel, since the rotation of the steering wheel results in an increased amount of input to the wheels relative to a true manual rack?
2568# dry, that includes a 100# cage put back in. Stock body panels and glass.

SimonK

That's nearly 200kg from stock.

reno808

The feels also deals with the dia of your steering wheel. The larger the dia of your steering the easier its going to feel in turning the steering wheel. However the smaller dia steering the harder its going to feel in turning the steering wheel but the increase feel and movement meaning it would take less movement to steer in a certain direction and a larger wheel.

Weston Dillard

Jim:

You are correct. I meant to say gearing is slower on the manual rack so the input should be lighter.

West

Jason Judd

My car is 2,640 lbs...without the fat-*** driver. Can't remember how much fuel it was weighed with, though.

105 lbs is my cage weight.

Jason

333pg333

I wish I could try it and thanks for the offer, however do older 944's have the manual rack? If so I can get access to one and try it.

Jason Judd

The simple answer is yes, some did.

Jason

Weston Dillard

As some folks have pointed out, there are a number of other factors in play here. The weight, alignment and tires on the car probably have more effect than which rack you are using. IOW, if you drove a 2700# 944 on all season tires with no caster and it seemed easy to steer, that doesn't mean your 2900# Turbo on 255 Hoosiers with max caster will be anything like it.

West

tifosiman

Most 1983 944's (and ROW 82's) came with manual steering as standard. By 1984 power steering became mostly standard as the factory changed this in an attempt to stop complaints about steering vibrations (because the power rack "insulates" a lot of that).