smlporsche

Since my track season is over and I'm starting the winter mod season I'm wondering what if any benefit converting the steering rack to manual would be.

At this point I'm not concerned about any rules but was wondering if the benefits outweigh the headaches of doing it.

Also, if you've "done it" what exactly did you do? I've heard several variations on this theme.

M758

three reasons I did mine

1) Feedback. I got much better feedback from the steering wheel without power
2) Less stuff to break /leak
3) less weight.

I have run powersteering (until the pump adjuster failed at the track)
Powersteering with no power (until I got tired of strong arming the car trying maneuver on to the trailer)
and Manual Steering with proper manual rack. I think this is the best compromise between feel and effort.

My car is a early offset 84 944 spec using 225/50 R15 Toyo's.

Bill L Seifert

It is way too expensive to do now. The boxes are way over priced, and for a late car (87 and later) you have to have tie rod ends that were only used on Euro cars. They are even more expensive. A friend just removed the power steering pump and cooler, and connected the ends on the rack and pinion with a hose and filled it with power steering fluid. He ran several races to see how it did. It worked fine, so we entered VIR's 13 hour race last weekend. I qualified the car, then switched to our other team for the race. It felt fine to me. Good feel, etc. He and his two cousins raced the car in the 13 hour, and it worked perfectly. They finished 5th in ITS.

So, I would just disconnect the power steering. I wouldn't have thought it would have worked, but it has, with no problems after about 15 or so race hours, and a whole lot of parctice.

My car has regular manual steering, but I payed nothing for the steering box, so all I had to do was buy the tie rod ends. Now they want close to $1,000 for the whole thing.

Bill Seifert

1987 944S Race Car

schwank

I am in the middle of this mod right now on my track car. It's lighter and you have one less fluid that can leak and destroy bushings. Plus you get to remove one more item that drags on the motor.

Bill is right though... late offset manual tie rods are not cheap. I bought a new pair from paragon, and they had to be shipped from Deutschland and drive up the cost for sure.

Lemming

I converted my Franky to manual for all the good reasons posted above. However, I'm running 225/15's so steering is not a problem. If I ever put some real rubber up front, I'll have to start working out more

shiners780

I too have converted to the proper manual rack, tie rods, and intermediate shaft. Basically for all the reasons as stated above. Much preferred over the power (100% track duty, 235s up front). Bought my kit here http://944online.com/cgi-bin/ASI_Sto...steering-944s2

smlporsche

$1000!!
Holy Cow can't I just plug up a couple of things?
Seriously, thanks for all the replies I'll have to look at Bill S's suggestion but since I'm running 245's up front it might be a pig around the paddock...

Oddjob

The power rack has an 18.85 ratio and the manual rack is something around 23:1, so you have approx 25% more mechanical advantage (less effort) when using a manual rack vs a de-powered power rack. So it also take approx 25% more steering wheel input with a manual rack to make/take the same turn with a power rack.

Just pull the belt off the power steering pump and take a few laps, and see if the effort is too much for your liking. If it is, then you can decide if you want to keep the power unit running or pay some $$ for a manual rack.

When I bought mine, the late offset tierods really were not any more expensive than the early offset tie-rods. But there are no used ones available in the US, so you do have to buy them new. The racks however, can be found used and also the intermediate shaft.

timo944

I have done both - manual, and as Bill suggested, a power rack without the power. On the track there is no difference. Stick with a power rack and delete the pump.

Bill L Seifert

The car I spoke of with just the power rack on manual was not hard to drive at VIR. I did 35 minutes of qualifying, and did not get tired, and I ain't all that strong, and am as old as dirt. The three guys that drove in the race averaged one and a half hours in the car, and did not complain that the steering was that hard.

Bill

Mike Buck

What does one figure the upper limit is on front tire width and manual steering? I have 255's and am not sure i want to try it. I love my steering as is. My wrench runs 315's on the front of his car (that crazy blue #55) and added electric PS earlier this year. He is a strong guy too.

Racerrob

I think I am one of the few who prefer PS to manual. I drive my friends 944, manual rack, quite a bit in enduros and find it much more physical to drive and less responsive than my car. I dont think one is better, just what you prefer for your driving style. I prefer the "toss-ability" of power steering.

Jim Child

I too am very happy with the PS on my car and have no desire to change it.

93 FireHawk 968

My car came w/o the pump but had the power rack. It ceratinly takes a bit of conditioning to move around the paddocks with 245's up front. Great feel while on the track.

Lemming