If you get a manual rack it will be just a little stiffer than with power steering. If you leave the power rack in there it will be very tough to turn at low speeds and while sitting still. I prefer to leave the power steering in my cars because of the ease.

my power steering was removed by previous owner and i don't mind it to bad. unless on crappy roads cause then you find yourself fighting road crown.

I figured it would be a pain at low speeds and sitting still. I've never drove any car with manual rack in it, on a scale of one to ten one being easy, how would you rate the strentgh it takes for general driving?

I have a stock power rack minus the PS pump/lines and it's a 8 when parallel parking. Driving it above 10mph is a 2 as far as effort. Above 30mph you can't really tell there's no PS.

My car's got a de-powered rack and it's fine on the street. With slicks or drag radials, it can be a pain on low speed/stopped turning, though. I'm putting the PS stuff back in my car soon, only because I've done a bunch of chassis/brake upgrades and I want to throw the car around some corners.

Like everyone is saying, at low speeds, it's a bit tougher. But at higher speeds, I would say over 20 mph, you can't really notice it. I have it removed by previous owner and he looped the lines to get rid of the power steering pump. It's not bad once you get used to it. It's not a DD though. I probably wouldn't remove it on a DD, just my .02

F_27stryker1 said:

I figured it would be a pain at low speeds and sitting still. I've never drove any car with manual rack in it, on a scale of one to ten one being easy, how would you rate the strentgh it takes for general driving?

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Heres the way i would test: Go turn your key to the on position and turn the wheel. There. Now you know what it feels like without power steering when the car is sitting still. Pretty damn tough. You could always just take the belt off too just to "test" it, ya know. Though with the lines still hooked up i would imagine it would actually be more difficult to turn than a manual rack.

I wish mine still had it. I don't understand why so many people remove it just for the hell of it. I have everything to reinstall power steering but I don't know if I'm going to do it or not. I think I'll just try to get my hands on a manual rack eventually.

yeah while driving cornering you wont really notice its gone. and sitting still does suck. but not to bad at least i think.

It's really not that bad, didn't really bother me.

Another option would be EHPS, currently running an MR2 pump on our 2g, cleans up the engine bay, and you keep your power steering
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I have a manual rack in my car and its not bad at all and I have a welded center diff.

I Drove my 1Ga TSi Awd with no AC no power steering on the stock rack daily for over half a year with no problems weighing in at 120lbs (i got bigger , dont worry). I'd say even as low as 10mph and up you cant really tell. at a complete stop, yes you'll be in hell for the first week or so, then your arms get bigger and its easies .

Mr401h said:

Another option would be EHPS, currently running an MR2 pump on our 2g, cleans up the engine bay, and you keep your power steering

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Write up for the MR2 Pump?

SEXY engine bay btw.

I depowered the rack in my 1g awd. I drive it on the weekends and a little through the week. I love it and wouldnt go back.

Mr401h said:

Another option would be EHPS, currently running an MR2 pump on our 2g, cleans up the engine bay, and you keep your power steering

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I think thats the nicest bay ive ever seen. Good god man. You are a patient and skilled guy

Edit: nevermind. I googled mr2 power steering dsm and it linked right to a how to.

Yep it's pretty simple, hardest part is finding the pump at a decent price. I would also recommend a higher output alternator as the pump draws about 100amps. Here's the diagram I used

Thanks for all the replys. Lol I've actually sit in the driveway and turned the weheel with just the key on, and I gotta say, I don't like paralllel parking. I see mixed reactions so what I think I may do is just take off the belt to the pump off for a week and just get a good feel for it. Gotta say mr401h that is one pretty bay. Besides getting a higher amperage alternatar is there any other drawbacks with using your setup?

Haven't had any issues with the mr2 power steering. Been running it for 2years.

I tried a friends car with a depowered rack and didn't like the effort so I put a manual rack in my car and it's livable. I liked it a lot more with a 4 spider than I do with a welded diff and then when I went from all seasons to toyo ra1's I again liked it even less. Once I'm above 10mph it's fine but parking can be a pain depending on the variables in your set up.

I hope it doesn't draw 100 amps with a 50 amp fuse...

There is a real easy way to try out no power steering. Remove the belt. It probably needs replacing anyway, so just take it off and leave it off for a week.

I remove power steering from every car under 3200lbs. As soon as there is an issue, or just whenever I have the free time, I take the belt off and try it. I find most cars are easy to drive without PS.

My F150 on the other hand..

That's my plan for right now, just take off the belt anddo some testijg for a week . Electric power steering sounds good too though, being able to mount it where its out of the way, and clean up the bay at the same time

I bought a 1g awd with power steering rack filled with grease, and it doesn't feel that bad at all compared to buddies with just having the power steering lines looped back to the rack.

I have the lines looped , filled with Bobcat hydraulic grease and I friggin love it.

Well not happy to report, but removed the belt for almost two weeks now, and wow what a job. Now I realze it would be easier with a manual rack or the line loop method, but first I need to put in a new steering wheel shaft. Snapped mine right where the joint is. Luckily I was at home and not far out. Damn I'm no muscle man but it broke awful easy.