Do you like your manual Steering rack & pinion conversion?

[90gst_sean]

I just picked up a manual rack and pinion for my 90 GSX and would like some simple opinions on whether or not the conversion is worht the trouble of removing my power steering equipment.

Thanks

 

[1gDSM4g63]

You don't need to go to a manual rack it you don't want power steering pump. It might somewhat easier with a manual rack with the pump but if your complaining about that then you'd better stay with the power steering.

 

[bluegs03]

He might not need one but it will be a hell of a lot easier to drive especially in parking lots etc

 

[Slippi84]

But it will perform much better than a power steering setup void of a pump. My shell I have now has it and just moving the car like pushing it around and what not I can feel how much easier it is to move than my old system with p/s pump removed.

 

[1gDSM4g63]

He might not need one but it will be a hell of a lot easier to drive especially in parking lots etc

I really don't think he'd have to worry about that. I really doubt it's DD car but if it was he'd have to toughen up. I've always stayed on a power steering rack with no power steering and I never plan to switch because if I don't know how much easier it is then I'll never know.

 

[90gst_sean]

FYI: My DSM is a Daily Driver... when it's running that is.

 

[1gDSM4g63]

Well in that case after hearing from Slippi it will be easier to turn at a stand still but I don't really see a difference when it's rolling even at a few miles an hour but if you have the manual rack it should be pretty easy taking off the power steering equipment and not having to worry about relooping the oil lines.

 

[Slippi84]

Well in that case after hearing from Slippi it will be easier to turn at a stand still but I don't really see a difference when it's rolling even at a few miles an hour but if you have the manual rack it should be pretty easy taking off the power steering equipment and not having to worry about relooping the oil lines.

Yeah in a nut shell you only really see the benefit when your going really slow like in a parking lot or at a stand still. So if it's a car you will drive on the street like to regular places than go with a manual rack but if it's a weekend warrior or a track car simply deleting the pump and lines will do.

 

[90gst_sean]

Well, so far it seems like I'll be going with the manual rack swap. What I'm wondering now, that I have the manual rack all cleaned up and ready to install, is there any maintenance stuff I should do to it while the racks out of the car? Should I pack the gears with wheel bearing grease or anything?

Everything seems to be in good shape; the boots are in great condition.

 

[1gDSM4g63]

Yes, you should grease the manual rack up and you have to use the bracket for the manual rack. They other ones won't work and aside from that you'll will to get alignment done afterward.

 

[eclipsetuner_21]

I dd my 91. I pulled the power steering rack apart and converted it to a manual rack. I also have a sparco steering wheel....smaller than stock, which also makes it harder to turn. Personally I LOVE IT!!! You can feel the road much better and I feel in control! Go for it!

 

[talonDSMerr]

The manual rack also has more turns lock to lock so you'd have to turn quicker than you normally would with the powersteering rack.

 

[Rex2342]

I did the manual rack swap in my 90 TSI and will never go back. I DD my Talon too and don't have any problems with parking or turning at slow speeds. When I got the rack I cleaned it all up, took the boots off and greased everything up real good and changed the inner and outer tie rods. It took a bit of getting used with the different steering ratio but now I don't even notice it. The manual rack is about 4 turns lock to lock. The P/S rack is like 2.5 turns. The manual rack also has an adjustment on it. Mine was a bit tight at first but after messing with the adjustment I got it to were I liked it.

 

[90gst_sean]

Thanks guys.

Oh, and by the way, I scored this manual rack at my local Pull-a-Part. It took a few years of searching (off and on), but I finally found one.

$25 and 1 hour of roling around in the mud later...

QUESTION: How do you suppose I go about greasing the steering rack? Above I mention using wheel bearing grease, is this what you are suggesting that I use?

 

[bullet99]

So has any one tried to put this on a 2g or would I be better of just pulling the lines. The car is not a dd but I would like to save the weight. Plus would not mind the easier to turn at slow speeds.

 

[bullet99]

i know this thread is dead but some of you have to still be here or know. OK i guess the first question was a dumb one. so if i keep the power steering rack and delete the power steering do i need to keep the rack full of fluid?

 

[habitatguy187]

i know this thread is dead but some of you have to still be here or know. OK i guess the first question was a dumb one. so if i keep the power steering rack and delete the power steering do i need to keep the rack full of fluid?

Search Search Search Search Search!




Some claim the rack needs to have fluid in the looped lines or else it will "dry out and break"

I ran mine with no ps and un-looped lines for 2 years with no problems. Just my experience though.

 

[90gst_sean]

So has any one tried to put this on a 2g or would I be better of just pulling the lines. The car is not a dd but I would like to save the weight. Plus would not mind the easier to turn at slow speeds.

Remove the drive belt from your power steering pump and drive the car around for a day or two. Keep the fluid in. Just remove the belt.

This way you'll see how the car drives if you do decide to 'pull the lines', as you say.

Regarding your second question: I don't believe the 1g manual rack can be used in a 2g front end; maybe it can, I'm not sure, but I'd imagine it'd be a lot of custom work. People have talked about trying it; one guy ask about the length of the 1g rack, implying someone could figure out if it'd fit, but no one ever got him the measurements.

They talk about 1G manual steering in a 2G here:

Manual steering rack for a 2g [Archive] - DSM Forums: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon Forum: DSMtalk.com

Manual Steering Rack for 2G? - DSMsource.com Forums

While I was thinking about all this I decided to take a crack at those measurements off a 1G 1.8L NT manual rack I've been saving in the garage for years now just in case I ever get back around to doing my own manual steering conversion. I haven't been wrenching on any DSM's this year... sad, I know! Its coming back around tho, it always does; doesn't it?

1G 1.8L NT Manual Steering measurements:

Length:
44 1/2" Shortest (including lock-nut, no tie-rod end)
47 1/2" Longest (including lock-nut, no tie-rod end, wouldn't have threads for rod end to fit)

Max Turn - Full left to full right:
4 1/2 Terns (lock to lock)
6 1/4" Max Throw - left to right

Steering linkage attachment point/stud:
5/8" diameter
3/4" to 1" of attachment surface

Steering racks' arm flex and travel:
60* of swing/flex
13 1/2" of travel throughout the entire flex (measured at two points, from the rod end, when each point was at its furthest flex from one another; all measured on one side - drivers side - assume both sides are equal)

 

[ChiTownHussla]

Wow so more turns makes it easier? I have PS on my car removed, and thought that less turns than what I have would make it easier. HMMMMMM

 

[Jack Morgan]

what is the purpose behind removing the ps pump and rack? Is there less wobble in the steering wheel?

 

[Kapok6]

what is the purpose behind removing the ps pump and rack? Is there less wobble in the steering wheel?

Technically, I don't have a manual rack, I properly de-powered my PS rack.

That being said, I did the manual conversion for two reasons:

1.) The less clutter in the engine bay, the better. I just wanted it out of there to make working on the car easier, and less chance of another fluid leaking.

2.) I wanted to "feel" the car more.

Low speed parking lot driving and backing out of the driveway are the hardest things to do, but really not all that bad. I am a pretty skinny guy with skinny arms and I can manage it without issue. I personally vastly prefer this car without PS, and have no intention of ever re-installing PS on this car.

-Ryan

 

[EVO9_Inside]

I had 225s on my srt4 with a 95 neon manual rack conversation, and 245s on my gsx with manual rack and welded diff.
dont be a lady and prepare to look silly when doing a u-turn, otherwise its awesome.

edit- neither are my dailys. weekend cars only.

 

[ThunderChild]

personally i suggest doing the flying miata mod to your PS rack. i did it for my project, but havent driven it yet. drove my freinds that had it done and it was cake to turn, even in lots. but then again, all my vehicles have manual steering. 89 sentra, and my 87 toyota pickup with 35s.

if ppl want to buy these non PS racks so bad i need to start stocking up on them. 10 bux for a rack at my local yards and the T/E/L non PS ones are EVERYWHERE.

last time i went there were 4-5 of them at one yard, didnt even make it to the second yard.

 

[DigORdieTSi]

^x2 on the Flyin'Miata mod to the steering rack. Fairly simple to do with the correct tools. Retains the power-rack turn radius from lock to lock. and is about as easy as the manual rack to turn when sitting still. Road feel is extremely good and you feel very in control with the car. Not to mention you get rid of the pump, lines, and cooler. Less weight= faster!!

 

[juntjoo]

what/where is this flying miata mod?