Eliminating Power Steering

[SadbutTrue]

I want to chuck my power steering unit... it leaks, it robs power, it looks bad in the engine bay, and the steering feeling is sloppy. I'm okay with building some arm muscles for parking lot driving if need be. What's involved? Do I just take the thing off? Will I need a new steering box? Anything else?

 

[Rusty67]

You don't need to change the steering box or the inner/outer tie rods. Everything else has to be changed out.

Drag link
Pitman Arm
Idler Arm
Remove all the PS stuff

This may not solve your sloppy steering problem as the sloppy steering could be caused by any number of things. Your tie rods could be worn out, your box could be going bad and your idler arm could be done as well. If its just the slop in the steering you are worried about I'd look into making sure your ball joints are all still good and maybe replace the inner/outer tierods first and see if that helps.

How is the rest of your suspension ? The other parts of your suspension will play a key roll in how your car responds to steering input.

 

[stanger53]

If your 1966 Mustang has V8 steering linkage on it, all you need to change is the centerlink. The idler arm and pitman arm are the same between manual and power steering.

 

[Rusty67]

Oops. Live and learn. They are different on a 67 =-)

 

[D.Hearne]

Just did all this on a 77 Comet (same chassis) all I had to swap was the Pitman arm and drag link. Removed everything else for the same reasons. Gonna drag race it, don't need the leaks and power drain.

 

[htwheelz67]

they sell power steering eliminator kits for about 150.00 at most parts vendors, it takes the place of your control valve and you can keep your P/S centerlink,idler arm etc....

 

[SadbutTrue]

they sell power steering eliminator kits for about 150.00 at most parts vendors, it takes the place of your control valve and you can keep your P/S centerlink,idler arm etc....

Really? How well do they work? Parts vendors like mustang specialty stores (NPD) or just auto vendors (napa)? Any link by chance? Thanks.

 

[D.Hearne]

You can buy the two parts you need from many places for the same price and not have useless parts on your car. My 77 Comet's drag link and pitman arm cost $125 from Autozone.com. That's the only two parts I needed.

 

[htwheelz67]

its called a manual steering adapter, mustangs plus and other mustang vendors sell them. I've seen them for 120.00

 

[mr-fixit]

The car will steer easier if you replace the power steering idler arm with the correct idler for a manual steering car. (yes they are different) Or better yet convert it to a roller set up.

 

[mustangdave]

For 65-66, NPD has the convertor for $49.95. 67-70 is $144.

 

[SadbutTrue]

For 65-66, NPD has the convertor for $49.95. 67-70 is $144.

md... how well does it work? i guess for 50 bucks it can't be too bad. does it mess up the steering feel or anything (no reason i can think of that it should, just wondering)