got rid of power steering...couple questions

[siege]

Hey all.

Well after listening to the advice of several people here a while ago, I finally got around to bypassing the power steering pump and draining the rack and plugging it up. now my question is - Is it really supposed to be this hard to steer now? I mean, I know its gonna be hard, but its like two hands on the wheel using all my strength hard.

how does this compare to using the manual rack from an early mustang or using the Flaming River kit? if the early mustang rack will be easier, I might do that, but I can't afford the FR kit. if not, next week I'll be gettin some new hoses and puttin the new PS pump on that I bought last year.

thanks for the input

 

[HISSIN50]

the rack in your car was made to be power assisted. manual racks (by design) have mechanical advantage so that you dont have to be Dorian to steer the car easily. i thought about the early stang rack (as opposed to the FR rack - too pricey) if i do it - but i have not read up on the fine points of it.

from what i have read, the set up you have is hard to steer at parking lot speeds, but gets better once you speed up.

sorry to hear it is not as nice as you had hoped. good luck.

 

[siege]

yeah it is nicer steering at speed, but in the lot its a major pain.

any idea what years the mustang came with a manual rack? and are they the same for the 4 cyl, v6 and v8s? Probably gonna try to get one from the junk yard seeing as I don't want to pay autozone $115 plus a $50 core charge that I wouldn't get back.

think I'll try searching on this as well...

 

[rdksek844]

I have skinnies, and parking lots arent too bad. I like it at speed, but I dont miss all the whine and noise that some powersteering systems have.

 

[Michael Yount]

The power steering rack was never designed to be used without the hydraulic assist. I'd either hook it back up, or get a manual rack in there; and I wouldn't drive it much until that's done. Using a component in a way it was never intended to be used is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. And steering and brakes are the two areas I'd like not to have a 'surprise' with.