Guys with manual racks - regret it??

[Mustang5L5]

I've been tossing the idea around of converting to manual steering to save some weight and parasitic loss.

Car is not a daily driver. I just take out it and drive around on the streets.

DO you regret converting? How difficult is it for low-speed manuevering?

 

[white 89 GT]

I like mine, its not a dd but does get driven to the track.
Turns easy and I have 225x60x15`s in front.

 

[1slo5ohh]

I was thinking about doing the same .. didnt have power steering in my H22 civic coupe (dont hate me lol blew up my 00 GT) and it wasnt to bad got used to it then got back to ps and looked like i was tryin to rip the steering wheel off lol

 

[Beasty306GT]

im wondering the same thing...is it a big difference? how much harder to turn the wheel?

 

[1991notchbackLX]

My '72 Cutlass had manual steering and manual 4 wheel drum brakes, and it weighed 4000 pounds. It didn't stop for ****!!! It also had a ridiculous steering ratio: from straight to full lock the steering wheel went around three full turns!


As long as the car has forward momentum. manual steering is fine. I'm not the strongest guy in the world... I'm 6 foot 1 and weigh about 170 pounds, and it never gave me trouble. Go for it!

 

[Darkwriter77]

Had manual steering and manual transmissions in the Geo Metro and Honda CRX I owned years ago. Given, they run much more narrow tires (well, not so much on the CRX - I think they were 225 width, IIRC), but I really couldn't tell the difference unless I was absolutely sitting dead-still and trying to turn the wheel. Even at 5-10 MPH, it was easy. Had a much more solid steering feel, as well.

Only other experience I have with manual steering was the time my notch stalled out on me and I had to steer it around a corner with the engine dead, or the (third) time my '84 decided to shred and throw a belt - both times, even with the power rack (and no operating pump at the time, obviously), the steering felt almost exactly the same as it normally did, just slightly more weighted. People get freaked out by the idea of manual steering, I think, when they just try to see what it's like to turn the wheel with the car sitting still and the engine off. As stated, once you're moving, you're fine.

If you do go manual, I would (no pun intended) steer clear of the "sport" ratio racks and go for a "standard" ratio, as the latter will require much less steering effort overall. If I wind up having to put in a new rack in my notch, I'll be going with the manual rack kit Summit is selling for around $300 - has the rack, tie rod ends, and steering shaft, everything you need (except for how to re-route the belt after you no longer have a P/S pump or, presumably, an A/C compressor).

 

[S&B]

i had the manual rack in my black one when i got it, i will see if i have a pic of the steering wheel still, it has a hole worn through it. I thought i was a huge pita and if you ever want to get a drink or something (b/c there are no cup holders) you kill your self trying to get home.

if its a drag car i dont think you would mind, but on the street its a pain

 

[GroverDill]

I have a FR standard rack in my fox with 17x9's up front. No problem, it is a little harder stopped but moving it is fine for weekend toy.

 

[Makdaddymac]

Had manual steering and manual transmissions in the Geo Metro and Honda CRX I owned years ago. Given, they run much more narrow tires (well, not so much on the CRX - I think they were 225 width, IIRC), but I really couldn't tell the difference unless I was absolutely sitting dead-still and trying to turn the wheel. Even at 5-10 MPH, it was easy. Had a much more solid steering feel, as well.


If you do go manual, I would (no pun intended) steer clear of the "sport" ratio racks and go for a "standard" ratio, as the latter will require much less steering effort overall. If I wind up having to put in a new rack in my notch, I'll be going with the manual rack kit Summit is selling for around $300 - has the rack, tie rod ends, and steering shaft, everything you need (except for how to re-route the belt after you no longer have a P/S pump or, presumably, an A/C compressor).

+1
my civic coupe that got stolen!grrrr.......had the no ps. option and a 5speed. i loved it. from a stand still it wasnt the best but man did it make the car feel so much more solid. i would love it for drifting or something or in car that is a weekend cruiser....less drag on the 5.0 = lil hp and mpg gains. power steering is just a luxury. a must for the soccer mom van but who cares on the point and shoot mustang hot rodder.

 

[QUICK91LX]

(well, not so much on the CRX - I think they were 225 width, IIRC)

On stock wheels? 195's at best, and they would be fat rubber on a CRX. I don't think 225's will even fit under a CRX

 

[Darkwriter77]

On stock wheels? 195's at best, and they would be fat rubber on a CRX. I don't think 225's will even fit under a CRX

I don't remember exactly. It's been a few years. They did look pretty wide, at least for a little econo-box turd car ... nothing like the little 165/70/R12's or whatever pathetic size came stock on a Geo Metro. Those things were like skinny lawnmower tires...

Either way, anything with manual steering isn't going to be terrible, as long as you're moving forward at something faster than an absolute crawl. I think too many of us these days are just spoiled to feather-light steering setups that used to only be found in high-end Cadillacs and Lincolns - our arm muscles are withering away from lack of use!

 

[90FoxBdy]

I do regret going manual on mine. Parking and trying to get into my garage is a pita, with the manual rack. Good workout though?!? I had it with skinnies(195's) and now 245's. Just a mod I dont think that was worth it. Keep the power, it makes a much more enjoyable cruiser.

 

[90lxcoupe]

dont regret it at all, once the cars rolling theres no real difference and the power steering is worth like .3 tenths in the 1/4 mile

 

[7upstang91]

In the newest mustang addition to my family's stable, we have a 84 with a power steering rack that has been capped off with power steering fluid in it. The 84 has 235's on the front and i drove it yesterday with little problem at all. My dad has driven it as well and he loves it(although he said he wouldn't do it to his 5.0 as a DD). My 87 has power streering(but doesn't seem to work at idle so i have to blurp the gas to spin the pump to get the power steering to work at low speeds such as parking with 245's) I wouldn't convert on a DD but a weekend fun car go for it! Flaming River

 

[Darkwriter77]

Just curious, what did y'all with manual racks do as far as routing the belt without a P/S pump there? I'm assuming you ditched the A/C at the same time or prior to that, otherwise you'd just use the A/C compressor as an idler pulley of sorts...

 

[90lxcoupe]

you can either get a std rotation water pump and run the belt right over the crank, wp, and alt, or what i did was kept my waterpump and went over the stock tensioner with the belt, so when i take the belt off i unblot the tensioner from the alt bracket and to put it back on i use the tensioner the opposite way, and jsut bolt it back to the bracket, kinda hard to explain without a pic

 

[Darkwriter77]

you can either get a std rotation water pump and run the belt right over the crank, wp, and alt, or what i did was kept my waterpump and went over the stock tensioner with the belt, so when i take the belt off i unblot the tensioner from the alt bracket and to put it back on i use the tensioner the opposite way, and jsut bolt it back to the bracket, kinda hard to explain without a pic

I think i get what you're saying. Didn't know you could just flip the tensioner over, though, without needing a new bracket or something (like those A/C delete brackets sold by March and Trick Flow).

 

[Mustang5L5]

I like the std. rotation water pump idea. Looks clean and simple.

I just wonder if there is any drawback to running the pump the other direction?

 

[90lxcoupe]

I think i get what you're saying. Didn't know you could just flip the tensioner over, though, without needing a new bracket or something (like those A/C delete brackets sold by March and Trick Flow).

your not really flipping the tensioner, on my car its straight up and down, and i loosen the main bolt on the tensioner enough so the dowel is out, then use a wrench on the pulley till the pin goes in the hole on the bracket, and tighen the bolt to the bracket.

I've been told to get a ribbed tensioner belt, but it does the job and dosent tear belts up.