Manual Rack and Pinion OK for street use???

[CobraStang95]

So my buddy got a Flaming River manual rack and pinion system for his project car about a year ago, the project crapped the bed and now hes selling all his parts. He wants to sell it to me for $200 with the solid mounts and inner and outer tie rod ends which is an awesome price, since its brand spankin new, and goes for $450 new. My question is how hard would it be parking and at low speeds? Im sure anything over 5-10 mph will be fine, but anyone with experience? thanks

 

[90mustangGT]

I have driven plenty of vehicles heavier than a mustang with manual steering, unless your a woose it should be no problem.

 

[JBeezy53]

The new flaming river manual racks are $200 something new on Ebay. Either way though its a good deal. If you decide not to buy it let me know, I'll take it all for that price.

 

[fox racer]

Wats your definition of a wuss? are the old 1 fingered turns out of the questions? how about one handed?

 

[RMODEL65]

i can turn my 65 fastback with one finger at a standstill since i converted it to manual steering!u can handel it if u can do the swap!

 

[droptop93]

im a pansy and loved my power steering.

why would you get rid of power steering if you have no reason to besides getting a deal on some manual stuff? all i know is i can't wait to get my power steering back on my car...and If I could do it again i would have taken the extra time to make the pump fit in the first place. ive been driving without it for about a year and have hated every minute of it.

just my .02

 

[feifong]

Best thing for strip is manual rack i hear anyway so unless u do that then go for it.

 

[Maryland Stang]

all i know is i can't wait to get my power steering back on my car...and If I could do it again i would have taken the extra time to make the pump fit in the first place. ive been driving without it for about a year and have hated every minute of it.

There's a big difference between manual steering and taking the pump off of power steering. Power steering is built and geared for hydraulic assistance to help turn the wheel. When you remove that assistance the gearing makes turning the wheel very difficult at any speed. Manual steering is geared to make stearing easy without assistance. I've had plenty of manual cars and it's no big deal. It's on my list of things to do.

 

[S&B]

thats what happens after you do too many one handed turns. Its a bitch and im soo happy i converted it back to power, I would never have a stick shift manual steering car ever again i personally hated it

 

[wild86stang]

Sorry, double posted. Stupid computer

 

[wild86stang]

I have a 3400# stang with a T5 and Flaming River manual steering. It's a 95% street driven car. Manual steering doesn't bug me at all, I actually like it better. I lift everyday, so I can't really say what it would be like for somebody smaller than me. I don't mean that as an insult, but at very slow speeds it would be much harder. Highway speeds aren't a concern, it drives like normal.

 

[1EVIL88VERT]

I have the flaming river kit on my car and i love it...it feels so much more accurate and less sloppy than before....with skinnies up front turning in parking lots is not bad at all, but if you had anything bigger than a 225 up front i could see it being a bitch.

 

[GroverDill]

I have it and I like it.

 

[JBeezy53]

I have it and I like it.

What size tires do you have up front?

 

[GroverDill]

245/45/17's

 

[90mustangGT]

There's a big difference between manual steering and taking the pump off of power steering. Power steering is built and geared for hydraulic assistance to help turn the wheel. When you remove that assistance the gearing makes turning the wheel very difficult at any speed. Manual steering is geared to make stearing easy without assistance. I've had plenty of manual cars and it's no big deal. It's on my list of things to do.

That is a good point that needs to be noted. Just deleting your pump and using a power rack as a manual, it's going to suck, but with a manual rack, it's a whole lot different. A power rack has pistons, valves and needs fluid to move, and unless the pump is moving the fluid, then you have to move the fluid backwards throught the system, which is very difficult. A rack and pinion steering system is very effecient, just o spur gear on a flat gear inside a shaft.

 

[wild86stang]

I agree, very good point, and my fronts are 255 17's, so about the same size as GroverDills.

 

[393Bird]

A manual rack and pinion is going into my Tbird this Spring, and I do not expect any problems with it.

 

[CobraStang95]

The new flaming river manual racks are $200 something new on Ebay. Either way though its a good deal. If you decide not to buy it let me know, I'll take it all for that price.

No this is the full kit, with the quick ratio, and steering shaft, and inner and outer tie rod ends and when its all added up, its actually worth $600+, so for 200 theres no doubt im steeling that *****!! Thanks for all the input guys