Manual Steering Rack? Or...

[Boss 351]

Anyone here with a fox with manual rack and 245/45R17 tires? I can get a deal on a rack and I'm thinking it would help me get rid of a few pounds, clean up the engine bay and fix an oil leak lol...

Is it a pain to drive? I've never driven one with a manual rack before (just one with PS disconnected). I do lots of highway and some city.

Thanks

 

[Old Skooler]

If u do a lot of driving I wouldn't recommend it. I have a quick ratio manual rack and I think it's great, but I do very limited weekend driving. I would imagine no PS in traffic would suck. A non DD go for it

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

I drive my car every chance I get (almost every other day to work and back) so I guess I can claim DD status. It has a Uni-steer manual rack. The front tires are 225 x 50 x 17. It is a standard ratio rack (20:1, 3.5 turns lock to lock). There is absolutely NOTHING difficult about driving it, and as a matter of fact, routinely steer it in and out of low speed turns (like from a stoplight) w/ just one hand.
Now the "sport rack" and a wider tire?... that might be a little more difficult, but if you're looking to save weight on a DD that isn't a week end autocrosser,...then............Just sayin.

 

[Boss 351]

Thanks for the input, it's far from a DD by any means. I'd have to try one to know it.

 

[srtthis]

once your moving its not an issue... its the dead stop stuff that is hard

 

[S&B]

i had a pick of a steering wheel wore straight through from my notch when I got it, with a quick ratio manual rack and 245's. I personally hated it an swapped back. but like he said you really dont notice when your moving

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

I think you're all 97 lb weanies.


BE THE MAN THAT YOU ARE AND STEER YOUR CAR WITH YOUR HANDS, AND NOT YOUR FINGERS.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

i had a pick of a steering wheel wore straight through from my notch when I got it, with a quick ratio manual rack and 245's. I personally hated it an swapped back. but like he said you really dont notice when your moving

and what is "a pick of a steering wheel wore straight through from my notch" mean anyway?

 

[RacEoHolic330]

I knew I should have stopped steering my car with my pinkies in the air...damn.

 

[Mintsick]

I can't see why you'd need to shave those few pounds on a street driven vehicle personally...I'd stick with a power rack.

 

[S&B]

and what is "a pick of a steering wheel wore straight through from my notch" mean anyway?

this is what i mean

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I'm constantly intrigued with the idea, but then i remember all those times i had the back end swing out unexpected and i had to do the bus driver move on the steering wheel while shifting with the other hand...i don't wanna deal with all that with manual steering. It's a luxury i just won't live without, and it really doesn't save that much weight anyway since the compressor and lines are all of maybe 30lbs if that.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

I considered it as well, by my other half wants to be able to drive the car when it's done. I need the the PS pump for the brakes anyway.

 

[srtthis]

I considered it as well, by my other half wants to be able to drive the car when it's done. I need the the PS pump for the brakes anyway.

hydroboosted?

 

[RacEoHolic330]

hydroboosted?

Yessir

 

[Old Skooler]

I'm constantly intrigued with the idea, but then i remember all those times i had the back end swing out unexpected and i had to do the bus driver move on the steering wheel while shifting with the other hand...i don't wanna deal with all that with manual steering. It's a luxury i just won't live without, and it really doesn't save that much weight anyway since the compressor and lines are all of maybe 30lbs if that.

In this situation you wouldn't even notice no ps, if the car is moving it really isn't all that different. I did it to clean up the engine compartment n minimize pulleys.

 

[hoopty5.0]

I think you're all 97 lb weanies.


BE THE MAN THAT YOU ARE AND STEER YOUR CAR WITH YOUR HANDS, AND NOT YOUR FINGERS.

Word. I've got a manual and won't ever go back.

No leaks, no whines, one less driveway stain. It isn't that hard to turn at slow speed. Should have come like that factory.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

Word. I've got a manual and won't ever go back.

No leaks, no whines, one less driveway stain. It isn't that hard to turn at slow speed. Should have come like that factory.

It did.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

In this situation you wouldn't even notice no ps, if the car is moving it really isn't all that different. I did it to clean up the engine compartment n minimize pulleys.

Oh i've drove plenty of manual steering cars. It really just depends on what rack and what size the tires are. I learned to drive in an '82 Chevette with manual steering. I think there's a pretty noticeable difference. If i can't spin the wheel with just the flat of my palm on the wheel then i'm not happy/comfortable. I guess it's just what i'm used to.

 

[CarMichael Angelo]

this is what i mean

How in the hell did you wear the wheel out like that? That is from some obsessive "hands on the 2 O clock" thumb rubbing, not from the wheel being too hard to turn.