Power Steering Delete to Manual Rack

[NeQX]

Hello, Recently my power steering pump was making alot of whining noises like supercharger then finally today I lost power steering (RIP my friend.) I got home investigated and saw that the big hose that comes out of it on side near battery popped out, looked like a amplifier plug hanging....so of course I unscrewed the fitting from the pump to find out that it is like this, big hose has a metal plug that then screws into a small fitting (5/8) which then screws into a bigger fitting that has a 15/16 on it and screws into side of pump, so I got it all back together felt like everything was secure, added fluid, started it up gave it a right turn felt nice, then a left turn...heard POP, I get out look and that hose came out again, fluid all over the floor.....something must be broken in it....I am thinking this is a good time to do a upgrade, any lightweight power steering kits around? Is a manual rack really that hard to turn? I heard it wasn't too bad...Lemme get some tips

 

[sleeper89]

i would also like to know how hard the manual rack is with a set of 245's on the front. some guys make it out to be like you need to be mr. olympia to use them. it's been a long time since i drove anything w/out p/s but i don't remember it being THAT tough.

-steve

 

[gearheadboy]

i would also like to know how hard the manual rack is with a set of 245's on the front. some guys make it out to be like you need to be mr. olympia to use them. it's been a long time since i drove anything w/out p/s but i don't remember it being THAT tough.

-steve

Sounds like you need the little clip on the end of the hose. Its been years (like 10) since that happened to my car, but I seem to remember there is a little c-clip on the end of the hose that wears out. I bought a new hose and just used the new clip. I may be way off base here but that is how my 79 car worked. I also just converted mine to manual steering, seems great (ain't been up the road yet) I got skinnies.

 

[Smokedawg]

I have manual steering with 235's up front...Once you are going 10+mph you cant tell the difference between the two racks..

-Smoke

 

[88stangmangt]

no he is talking about the out line from the power steering pump. and those screw in fittings are for the pressure hose and the pop you heard was that hose comeing loose from the pressure. manual rack isnt that bad at all i plan to go with it.

 

[NeQX]

no he is talking about the out line from the power steering pump. and those screw in fittings are for the pressure hose and the pop you heard was that hose comeing loose from the pressure. manual rack isnt that bad at all i plan to go with it.

how can I fix that hose to stay in there? it shouldn't keep popping out.

 

[Jkstang78]

Yo mike your not going to like the manual. I am starting to regert it already and I have only driven the car 2xs since I installed it. Just fix it.

 

[mustangrfast88]

i wouldnt do it my buddy did it to his car and he says it is a pain to drive and wishes he never did it and he hates it, when he is getting all over it doing burn outs and stuff it is just a hand ful and hard to keep contol of just fix it and keep your power steering

 

[hllon4whls]

Its only bad if you are not moving. If you just roll a bit, it gets easier. I dont have a daily driven car, but I dont even think about it in my car. I also just removed the fluid lines from my power rack.

Mom had econo boxes in the 80s with no ps from the factory. Didnt even miss it.

 

[siege]

Its only bad if you are not moving. If you just roll a bit, it gets easier. I dont have a daily driven car, but I dont even think about it in my car. I also just removed the fluid lines from my power rack.

Mom had econo boxes in the 80s with no ps from the factory. Didnt even miss it.

what did you use to plug the rack with? what size bolts/whatever. I've been considering doing this, since my pump is leaking like crazy and I don't want to replace the pump and hose even though I have new ones already. I'd rather just rip that crap out if its easy enough to handle...

drove a friends 88 civic with no ps..sucked at a stop, not bad rolling. same for another friends 96 (or 93?) tercel....

 

[92BlackGT]

just so you know....an actual manual steering rack is much easier to turn than a power rack with a bad pump. I had manual steering in my '82 accord hatch, not bad...a lot smaller tires but not bad. All you have to do is be rolling and steering is nothing.....you're not supposed to turn the wheel when you're not moving anyways.

 

[siege]

just so you know....an actual manual steering rack is much easier to turn than a power rack with a bad pump.

I think the reason for that is with a bad pump, you still have fluid in the rack itself. I've heard if you drain the rack completely, its the same as an aftermarket one (for the most part). I tried to just bypass the pump and it is a PITA to turn....

 

[90mustangGT]

Siege is right. When you turn the rack, without the pump moving the fluid, you are having to push the fluid against the vanes of the pump, and suck more fluid into the other side of the rack. You are moving the fluid against the pump, and the mechanical dissadvantage is great. If you ever turn the wheel with the car off, most of the time the powersteering fluid will overflow out of the resivour, this is why. I have run, and used to run a lot, a short belt so P/S would be bypassed. It's a noticable gain, and steering effort isn't that bad.

If you can't handle a manual rack, eat your Wheaties!!!

 

[Legendary]

I had thoughts of going to manual. Is it that bad? Would it be a good idea for a car set up for auto crossing or road race?

 

[sleeper89]

I had thoughts of going to manual. Is it that bad? Would it be a good idea for a car set up for auto crossing or road race?

the ONLY good thing about p/s imho is the ease of turning. otherwise the manual rack is much better. it's lighter, probably cheaper, and most importantly provides much better road feel. it's a good idea for any type of race car, it just tends to be a little tough in parking lots etc. i'm trying to judge how tough. i used to drive a 79 f-150 with no power options, that thing was a beast, but i remember driving it when i was like 9yrs old and stuff and never had any troubles.

-steve

 

[hllon4whls]

what did you use to plug the rack with? what size bolts/whatever. I've been considering doing this, since my pump is leaking like crazy and I don't want to replace the pump and hose even though I have new ones already. I'd rather just rip that crap out if its easy enough to handle...

drove a friends 88 civic with no ps..sucked at a stop, not bad rolling. same for another friends 96 (or 93?) tercel....

I cut the ends off of the hoses. Then I plugged those with a well siliconed bolt. Just drain the rack really well or it will tend to squirt everywhere.

 

[Schlodes]

Years ago in a 1984 GT Turbo I had, I ditched the power steering, but kept the power rack. Instead of plugging any hoses or draining fluids out of the power rack, I simply just removed the PS pump & bracket, ran the two power steering hoses together.. I figured it was a good idea to keep some fluid in there to lube the power rack... and if you plug any of the hoses, where the fluid inside the rack, gonna go when you turn? It circulated through the hoses and back into the rack. Even if the fluids drained you'll be trying to push or suck in air and if lines are blocked it makes it hard to turn...

Considering doing it to the LX now.,.. but... not sure yet. Not like its something that cant be undone right? Thing is my power steering pump pulley is freaking HUGE, prolly 3" wider than the stock ones I have always had and seen... Its not a March UD power steering pulley either because it has a Ford Part # on it.

Has anyone else ever seen this HUGE underdrive power steering pulley???

 

[Legendary]

Is there a pros and cons list when it comes to Power and Manual racks? This is something I'm really considering just so I can make room in my engine compartment for other projects (removing PS pump). Handling characteristics just about the same??

 

[rdksek844]

I have manual rack with 165 r 15's on the front. I enjoy driving it immensly. There is more feel, less noise, less weight, and better track. The only downside to having it is when you are standing still, but with 40 psi in the front, thats not even that bad. Tires are much cheaper and I think they last almost as long. You just cant take turns at 50 mph like with the wide ones, but my car is not set up for road courses anyway so would I recommend it? I would if you do it properly with a manual rack and skinnies. Manual racks arent cheap but I think the noise reduction alone is worth the cost.

 

[warmdye]

I have the manual rack with 255s. It is hard to turn going under 20. I wouldn't want to deal with it in traffic or on a daily basis. Performance wise, its the way to go.