I am working with my brother to install an MRII electric power steering pump like these hondukie guys have done. http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2222562

I tried a search, but could not find anything on someone trying this on a track miata. I DD my car a lot and would love to have this option where I can prevent the PS pump from overspinning and boiling fluid on track. Not to mention that waisting the power to spin the pump could be used elsewhere.

 

we have a couple of miatas here running those.. check out inglars build thread for some info, and www.mazdaspeedy.com

 

Depowered rack:

1. No boiled fluid
2. Less weight
3. Less ---- to break
4. More clearance for turbo parts
5. Better steering feel

Win

 

I have yet to track my car, but I do DD it with a depowered rack. If my little bitty wife can drive my car with no issues, I'm sure you can handle it too.

 

when i get into the v6 swap more i am going to depower my rack also. makes things so much better.

the electric power steering pump doesnt seem like a bad idea but that just means your alt pulls more of a load.

 

Seriously, just depower the rack. I think Miatas with PS drive like crap.

 

mine is depowered, i like it, but some people whine about the steering beeing heavier than in "other" cars with no ps. :P

 

Don't let whiners drive your car. Double win.

 

I'm running the 2nd gen MR2 electric pump on my autocross NA. Works great for my purposes. I mounted it in the trunk for weight distribution reasons. I run it at full battery voltage all of the time (in the MR2, it's speed is controlled by varying the voltage and it never gets full power). I used a generic aluminum fluid tank mounted next to the pump and made my own braided lines.

Jim

 

I have alll the parts to depower and even the idler to keep my AC working. I have driven several PS miatas and have to say that they all felt different. My 91 has the perfect balance and feels perfectly flickable and still gives awesome feedback, where my wife's 97 feels numb in comparison.
My daily drive is around 1 hr one way, so PS helps. I only do 2-3 track days a year at max.
I am still debating on depowering the rack temporarily and drive for a few weeks with just looped lines and see how it feels.

 

If you drive the car with the lines only looped, you will be doing an injustice to yourself and your car. With the lines looped, you have to move not only the car, but the fluid as well. While you might think it doesn't make much of a difference, trust me, its worlds apart.

I'll have to dig up my records, but my friends and I did a back to back test this summer recording effort to turn the wheel, same car, same day, same rack, just powered, depowered, and looped. Keep in mind that I have 215-45-16 kuhmo xs on my car, so the values will be slighlty higher

If my memory is correct, with the ps, it took 2.7x lb of pressure to turn the steering wheel, both at rest and while moving.

with the lines looped, it took almost 30 lb to turn the wheels at rest, and 9.2x lb while moving.

With the depower, it takes 5.4x lb at rest, and 5.0x while moving.

We did compare a friend of mine with a manual rack, and some shitt-ay all seasons, and ended up with 8.5x lbs for both.

What the test doesn't tell you is the amount of feedback you get from depowering. If my wife can hop out of the car after one drive, and tell me to do it to all of our cars, then I'm sure you will love it too.lol

 

I autocrossed my car with ps for years, and never thought that I would give it up, but after doing it, ill never go back.

And as far as dd it, my wife dailys hers with a depowered rack all summer, one hour each way, down back roads. Never complained about it, only complains if se has to drive the company accord, because of its power steering.

 

Wow!! Maybe we should start a MiataTurbo swingers club. I want glade's wife!

 

Ha, you'd have to catch her first!

 

What is really bizarre yo me is that someone did this to a Honda.

A powerful Honda with PS is borderline horrifying.
Ditching the PS at least gives you a chance to deal with the torque steer, with it you have no chance.

 

Ha, everyone can drive manual steering with skinny low grip tires. What about putting some 275 wide Hoosiers on your car, then ask your wife to go park it?

 

While I have yet to run 275s, my wife and I both run on 225 a6 at every autocross...still yet to complain

 

winning!