power steering or no power steering
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From: Toronto, ON
power steering or no power steering
Hey guys,
I'm looking to get your input on whether I should de-power my steering rack or not. I have no problems driving without power steering on the street, but no experience on the track. Am I better off having it for the track? Will I get more fatigued without it on the track trying to fight the feedback without assistance?
I'm looking to get your input on whether I should de-power my steering rack or not. I have no problems driving without power steering on the street, but no experience on the track. Am I better off having it for the track? Will I get more fatigued without it on the track trying to fight the feedback without assistance?
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Delete it. Best thing I ever did. I have driven a miata with looped lines and with a proper de-power. Both are great but the proper de-power is even a bit better.
The feedback is better. And when you're going 20-30kph you don't even notice it anymore. I drove 2200kms a few weeks ago from Cali to BC in a de-powered car. Took the coast the whole way and twisties. No issues except at gas stations where you drive really slow its a bit heavier. Moving though, you almost can't tell the difference except you feel more connected with the road.
The feedback is better. And when you're going 20-30kph you don't even notice it anymore. I drove 2200kms a few weeks ago from Cali to BC in a de-powered car. Took the coast the whole way and twisties. No issues except at gas stations where you drive really slow its a bit heavier. Moving though, you almost can't tell the difference except you feel more connected with the road.
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I hate driving spirited in anything with power steering now. It feels so disconnected in comparison.
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PS is great for parking and I prefer it for auto-x (I've driven both). Otherwise it's useless. De-powered / manual feels better EVERYWHERE else. Hell, parking isn't even that bad really. I'm keeping mine for now because I plan to auto-x more than track. If that changes, it's coming off.
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I always think it's funny to see the difference in opinion between the Miata crowd and the Honda crowd on this: http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2829986
In particular, this reply:
I'm in the minority but I'm leaving my power steering for now. I probably wouldn't add it if I didn't have it but I don't see a reason to mess with it.
In particular, this reply:
As you can see, all the pro cars have power steering. Things like the DP car and the ALMS GT2 have actually had it ADDED to aid in driving. That's because the modern idea is that, as was mentioned previously, you should be driving with your finger tips. It shouldn't take much muscle at all (if you've got them or not) to turn the wheel. The more you use your forearm muscles, the less receptive your hands are to subtle movements in the wheel. This is the true way to feel what the car is telling you.
You'll also notice that all the cars in the power steering section are endurance cars made to run at least 3 hours (24 hours for a few of them). Can you imagine trying to saw away at a manual rack with 300-width front tires for three or four 3-hour stints?! Now I know someone is going to say that "my car is only an HPDE car and it's only out for 20 minutes at a time". Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Everything to F1 has power steering on it for a reason.
You'll also notice that all the cars in the power steering section are endurance cars made to run at least 3 hours (24 hours for a few of them). Can you imagine trying to saw away at a manual rack with 300-width front tires for three or four 3-hour stints?! Now I know someone is going to say that "my car is only an HPDE car and it's only out for 20 minutes at a time". Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Everything to F1 has power steering on it for a reason.
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no p/s. although my reason has nothing to do with steering feel or being girly.
all track Miata, sooner or later (within a year or 2), power steering hose / pump will fail and leak. power steering fluid is more flammable than gasoline, and are located on the hot side. not a good thing when it happens.
all track Miata, sooner or later (within a year or 2), power steering hose / pump will fail and leak. power steering fluid is more flammable than gasoline, and are located on the hot side. not a good thing when it happens.
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I have a factory manual rack and it feels great. I can't compare to a power setup as I've never driven one, but I don't see any reason to ever want PS based on how responsive the manual setup is.
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Hondas are a whole different ball game. I've driven a manual steering hatch and the suspension geometry makes it much harder to steer. The steering effort on a depowered miata vs. a manual honda is night and day. I would keep PS at all costs on most any honda, but would never go back to PS in my miata.
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So Larimer - we're not that far apart, and I make it down to Cincy several times a year. Maybe this summer we could get together and swap cars for a brief drive and see if we'd wanna swap racks. Just a thought, I'm pretty happy with the PS at the moment.
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Yeah that'd be cool. I've driven with a power rack, just not a depowered rack. I don't know the exact difference for the ratio, but if it's quicker and still the same effort I don't see why I wouldn't swap it.
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