Depowered steering rack
 

* Here is a quick video I made of the process. It's fairly simple but takes the better part of a day to complete. Also you will need an alignment afterwards with this method. Not sure if there is a better method where an alignment isn't required.


So I just got finished depowering my steering rack. I used some of Fly'n Miata and MotoIQ's write ups for it.

Everything is pretty straight forward. I was able to weld the pinion with .035 wire on my Miller Weld Pack 100 MIG. Settings at C and wire speed ~1.5 and it turned out ok, after some grinding. I do have a question though. There is a tension spring located in front of the pinion housing. I assume this spring is there to provide friction to the power steering so it's not just a limp noodle in your hand and gives some sort of resistance (force) to your inputs. Circled in red in the image.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1447284397

Anyway, is this spring necessary in a depowered rack? My car will be down for about another month so I can't really test it myself, but it seems like another friction point that could be removed.

it keeps the rack pressed against the pinion. I assembled my rack without the piece to the springs right in your pic and the rack had considerable play until i realized my fuck up and put everything in correctly

Awesome to know! Would have sucked to figure that out a month from now and the car back together.