Depowering Rack - How to ensure all fluid is drained from the rack?
 

Hi everyone,

After speaking with Tom from Parts Group, I've made the decision to simply drain all the fluid out of the rack and either loop the lines or removing the lines and replacing them with bolts from my local hardware store.

Doing the second one would require me to ensure the rack is completely drained of fluid. I know there are tons of threads on depowering the steering rack, and maybe I'm overthinking it, but do you guys know of any way to ensure the rack gets completely drained of the fluid?

Perhaps opening up the lines, turning the steering column one way overnight, turning it the other way overnight, or hanging it upside down would work?

Thanks.

You dont want the rack completely devoid of fluid, what would lubricate the pinion gear and the rack?

I guess its more along where to draw the line between too little fluid to lubricate the rack, and too much fluid causing excess resistance?

Well optimally you'd have the rack completely disassembled in order to remove the seals, which would let you clean all the fluid out and replace it with grease.

From what I've read, there is hardly a difference in feel between looping the lines/capping the holes vs the FM method involving seal removal.

Then you read wrong.

Savington suggested just looping the lines in several of the threads I've read, and has done so in several of his cars. I'm pretty sure hes knows what hes talking about.

One causes an air lock so quite a bit difference.

I've done it both ways on my street car and noticed quite a bit of difference. Gutted is nicer.

Which process did you guys use to depower them? Here are two tutorials on how to do it - while the concept remains the same, one requires the use of a welder while the other doesn't. In fact, both are Miata power steering racks, but appear quite different.

Project Miatabusa Part 5 - De-Powering the Steering

Flyin' Miata : Tech: 1.8 conversion

Yeah teh FM tutorial does not weld the shaft so you'll end up with a little bit of play.

Nothing wrong with some shaft play :party: Steering should be nice and tight however.

Did we just finish a depower thread without a weld/don't weld pinon debate?


:giggle:

I just finished doing mine 2 days ago on my 91. It was easy even though I never had a rack completely apart before. I did the full gut as per FM. I just cut all lines off and crimped close, then used a hammer and pinned them over. The only thing I had to come up with is the bolt that feeds the rack that is hollow. I used 2 copper crush washers and a large nut with that stock bolt and it was done. Granted the correct size bolt would work but I used what I had. I am cheap!!