mojoriffic1

I am installing my Energy Suspension bushings (THANKS EMILIO!) on my turbo NA this weekend, and while I have it on the rack I am going to:


A. Depower the rack using the loop method (done it before)

B. Install the manual rack I have off another car


I have read on both, but I have never seen the question asked like this.


Which do you prefer, and why?

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

I like the power rack's ratio, so depowered power rack for me.

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

I just purchased a manual steering rack. The reason I went with the manual steering rack is that it is smaller/lighter then the depowered rack, also from what I have read, there is less resistance then a depowered rack.

I don't have any first hand experience, this is all just what I have heard, I can tell you for sure in about 2 weeks.

UrbanSoot

iTrader: (24)

i like power steering personally

miatamania

iTrader: (9)

This.

What do you mean lighter/smaller...?

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

I was told by the shop that I bought it from that it was smaller, as in diameter I think, as well as lighter, and that he will ship the mounting brackets that was used on the car because the p/s rack ones will not work. Like I said this is all what I have heard, I will have some comparison pictures when I have both out.

I can't imagine that a manual rack would be the same size/weight as the powered one. So this made sense to me. We will see I guess.

mojoriffic1

Thanks guys. From looking at the two racks, the manual one looks like it would be lighter b/c the housing is smaller, and fewer internal parts. I will try to take comparison shots too.

But I have decided my course of action. I am going to remove my power rack and most likely send it to Maval Mfg. to get it depowered. That is if they will weld the pinion gear when they depower it. I am doing this b/c I spoke with Emilio and he suggested that when depowering the rack you will get ultimate steering response when the pinion is welded b/c otherwise there is a small amount of "slop". This, and I am paraphrasing, is b/c the pinion in a power rack actuates a valve to direct fluid according to which way you are turning. Since you no longer need to direct fluid one way or the other, it is best to remove that from the steering system. I hope that makes sense.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I and all my friends run depowered racks and love it. Take caster out if the wheel is too hard to turn. I run 4* and I've driven 6* cars before and it was much more of a work-out.

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

So far fate has not let me depower a good rack, so I can't comment on the difference in feel between looped and truly depowered, but my new looped '97 rack (which I couldn't depower, but packed full of grease anyway) feels much better than my dirty '93 rack.

My caster's around 5.5*, I don't think it's all that difficult.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

you have to consider that our arms are like a glorious mountain range and most faegs on here rock spaghetti wimpy ****.

Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

I loved the de-powered rack on my 96....and that was with a 320mm steering wheel. It truely felt like a go-cart.

gospeed81

iTrader: (51)

Depower....just do it....never look back.

Unless you just don't like to listen to what your car is trying to tell you about the road.

I had PS, so was used to the ratio, and just looped the lines. At first a little tough under 5mph, but you learn to automatically turn the wheel just a little as you are rolling up to a stop, and a little time in the gym doesn't hurt when it comes to parking effort.

nicacus

iTrader: (7)

Depower.. I've had both looped and "proper" I couldnt tell the difference.

Having depowered steering also keeps people from wanting to drive your car, mostly because they are pussies. This alone is worth depowering.

BlownRoadster

iTrader: (1)

Another vote for depower. Love the quicker ratio.

Cspence

iTrader: (11)

Is this a pic of you hussla??

adamf

I de-powered mine by the FM method (cutting the seals out inside and plugging all the fittings) and I'm very happy with it.

l_bader

And yet another vote for depowering...

tann3r

iTrader: (6)

I'll put another vote for the depowered rack. I did the FM method and plugged the holes.

I'm running 6.5* of caster and its on the heavy side on the street (skinny azenis), but awesome on the track (big NT01s).

cardriverx

iTrader: (12)

Man, im excited to get my car back on to its wheels and try out the depowered rack.

zxc4

my old NA was looped and I did not like it. Why do you want to take out the PS?