Does anyone know if there is a manual steering rack available, or how to de-power the rack? Will de-power give me more precise steering/ feel on the track?
What do you mean exactly by depowering? Just removing power steering belt (and the pump, to save weight), or doing some internal mods as well in the steering rack? If you just remove the belt, it will be stupidly, undriveably heavy I "tried" it, lost the belt on a track last year. Not good at all, even at higher speeds, and a nightmare in parking lots.
I guess modify? I would think you would be fighting the fluid pressure if you just removed the belt. I want a manual feel for precise track driving. There is some play in the p/s racks, pretty much all Toyota's for comfort feel. Honda has great steering feel, but that may be due to the layout of the rack? Theirs sit up high and connect through the top of the knuckle.
then you'll have to do what jwanger did.....he tore his apart and removed certain things, which i cant remember right now.......he'll pop in to give you a link to his thread or just search for his build thread in the your rides section.
Here is what I did to mine, and just filled it half way with fluid, works great and I don't mind the slightly higher effort. Then again it is used just for track events..... racerb
I drive it on the street maybe a dozen times a yr. I was using it to drag, but I am doing my 1st track day with it at NHMS end of June beginning of July. I will probably end up doing road racing with it. While on the track and moving, it shouldn't be any real resistance to turning, just better feel right?
The power steering on nearly every Toyota I've ever owned has leaked or had pump issues. This eliminates both those issues and the power robbed at the engine, plus it doesn't steer bad at all! Nearly every single Spec Miata that races with us has the exact same set-up as my car, fluid lines just forming a closed loop with partially filled lower pressure lines for lubrication....... racerb
I give this a try? I am doing my first COMSCC.org event on 6/29-71. I may see how it feels with p/s this time, but I know it is not as responsive. I had replaced all line when I rebuilt my car yrs ago, so no leaks. I just want a better feel. Thanks
DO IT!!!! -hands down the best mod ive done to the car. steering is precise and feel is direct. i swear your "oversteer" will be gone. lol. -you could go either way to get there. the theory against looping the lines is that you still have to push the fluid and seals around. if youd like i could dig up the link on how to gut the rack. its easy. you can then have a good (like needs to be tits) welder weld the rest of the slop out of the linkage inside the rack. -i never tried looping the lines so i dont know the difference feel wise. another interesting thing i found out was that a manual rack actually takes more turns (usually 4) to get to full lock. P.S. racks only take 2.5. so if you gut a p.s. rack it then becomes a manual quick rack. -a final warning....parallel parking will become a last resort. -edit: as to the original question.. no nothing direct. sw20 manual MAY if you found the proper inner/outer setup.
Found this again from Flyin' Miata, it shows how to de-power a steering rack the easy way and the hard way! I have already done the easy way, now with the spare rack I've got on hand, I'm thinking of trying the hard way knowing full well our rack is not exactly the same design. http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php?x=1 I'll try to do a full write-up with pictures when I get around to doing this and let you guys see how it's done! racerb :eng101
pretty much it. i used that as one of my guides. iirc on mine i had the rack seal taken of with a lathe. also the pinion and seal bit is actually 2 pieces held together with a pin. i had that welded solid. -also note racks vary by rack manufacturer not car manufaturer. so same year, make, models could have various racks. but they are all very similar, you really have to open them up to know what you got. -edit.....heres a link to my thread. did a small write up. http://www.st162.net/forum/showthread.php?3305-quot-the-dog-quot-grille-filler/page15
What about steering rack damper? If manual rack turns from side to side in 4 turns, and PS rack in 2.5, the forces to wheel increase in repowered PS rack and in bigger hole or something on road you can lose the wheel and car control. I thing easiest way (Nr1) repowering steering rack, by linking channels and filed with fluid is better, because this linkage works like damper. Its just my 5 cents...
