running with no power steering

General engine questions/issues that aren't specific to the other categories
 Reply

running with no power steering

By gaz_1
- Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:05 pm #77727 this a question for the one's that have removed there power steering, have you replace the rack with a non power steering one or just blocked up the pipe's?
User avatar

By teal_dx
- Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:23 am #77743 either will work, but don't block the pipes. You'll be fighting the pressure when turning because air/coolant can no longer pass. you can add a breather or run a tube to a small tank of Power Steering fluid and then out a breather on top of that if you want to be sure you keep the rack 100% lubricated.

If you use just a breather, it would be a good idea to put some fluid in the rack from time to time so it doesn't get too dry. Going dry will cause it to wear out and get loose.

By blind monkey
- Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:40 am #78041 why not just connect the two ports on the rack with a rubber hose so its closed system?
User avatar

By teal_dx
- Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:07 am #78050 Mine had 3 ports. I looped the outer 2 and put a breather on the middle one.

If yo make the system completely closed, steering would be hard because the air/fluid in the system would be fighting itself when you turned.
User avatar

By lopez286
- Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:23 am #78055
teal_dx wrote:Mine had 3 ports. I looped the outer 2 and put a breather on the middle one.

If yo make the system completely closed, steering would be hard because the air/fluid in the system would be fighting itself when you turned.


i second that :thumb:
User avatar

By suspendedHatch
- Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:18 pm #78081
teal_dx wrote:either will work, but don't block the pipes. You'll be fighting the pressure when turning because air/coolant can no longer pass. you can add a breather or run a tube to a small tank of Power Steering fluid and then out a breather on top of that if you want to be sure you keep the rack 100% lubricated.


:thumb:

You can go ahead and drain the fluid out of the rack. Gravity draining will only remove MOST of it and leave you with enough to lubricate the system. Then you will need a vented breather system exactly as teal described. Re-using the PS resevior works well (drill a hole in the top). You'll know if you have too much fluid still in the rack (or too small of a resevoir, or too small of a vent) if when you turn the rack all the way the fluid will blast out like a geyser. It doesn't happen in your driveway when you're testing it but when you're driving to work and the fluid gets hot from lots of turning.
 Reply
Return to Engine - General