I have looped my power steering in my car due to leaking PS pump and I also have a manual rack (ae86 one, not AE11) + steering column sitting in the basement.

question is, is it worth the hassle to swap out the looped setup for the manual setup?

am I going to notice much of a difference?

Thanks

The most reliable information I have been able to find says that an AE86
manual rack has 3.5 turns lock to lock, and a P/S rack has 3 turns. So the
P/S rack is quicker, but will be harder to turn.

By comparison, a Quaife quick rack (manual) has 2.5 turns lock to lock.

Cheers... jondee86

Tried most combinations, manual rack with manual knuckles, manual rack p/s knuckles, quick rack etc.
Currently I'm using a stock p/s set up but when trying to find an odd vibration I removed the p/s pump belt, the vibration remained but the steering felt really nice in my opinion.

Is it the pump itself leaking, or one of the hoses? NAPA and other auto stores, as well as some truck shops, can make hydraulic cables all day long, for pretty cheap.

Never took apart a ps pump, but I imagine that the seals aren't that crazy to replace either.

As far as steering feel, I got my first GT-S with a depowered/looped rack. AutoX was brutally exhausting. got a PS pump and lines, installed them, started getting FTD. i didn't think that it was bad at all originally, at least for daily driving. But once I got powered, I didn't realize what I was missing, it's SO much better. There might be a slight dilution of the feedback/vibration, but it is insignificant compared to the control and precision you gain.

At least, that's how it is for me.

--sarge

thanks for the feedback.
I guess going back to PS is not an option because I tried 2 re-man ps pump and they all leaked so I gave up and looped it.

Jondee86,
I guess if I swapped out the looped PS setup for manual, the only gain I get is easier to turn........
can I compensate that by adjusting the caster to a non-ps spec?

When it comes to the question of de-powering P/S racks, I stay on the fence

There are may people who have done this by several different methods, and
as far as I can see, it has not lead to a massive number of accidents or steering
failures. However, when you consider that the P/S rack is designed to be used
with an operating P/S pump (which takes most of the steering effort off the
steering mechanicals), de-powering the rack WILL place more load on the internal
mechanical components.

Some people claim that this is a recipe for disaster. Have a read of this link...
http://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/help-proper-way-remove-power-steering-892105/page2/#post9878641

I don't believe in taking risks with critical safety components in a car, So my
recommendation to you would be either keep the P/S system operating, or pull
it out and use your manual steering setup. Your car... your choice

Cheers... jondee86

The actual loads from steering inputs into either a manual or PS rack are insufficient compared to side impact loads that the suspension engineer has to take into consideration when design a rack. Dave W

If you drift the car put the manual in. It has more 'turns' as it has more travel, which means more angle.

But depowered vs manual rack, the manual will be easier to turn. But not by much iirc.

Andrew

got it, thanks for all the inputs