Power steering to manual conversion

[GMLive]

So no steering damper now?

I assume you mean the yellow bumper foam on the bulkhead? that was half missing when I bought the car so just removed it, cant seem to find a new one, my toyota dealer can't get them and second hand ones are going to be fragile like my old one was, I suppose I could make one

[_Al_]

No, I meant this...

[GMLive]

The manual racks dont have dampers buddy, only power steering has that, you couldn't even use the power rack damper because the spines are different, dont forget non power racks were rev 1, this is a rack taken from a rev 1

[_Al_]

Didn't know that. Learn something new every day. I assumed that there'd be more need for a damper in a non-PAS system.

[GMLive]

Didn't know that. Learn something new every day. I assumed that there'd be more need for a damper in a non-PAS system.

The only difference ive noticed is manual racks are very direct and not springy feeling as the power racks, the force feedback I get now is brilliant and it tucks in and out of the bends much better, its a good job done

[madbasshunter]

My rev2 with a manual rack had one

[GMLive]

My rev2 with a manual rack had one

I stand corrected if that is for a manual rack, but I cant see how that U Joint could operate freely because the U Joint operates right with in the hole you have to cut its a lot lower down than power racks version.

Have you got a picture of it on your car because id be intrested to see it.

[madbasshunter]

Sorry I haven't got a picture in the car as its in my spares in the garage
I removed it from this 92 fe

The one on the left is from a rev3 with pas and the one on the right from a rev2 manual rack

I will have a look at my rev1 next

[KeischiiFan]

Hi,
This is all VERY interesting to me, as I've always had old Opel Mantas (B & C series) and Asconas (B-series)and fitted the 2.4 quick-racks instead of the standard 3.6 turns item. I do have some meat on my upper-arms, I've always preferred non-assisted to power-steer. I'm converting my Alfa-Romeo 75 to non-assisted, which will also facilitate the supercharger installation I plan for it. My long-winded pre-amble over, I actually have a question - is there a specific power-steering pump on the engine (mine is a n/a Rev 5 'Sonic-Shadow') - and does removing it give any power rise, at all? On the Alfa, a good deal of weight is trimmed, and a handful of horses liberated by removing the power-assistance junk.

[madbasshunter]

Well strangely the rev1 doesn't have one yet the rev2 without pas and rev3 with pas do

so I don't need to keep one for a spare

[GMLive]

Well strangely the rev1 doesn't have one yet the rev2 without pas and rev3 with pas do

so I don't need to keep one for a spare

Yea I thought the rev 1 looked like that, if you look the steering well where the U Joint bolts onto the rack is a lot deeper on none power steering MR2's, PAS mr2's are a lot shallower and because of that there is now way on earth a not power rack steering column with damper would operated because of it's size, you would have to cut a massive hole out if you did want the damper but it would look untidy as you wouldn't find a boot or seal big enough to seal off the off the rack against the body and you would have to do that because the U Joint would be exposed to the elements like dust, water etc, on mine I used a steering gaiter worked a treat.

[GMLive]

Hi,
is there a specific power-steering pump on the engine (mine is a n/a Rev 5 'Sonic-Shadow') - and does removing it give any power rise, at all? On the Alfa, a good deal of weight is trimmed, and a handful of horses liberated by removing the power-assistance junk.

As far as I know all power steering pumps on the SW20's are electric and operated with in the frunk buddy.

Having removed everything associated with Power steering including it's ECU's I've trimmed mega weight from the car, I notice the weight difference when driving it's a lot more quicker off the mark and better up hills.... I put all the power steering parts I took off into a bag and you wouldn't believe the weight there, even the power power rack weighs twice as much as the manual

[KeischiiFan]

w0w$er! My eyebrows just raised a full 3 inches! Now all I need is a WickFuts' Guide, with words and ph0t0s, on how to do this right.first.time. - with specific details of what I need to buy (i.e. Rev2 rack and shorter/longer track-rod ends/ball-joints, poly-bushes, etc. etc.) and if you have part-numbers or a reliable source, so much the better - it does seem crazy to me to have power-steer on this car, and weight-reduction? Yes please! I'm fitting a smaller, 11Kg lighter battery in my Alfa when I get it back, but may debut it in the MR2. I'm already feeling the car as lighter having fitted 4.5Kg bucket seats, and I see a pair of fibreglass doors on eBay... This could get obsessive & expensive real quick. ;-)

[KeischiiFan]

Hi Clive,
I've tried to pm you, not sure why it hasn't left my outbox. Yes please on that, and any info you have on whatever else you'd recommend that I need to fit/remove/upgrade in relation to going Manual steering - all advice gratefully recieved. I'll get my work postcode tomorrow and have you send it there.
Cheers, Neal Mc.