Re: Power Steering without the pump????

Me too.
Jim

 

Many newer cars have electrically powered power steering racks. Is that what you saw?

 

I did this for years in college. My main concern was speed back then. My big tube headers hit the power steering lines, so we cut them off and took off the pump. I was running a 3.5 inch rally wheel up front at the time, so I didn't have any issues. Doing a motor swap one weekend, I borrowed a manual steering box. It felt the same to me on the road. Later we swapped the powerless power steering box back in and I drove it like that until I stored the car 20 years ago.

 

Masochism fer shure, man.

. A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.

Likely because manual steering boxes are somewhat scarce.

 

Well, we're not talking about removing the pump and therefore have NO power steering, we're talking about power steering without the pump. As Keith said, many new cars have electric powered steering. Our 13 Camaro does.

 

The power ratios are typically faster then the manual for a reason. Its much harder to steer a fast ratio box then a slow one. I switched from manual to power after 11 years of dealing with it. After throwing the power steering belt at the drags and having to make it 30 miles home i learned it was much tougher to steer then my old manual box.

 

I ran my car with a BB and a fast ratio PS box for years without a pump. It didn't steer too bad.... unless you were sitting still. Ah, to be young and dumb again.

 

No worries now we just make different mistakes, Ah to be old and dumb.

 

I more thought to add to the conversation. There is a piston inside your power gear. When you steer your car the piston moves back and forth inside the gear housing. If there is any power steering fluid left inside the gear, when you steer, the piston will try and push the fluid out through the return hose port (the one closest to the input shaft - NOT the port next to the aluminum top cover.)

If you try and plug the return port, you can cause a hydraulic lock inside the gear. If the fluid has no place to go, the piston can be locked by a solid wall of fluid.

You also don't want to just leave both gear ports open. This will allow moisture, dirt, etc to get inside the gear and cause corrosion.

So it is best to make a recirc hose assembly. One that directly connects the return port to the pressure port on the gear. (Like a "U"). This will allow power steering fluid to easily flow from one side of the piston to the other.

One other thing, power steering fluid also acts as a lubricant to the metal sliding parts inside the power gear. You really don't want a completely dry gear where things can scrape and gouge from non-lubricated parts sliding against each other.

Jim