M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: doitover on September 04, 2009, 03:58:28 PM

Title: power steering delete
Post by: doitover on September 04, 2009, 03:58:28 PM
I"ll post this since I've looked for a definitive answer for a while myself and haven't found one.

I deleted the power steering pump a week or two ago from my 91 318is. The steering effort is greatly reduced over just removing the belt. I left the rack open since it was the easiest thing to do and a few people are doing it with no apparent issues.

It isn't like having power assist but I can now turn the wheel at a full stop without feeling the need to use both hands on one side of the wheel.

My battery is in the process of dying and it's replacement won't be here for a couple of weeks so I'm not too keen to give it a road test.

I weighed all the parts plus the fluid and it came to around 10 pounds.
Title: power steering delete
Post by: nickmpower on September 04, 2009, 04:18:19 PM
what is the question?
Title: power steering delete
Post by: doitover on September 04, 2009, 08:55:12 PM
The question was whether removing the pump reduced steering effort over having the pump with no belt installed. I think I've seen about an equal number of people that either didn't think there was a difference or that it wasn't significant to those that said it was a big improvement.

I'm in the latter camp, much easier without the pump hooked up.

Quote from: nickmpower;77913
what is the question?
Title: power steering delete
Post by: ose30 on September 05, 2009, 02:14:37 AM
Just sent your rack & other PS stuff to me, i'll send my manual rack to you... :)
Title: power steering delete
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on September 05, 2009, 07:11:51 AM
With the pump on there and the system closed you are fighting to manually push the fluid around.  With the rack off and the system open, you are not fighting the fluid's pressure.  At least that's my understanding of it.  What I've been told.
Title: power steering delete
Post by: ose30 on September 06, 2009, 10:17:27 AM
Quote
Just sent your rack & other PS stuff to me, i'll send my manual rack to you...

I was serious when i wrote this :)

I can arrange a totally rebuilt E30 manual steering with "fast" internal parts. That means there will be either 2.5 or 2.7 turns from lock to lock. I have core in my garage. I will start this only as exchange basis. I deliver this good as new (all internal parts are new) fast manual steering and i like to have back complete E30 power streeing system.

Here's some newly made fast steering parts:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/olli951/steering.jpg)

The company who make these have over 20 years experience modifying BMW ZF made racks.

PM if some of you are interested of this :)
Title: power steering delete
Post by: doitover on September 06, 2009, 08:53:15 PM
That's a good offer but I think the steering effort with what I think is the stock rack is about as high as I would want to go. I can whip into a parking space, but just barely.

Also, honestly if I took any more of this car apart before I actually drive it for more than a couple of weeks my wife would probably do me bodily harm.

Quote from: ose30;77993
I was serious when i wrote this :)

I can arrange a totally rebuilt E30 manual steering with "fast" internal parts. That means there will be either 2.5 or 2.7 turns from lock to lock. I have core in my garage. I will start this only as exchange basis. I deliver this good as new (all internal parts are new) fast manual steering and i like to have back complete E30 power streeing system.

Here's some newly made fast steering parts:

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/olli951/steering.jpg)

The company who make these have over 20 years experience modifying BMW ZF made racks.

PM if some of you are interested of this :)
Title: power steering delete
Post by: Choking Hazard on September 10, 2009, 08:56:48 PM
Ithink a little faster rate and no leaky PS would be a good swap.  PM sent!
Title: power steering delete
Post by: beta14ok on September 11, 2009, 11:26:53 AM
Quote from: ose30;77993
I can arrange a totally rebuilt E30 manual steering with "fast" internal parts. That means there will be either 2.5 or 2.7 turns from lock to lock. I have core in my garage. I will start this only as exchange basis. I deliver this good as new.............


bummer......I wish this was posted about 10 months ago!
Title: power steering delete
Post by: iamcreepingdeath on September 15, 2009, 11:18:52 AM
i took off my PS belt and now it it totally annoying to drive my car around at low speeds.  I can imagine this would suck at autocross.
Title: power steering delete
Post by: tjts1 on September 15, 2009, 06:47:07 PM
Quote from: iamcreepingdeath;78463
i took off my PS belt and now it it totally annoying to drive my car around at low speeds.  I can imagine this would suck at autocross.


Go to the gym. Draining the rack will reduce the effort required.
Title: power steering delete
Post by: neo1985 on September 29, 2009, 02:24:27 PM
Quote from: tjts1;78498
Go to the gym. Draining the rack will reduce the effort required.


indeed. hahahahaa
Title: power steering delete
Post by: doitover on September 29, 2009, 08:28:01 PM
I've driven mine enough now with the rack drained to know that above 5 mph there really isn't any difference in effort, just feel.

Below that it is harder to turn but if you aren't going back and forth between a car with ps and one without, you adjust.
Title: power steering delete
Post by: DesktopDave on October 04, 2009, 08:36:18 PM
I drained most of the fluid from mine too.  A little more effort, but not annoying.  I didn't remember my old Golf II being this hard though, must be middle age catching up with me!

If you pull the p/s pump, do you block the rack ports?  Or is everyone leaving them open?  I'd love to pull that plumbing out completely, I was thinking block-off plate...or some big stubby bolts.
Title: power steering delete
Post by: E30 Luck on June 13, 2011, 01:54:51 PM
Dave I thought you knew?? A guy in Florida makes a power steering delete block off for the rack that you use your stock banjo bolts with.. This makes it so the fluid in your rack circulates.. You take off all your lines ;)  I bought one just to lazy to Put it on yet..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320439537200&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT#ht_500wt_896
Title: power steering delete
Post by: stillmatick on June 14, 2011, 05:47:47 AM
Quote from: E30 Luck;104540
Dave I thought you knew?? A guy in Florida makes a power steering delete block off for the rack that you use your stock banjo bolts with.. This makes it so the fluid in your rack circulates.. You take off all your lines ;)  I bought one just to lazy to Put it on yet..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320439537200&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT#ht_500wt_896


thx,i might want to do this.