Power steering delete.

[thumper3ld]

Anyone got a writeup on power steering delete? Since my power steering doesn't work, I guess I'll try and remove it.

[bmwman91]

I have considered doing the same. Here's the catch...you need to switch to a non-PS rack. The PS rack will inevitably fail without the assist...there is a little pin that switches the PS fluid pressure from 1 side of the rack to the other, and all the torsion through the steering column is transmitted through this little pin to the pinion gear. Without the assist, it'll shear off, and you'll be up a creek.

PS racks can be retrofitted from E21's, or bought from Euro E30's.

[dino245]

I purchased a Z3 rack and removed the hydraulic piston in side the rack that was used to apply force on the rack with the hydro pressure. If you look at the Pass. side of the rack between the outer tube and the gear driven part there is a snap ring. You remove this snap ring and then disassemble the pinion drive gear and then you can remove the long gear driven rack that attaches to the tie rods.

I know my explination is not very good and I did not take pictures but there is a writeup on how to do this on a Miata site.

I love not having power steering, and you realy dont need it on such a light car.

[kowalski]

can you post up a link, i took off my PS pulley and i'd like to finish the job off. i heard you can just join the 2 presure lines and that should work fine?d

[thumper3ld]

I heard the same thing, which is why I didnt think a manual rack was needed.

[dude8383]

can you post up a link, i took off my PS pulley and i'd like to finish the job off. i heard you can just join the 2 presure lines and that should work fine?d

i dont think thats a good idea man...i read that your ps pump will absolutely hate you for it. i remember i took mine of for ONE day, and shortly after that powersteering fluid spewed all over my driveway...and not to mention the belt started to make funny noises. the noises have since gone away as i have replaced the old belt with a new one..and filled the reservoir back up with fluid.

[kowalski]

i dont think thats a good idea man...i read that your ps pump will absolutely hate you for it. i remember i took mine of for ONE day, and shortly after that powersteering fluid spewed all over my driveway...and not to mention the belt started to make funny noises. the noises have since gone away as i have replaced the old belt with a new one..and filled the reservoir back up with fluid.

?? i think you missunderstood what i said... i don't have any powersteering right now, the pulley and belt are off of the pump.

[dude8383]

i had removed the just the belt...but i doubt taking of the pulley changes anything.

how long have you been running it like that? are you leaking any p/s fluid??

[bmwman91]

Hmmmm, I was under the impression that driving the already weak PS rack without the PS assist would break it. How long have you been PS'less for?

[nickmpower]

i just ran 2 lines from the tank to the rack, although i havent put fluid in the z3 rack yet, im not sure it even needs it

[thumper3ld]

Hmmmm, I was under the impression that driving the already weak PS rack without the PS assist would break it. How long have you been PS'less for?

I've been driving around w/o PS since I've had the car, which is about 4yrs now.

[bmwman91]

I've been driving around w/o PS since I've had the car, which is about 4yrs now.

Hmmm...well I guess it is OK to do then. I was always wary of doing i because of some advice I heard on BF.c years ago from someone very reputable. Perhaps I will try this!

[Zoso]

I'm also PS-less right now - but not by choice. My alternator belt broke and I had to take off the PS belt and the AC belt to get install the alternator belt. Ok - I actually cut them since it's cold out, I have no place to work on the car, it's dark out most of the time, and from what I read, installing the new belts is a bit of a pain.

I MUCH prefer power steering over no power steering for a daily driver car. I've noticed that the car has a much greater tendency to tram-line without power steering. That is, the car will get pulled into grooves in the pavement and it'll yank the car around. I feel like I'm fighting with the car part of the time without power steering. Then, it's a pain in the parking lots.

When I get a chance to work on my car, I'll definitely add the PS again. The addition feel isn't worth it for me.

For what it's worth, it's been ~4 months or so this time without the power steering belt. When I first got the car I went about 8 months before finally getting the hardware so the power steering pump could be secured properly and the belt would tighten. My rack is fine.

[kowalski]

I'm also PS-less right now - but not by choice. My alternator belt broke and I had to take off the PS belt and the AC belt to get install the alternator belt. Ok - I actually cut them since it's cold out, I have no place to work on the car, it's dark out most of the time, and from what I read, installing the new belts is a bit of a pain.

I MUCH prefer power steering over no power steering for a daily driver car. I've noticed that the car has a much greater tendency to tram-line without power steering. That is, the car will get pulled into grooves in the pavement and it'll yank the car around. I feel like I'm fighting with the car part of the time without power steering. Then, it's a pain in the parking lots.

When I get a chance to work on my car, I'll definitely add the PS again. The addition feel isn't worth it for me.

For what it's worth, it's been ~4 months or so this time without the power steering belt. When I first got the car I went about 8 months before finally getting the hardware so the power steering pump could be secured properly and the belt would tighten. My rack is fine.


its a lot harder to have it rigged for PS and try to drive it then it is to have it rigged for no PS and drive it. i found that it didn't ram line nearly as much with no PS.

[2002maniac]

Hmmmm, I was under the impression that driving the already weak PS rack without the PS assist would break it. How long have you been PS'less for?

I have had my PS deleted on my stock rack for over a year with no problems. I have a Z3 rack that I need to find time to install.

[kowalski]

Hmmm...well I guess it is OK to do then. I was always wary of doing i because of some advice I heard on BF.c years ago from someone very reputable. Perhaps I will try this!

well as long as your moving its not that hard to turn, its once your stopped that there is substancial force on the wheel, so as long as you don't do too much turning when stopped you should be fine. most of probably don't turn while stopped anyways as its bad for the tires....;)

[Berlin]

just taking the belt off the pump will actually make it much harder to steer than had there not been a pump at all this is because you are trying to push fluid through a pump that is not moving, it's quite restrictive. i wish i could find that thread on e30tech again, the huge debate that happend about ps deletes, ill keep looking... anyway at the end it was conluded that its best to run the rack without anything, U the lines (not sure), and 1/3 fluid so there would be no pressure build up but some lubrication. someone confirm?
unrelated: hey 2002maniac is your z3 rack from a '96+ ?

[sic///M]

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14748
http://www.e30tech.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24788&highlight=power+steering+delete

[M42boy]

I purchased a Z3 rack and removed the hydraulic piston in side the rack that was used to apply force on the rack with the hydro pressure.
Hey Dino... Can you post a DIY or write up on the Z3 steering rack conversion. Now that the rest of my car is so much tighter, the stock E30 steering rack feels like it has a lot of play and sluggish (and, it never bothered me before).

I want to do an E36 or Z3 steering rack conversion BAD. :D

[Deutschbag]

Does the manual rack have more turns lock-to-lock? The PS rack already has too many turns, so if a manual rack has even more turns to compensate for the lack of power assist, you'd be spinning the wheel like 4 times to make a u-turn.

[nickmpower]

z3 rack with no PS is the only way to go