remove steering power assist
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Greer, SC
The stock rack with tie rods weighs 37 pounds. Installing a manual rack could easily result in well over 20lbs of saving off the front of the car. I considered it, but I'm a big wuss -- scared of turning the 11in avon slicks. Im going to install a hydraulic rack this winter and run an electric pump setup. It should net at least 10-15 lbs savings.
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The ones you have been looking at, do they bolt up? Or how much fabrication is needed?
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,784
Likes: 2
From: Greer, SC
Undecided on the rack as yet. I have an FD rx7 rack that weighs 12lbs and a spare front subframe. It looks like, with fabricating mounts and changing the tie rods, that it would be a do-able swap, but I haven't gotten that far yet. Alternatively, flaming-river will build a custom rack to your specs, but it's pricey.
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Thank you for your advice and patience, its done, very easy, i only have to made a bushing at one end and what a difference, thank you man!
I have gutted the steering rack on my S2000 race car and find that it works great. I do not find the steering heavy, though I have never raced an S2000 with the power steering intact. I have a street S2000 and don't find the difference huge, but the race car is never on the street. I have not checked the castor yet, though I have been racing it for 2 years. (I bought a castor gauge early this year, but have not used it) I am used to racing a Triumph TR3, which has no castor adjustment and heavy steering, especially with 9 inch cantilever slicks. The S2000 is has lighter steering than the TR3.
On the track and going fast, I would not want the steering too light, but we each have our driving styles and preferences. The faster you go, the more slip there is and steering effort is less.
I had a cheepo aluminum steering wheel initially, but replaced it after racing at New Hampshire Motorsports Park last year. We bent the wheel. Probably would not have happened with power steering. I have a Sparco wheel since then and it is still straight.
The stock box is very heavy. I weighed it before and after, but did not write it down. My recollection is that it was significant (20# plus)
I would not gut the box with a street car. Not only would you have possible DOT issues or liability in the of a serious accident, but low speed parking lot maneuvers would likely be difficult.
On the track and going fast, I would not want the steering too light, but we each have our driving styles and preferences. The faster you go, the more slip there is and steering effort is less.
I had a cheepo aluminum steering wheel initially, but replaced it after racing at New Hampshire Motorsports Park last year. We bent the wheel. Probably would not have happened with power steering. I have a Sparco wheel since then and it is still straight.
The stock box is very heavy. I weighed it before and after, but did not write it down. My recollection is that it was significant (20# plus)
I would not gut the box with a street car. Not only would you have possible DOT issues or liability in the of a serious accident, but low speed parking lot maneuvers would likely be difficult.
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It was really not a good solution, beside that it was a complicated solution, the main problem is the feedback, anywhere you will modifiy the electric power steering, it will do nothing for feedback problem, the reason why i de-powered my stock ap1 rack, electric system create to much lost of feed back, restrictions and effort, you will only have more effort on the system if it work, whant i doubt.
Gutt the rack or install fd rx7 rack de-powered is the only way to go to acheive thi goal!
And it was very simple, believe me!
Gutt the rack or install fd rx7 rack de-powered is the only way to go to acheive thi goal!
And it was very simple, believe me!
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 287
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It was really not a good solution, beside that it was a complicated solution, the main problem is the feedback, anywhere you will modifiy the electric power steering, it will do nothing for feedback problem, the reason why i de-powered my stock ap1 rack, electric system create to much lost of feed back, restrictions and effort, you will only have more effort on the system if it work, whant i doubt.
Gutt the rack or install fd rx7 rack de-powered is the only way to go to acheive thi goal!
And it was very simple, believe me!
Gutt the rack or install fd rx7 rack de-powered is the only way to go to acheive thi goal!
And it was very simple, believe me!
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Joined: May 2011
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You remove all electric component in the rack, if not, it will be lots hard to turn and not have the lighter feeling. You unplug the EPS module under the hood and remove EPS fuse to avoid EPS light. When all remove, included the magnets in the case, the rack is approx 10lbs lighter and so easy to turn.