Power Steering

#1

Should it stay or should it go?

I’ve got some leaky hoses so it will cost $ to keep it. What are the advantages and disadvantages to keeping it vs. getting rid of it?

Thanks!
Steven

#2

Steven540i wrote:

[quote]Should it stay or should it go?

I’ve got some leaky hoses so it will cost $ to keep it. What are the advantages and disadvantages to keeping it vs. getting rid of it?

Thanks!
Steven[/quote]
I have taken it out of several E30’s…No regrets and I actually like the feel better. It is hard a low speed, like parking but in the race car I see no disadvantage.

#3

Will you be changing stering racks (from power steering ranck to non PS rack)? On E30, I never driven with non PS rack, but I heard that driving with non-working PS rack is less precise then driving with proper non PS rack.

Igor

#4

If I end up removing the PS system, my plan was to keep the existing rack, fill
it with ATF, cut the hose with about 1" of rubber left, plug the hoses with a bolt,
and then hose clamp the bolts in place.

Steven

#5

Bingo

#6

Don’t think you can change racks and stay legal. I don’t think any SO car was ever sold with a manual rack in the USA.

I never ran mine with power. It was great. Not bad in the pits as long as you are moving.

Nothing to leak, no belts to throw, lighter.

Cut the hoses, used a piece of tubing and some hose clamps to loop it back on itself. done.

DO it.

At least try it. Go and pull the belt and drive it around.

#7

Ok, so it’s been a little over a year now… Is everyone still happy with their choice to remove the power steering? Is filling it with ATF and looping the hose back on itself still the way to go?
I’m still in the build process and I’ve currently got things apart to replace the timing belt and water pump, so it would be a good time to pull it if it is the right thing to do.

#8

it is a personal decision - I’ve heard lots of comments about doing the loop-back thing to remove it, and some very experience racers say to leave it in to give yourself as much assistance as possible. It is not that hard to reach the hoses from the top if you decide to do it later.
bruce

rsott59 wrote:

[quote]Ok, so it’s been a little over a year now… Is everyone still happy with their choice to remove the power steering? Is filling it with ATF and looping the hose back on itself still the way to go?
I’m still in the build process and I’ve currently got things apart to replace the timing belt and water pump, so it would be a good time to pull it if it is the right thing to do.[/quote]

#9

I ended up emptying the rack and ‘looping the lines’ on the recommendation from very experienced mechanic. I made sure that rack teeth have proper amount on grease on them but that’s about it.

#10

I’ve driven with and without it. Personally I prefer driving with it on. You can make quicker corrections, it is less tiring to drive the car and I feel like I can be slightly more precise on where I place the car. That’s not to say I will eventually take it off but the only reason in my mind to run without it is to get the extra little hp. I’d like to know how much hp it is worth (2hp maybe?) but until I feel like I “have” to run without it, I will leave it alone.

#11

(Insert Racing Secret Here) In the rain, non-ps is far superior.

#12

I’ve never driven an E30 with working powersteering. Go figure.

#13

Thanks. The unscientific survey seems to be leaning in favor of no ps, but not strong enough to make me feel comfortable removing it just yet. I think I’ll try running with and without the belt first.
Bob

#14

I have removed the power steering from both of my race cars. Have not missed except when moving the car slowly around the paddock or garage area.

#15

andrew240z wrote:

I don’t miss it there either. :wink:

#16

rsott59 wrote:

[quote]Thanks. The unscientific survey seems to be leaning in favor of no ps, but not strong enough to make me feel comfortable removing it just yet. I think I’ll try running with and without the belt first.
Bob[/quote]

That’s what I did with my E30 DE car, I found it to be not all the different at speed (@ summit point it was fine even in the carousel), its just the really slow parking lot maneuvers that suck. As for power I can’t really say, but I did pick up 3 mpg on my last tank running with out, I’m not sure if that says how much power it takes to turn it or how bad of shape my PS pump is in :stuck_out_tongue: .