TECH: Power steering conversion and A/C Removal

[Cp1]

the bearing on the shaft actually acts as a piston in the power steering setup where there is a fluid chamber on either side, the power steering fluid acts on this bearing to "assist" the force required to turn the wheels. without the bearing you can turn the wheel without compressing fluid or in this case, air, which would preventing any turning whatsoever if you just removed and plugged the hardlines. the alternative is a "loop line" which connects the two chambers together via a hose this just allows fluid to transfer from the left to the right and vice versa without removing the bearing. a loop line setup is really a half measure, plus it doesnt looks as neat or clean when done right.

Maval racks are essentially the exact same thing as i have described however they replace the cylinder that would normally contain the rack shaft with one that does not have any hard line bungs protruding from it. removing the cylinder from the pinion housing is actually much more difficult then you can imagine. ive done it once but without a proper press it is impossible to re-assemble it.