Power Steering Yeah or Nay

[87turbo_turtle]

I personally dont like Power Steering. But what do you guys think?? I prefer taking curves as fast as I can with no over or understeer.

[Whizbang]

well seeing the rx7 power steering is designed to turn off after "low" speeds, i dont think it really matters. Its a little nicer for just driving around, but compared to a manual rack turbo II i had, the "at speed" performance seems the same. I would just stick with what ever has the better lock to lock ratio rack wise.

[87turbo_turtle]

yeah true... The powersteering is still on my 7

[WE3RX7]

Total choice really and what kind of driving you prefer.

Personally, I ditched it. My SE has the 15.4:1 PS rack that I depowered the cheap way years ago, and it was still tolerable to drive around parking areas but not great. I'm getting the S5 17:1 rack next, still depowering it though.

Power steering acts like a buffer wether its "engaged" at a certain speed or not - I can't tell what the tires are doing w/ PS, or at least not as well. That plus the saved weight and less parasitic draw makes it a win in my book.

It would be even better to swap in a manual rack with the 20:1, but i dont have access to one nor do some of the aftermarket parts (IE: angle spacers) fit on the manual racks.

Just food for thought.

[josh18_2k]

it kinda depends on what you're doing with the car, and how much tire you have.
i autocross, and have 255 A032R's up front with a 20:1 manual rack.. F that! i'm getting PS over the winter for sure. in tight corners, the 20:1 rack is just too slow, and yet the steering effort is brutal.
if you're just on 205 street tires or whatever, you'll prolly prefer a manual rack. in which case i'd suggest the 17:1 depowered S5 rack (2 hole rack from low end S5's)

[WE3RX7]

Fat tires in Auto-x would suck without PS... but for the road course, fat tires and no PS does just fine :)

Although, I'd love to get the electric PS like an rx8. I have no trouble with the 8s power steering system.

[Phoenix7]

No PS:
It's a BITCH with wider tires.
Parallel parking is a lot harder but doable.
Anything over 5 mph and you can't tell the difference.
I feel the road more

PS:
the opposite of above.
I think it allows the driver too much room to over-correct.
If you have to paralel park a lot then keep PS.

[MaczPayne]

Funny how some people can never get their hands on a manual rack :)

I can't seem to find anything but manual racks.

I've driven an FC with PS only once, and it was an odd feeling. Felt like I was playing Crusin' USA on the arcade machines in 6th grade.

I agree, Parallel Parking can be tough especially with wider tires, but that forced me to become good at it, doing it with the least steering input possible, haha.

Auto-x's are pretty demanding with a manual rack, but I figured if I could strengthen my arms more, I could handle it better. It's worked pretty good so far!

[firzen]

I haven't drove a manual yet but I think for our cars given the suspension geometry and weight, it's probably a good idea.

I'm actually curious about the differences between the speed-sensing PS and the rpm-sensing PS. Has anybody ran both of them before? What are the differences in terms of driving ease/control?

[RETed]

Power steering has nothing to do with understeer or oversteer.

I'd rather not have PS.

I can drive an FC running up to 255's up front with no PS.
Running over 255 wide up fronts is a whole nother ballgame.


-Ted

[My5ABaby]

well seeing the rx7 power steering is designed to turn off after "low" speeds, i dont think it really matters. Its a little nicer for just driving around, but compared to a manual rack turbo II i had, the "at speed" performance seems the same. I would just stick with what ever has the better lock to lock ratio rack wise.
As far as I know, only some 7's came with the speed sensitive power steering that turns off (or lessens or something) at higher speeds.

[Whizbang]

i believe its actually more a S4 vs. S5 thing since most of the S4s i have noticed it to be a speed relation where as S5s tend to be RPM. I prefer the speed sensing one. Currently, i like my P/S. I really have no reason to remove it. Now my FB has no P/S and i like it. The GSLSE power steering sucks.

[classicauto]

I've been debating it, and reached the following conclsions having driven the following setups:

S4 TII power steering (speed sensitive)
S5 N/A power steering (don't know what it was sensitive too, was my first RX)
Depowered power S5 TII
True manual rack S4 N/A with 225 series tires.

If you want manual, go to a TRUE manual rack. The depowered unit has just a little too much effort for my liking, and the unit in question was a *true* depowered version, had the little "piston" removed from the center, the whole ball of wax.

I found a manual rack on here and it'll be going into my FC over the winter....along with too much other shit that I don't have time for :lol:

[WE3RX7]

I know where I can get a manual rack somewhat locally, but the probablem is I also have a new steering angle kit that supposedly won't work with it. I am curious as to what the difference really is and if I could make them work somehow.

[yeti]

Was the rack depowered like Titanium's? I thought about depowering mine like that.. So I bought a spare.. Now I'm thinking about just fixing my current power rack.. The boot is busted and so I have been just driving it depowered with very very little fluid left. It's easy it's just sometimes it's a pain and makes driving the car less fun.

[Whizbang]

just go to the parts store and buy a steering rack.

[classicauto]

I know where I can get a manual rack somewhat locally, but the probablem is I also have a new steering angle kit that supposedly won't work with it. I am curious as to what the difference really is and if I could make them work somehow.

The inner tie rods are different between power and manual racks.

[SpooledupRacing]

IMO if the car is power steering and it works fine
if it is manual steering keep it manual
if it is broeken power steering go manual

[My5ABaby]

Or go with the speed sensitive rack which is the best of both worlds. :D

[87turbo_turtle]

I personally prefer manual tranny's with manual steering
I was just trying to get ya'lls opion

[Phoenix7]

LIES!! I hear you drive an automatic with 2 PS pumps! :lol:

I'm bored. I think I need coffee.

[SpooledupRacing]

lol P7 thats good. lol

I do think that manual rack gives u the best feel for the road/course

and of course M/T

[TehMonkay]

My car is an 86 base with the manual rack, my first car was the same. My 87 GXL had PS, liked the steering ratio alot more but didn't like the feel.

Thus I am depowering my 87 GXL's rack and doing it the right way with that car.

[firzen]

Just to confirm: S4 power steerings were all rpm-sensing and all S5s except S5 Turbo IIs had the speed-sensing systems. Am I correct?

[87turbo_turtle]

ok phoenix when we finally get to meet... we are going to have it out...LOL No really I love manual steering. The control of the car is so much better. I can take curves faster with out worring about any thing. My Del Sol did not have power steering and it rocked. But now that I drive the freaken Millenia which is an auto with power steering it SUCKS ASS REALLY BAD

[classicauto]

Just to confirm: S4 power steerings were all rpm-sensing and all S5s except S5 Turbo IIs had the speed-sensing systems. Am I correct?

Other way around, plus there were still a few excpetions/oddballs around the switch over (88,88.5's)

[WE3RX7]

ok phoenix when we finally get to meet... we are going to have it out...LOL No really I love manual steering. The control of the car is so much better. I can take curves faster with out worring about any thing. My Del Sol did not have power steering and it rocked. But now that I drive the freaken Millenia which is an auto with power steering it SUCKS ASS REALLY BAD

You shouldnt compare those two, lol. Having a little two seater light weight car w/out PS vs a heavier saloon like the millenia w/ PS would be a huge difference in the corners regardless of steering system, lol..


Second note - Del Sol's don't rock :)

[TehMonkay]

89 GTU - Engine Speed
89 GXL Turbo Vert GTUs - Road speed
90 GTU GXL Vert - Engine Speed
90 Turbo GTUs - Road Speed
91 coupe Vert - engine Speed
91 Turbo - Road Speed

S4 does not list the type

[Jarred]

Power steering is for sissy boys with no muscle!

[87turbo_turtle]

agreed Jarred if this chic likes manual steering then power steering is for sissy boys