removing power steering?

[tasty danish]

has anyone entertained the idea of removing the power steering assemblies on these cars and draining/capping the rack to make it manual steering?
how much of a ****** do you think it'd be to live with?

 

[ManySHOs]

I ran out of gas on an entrance ramp and the car shut down. I needed to use all of my might just to turn the wheel to keep from running into the curb and off into the grass. It was a real workout. Lucily there was a gas station at the bottom of the ramp and I just rolled in and got gas!

Why would you want to ditch the power steering?

Ian

 

[PAracer]

If you want to make it work, you'll need steering wheel from a school bus. Adjusting caster to zero would also help.

 

[SinisterSHO]

Just get a non-vaps rack. You'll be happy.

 

[tasty danish]

i do have a non vaps rack.
typically, i like the feel of manual racks over power assist, but i usually have them in lighter cars.
the mount for my power steering fluid reservoir rusted through so it fell onto the belt and got sawed.
now i know i could get replacements for everything and it'd all work out fine, but while i'm at it, i considered doing this to make things a little simpler and possbily improve my enjoyment (seeing as how i like manual racks better).

 

[gmorrell]

The engine stalling really isn't a fair test of what manual steering feels like, as the rack is trying to push fluid back through the PS pump, and the pump will resist fluid flow in the wrong direction.

I would strongly suggest leaving some fluid in the rack and running some lines to a small catch can, or just looping the inlet back to the outlet on the rack. Some early Taurus racks had a check valve in either the inlet or outlet port (can't remember...), just under the fitting, you're going to want to remove this. Either method will allow fluid to move easily in both directions and will keep the rack internals bathed in lubrication. Looping the lines on the rack is a common Fox chassis Mustang mod when deleting the power steering on the cheap; cheap meaning you don't want to go buy an expensive manual rack from Flaming River.

The Taurus has a lot of weight on the front tires, if you do this, you may want to add some more sets to your upper body workout.

 

[tasty danish]

The engine stalling really isn't a fair test of what manual steering feels like, as the rack is trying to push fluid back through the PS pump, and the pump will resist fluid flow in the wrong direction.

I would strongly suggest leaving some fluid in the rack and running some lines to a small catch can, or just looping the inlet back to the outlet on the rack. Some early Taurus racks had a check valve in either the inlet or outlet port (can't remember...), just under the fitting, you're going to want to remove this. Either method will allow fluid to move easily in both directions and will keep the rack internals bathed in lubrication. Looping the lines on the rack is a common Fox chassis Mustang mod when deleting the power steering on the cheap; cheap meaning you don't want to go buy an expensive manual rack from Flaming River.

The Taurus has a lot of weight on the front tires, if you do this, you may want to add some more sets to your upper body workout.

thanks for such a good response. that sounds pretty close to what guys do with rx-7s, i'm just sort of leery with how different the sho is, i'm afraid it's really be a pain in the ass.
you think it'd be livable as a daily driver?

 

[SuperchargedSHOguy]

you think it'd be livable as a daily driver?

**** no. Too heavy of a car to screw around with. Try making evasive maneuvers with the lack of powersteering

 

[pjtoledo]

You didn't mention what year your Sho was. Some years, GEN IIs in particular, have a sliding arrangement to absorb crash impact that is not strong enough to use without power assist. Without power assist that slider distorts and you get an inch or two of play in the steering wheel. Then you would have both difficult steering, and tricky steering.

Perry

 

[tasty danish]

You didn't mention what year your Sho was. Some years, GEN IIs in particular, have a sliding arrangement to absorb crash impact that is not strong enough to use without power assist. Without power assist that slider distorts and you get an inch or two of play in the steering wheel. Then you would have both difficult steering, and tricky steering.

Perry

it's a 92, sorry, didn't think that'd make too much of a difference. i guess it's sounding like i'll have to keep it.

poo.

 

[silversho89]

I hope you dont have to do much parallel parking. BTW, where do you live in Missouri? I live here too.

Rob

 

[tasty danish]

gladstone, by KC.
if anyone is getting together make sure to clue me in.

 

[silversho89]

Well Fricker66 and I are planning a march get together right now. Problem for you is we live over on the other side of the state, St. Louis to be exact. But if you ever venture over here, or would even like to make our meet, let us know. Would be great to have you out.

Rob

 

[SolidState]

You didn't mention what year your Sho was. Some years, GEN IIs in particular, have a sliding arrangement to absorb crash impact that is not strong enough to use without power assist. Without power assist that slider distorts and you get an inch or two of play in the steering wheel. Then you would have both difficult steering, and tricky steering.

Perry

That is EXACTLY what happened to my 91....although, I never knew exactly what it was at the time. I drove it for about 2 months without PS. When I fixed it, there was this certain vagueness in the steering that ultimately cause me to lose control on a snowy night in december, effectively ending the live of the car...