Manual Rack???
 

hello everyone!!

i have ben woundering if i should go with a manual rack or just stick with my power?
i dont drive my car everyday but a least 3 times a week and i dont take it to the track just once a year if i ma lucky i just wanted to clean my engine bay up a bit is it going to be worth it?

thanks mike

Re: Manual Rack???
 

Keep the power steering.

Re: Manual Rack???
 

yea what he said keep it the only thing i would get rid of is them smog pump.and if ur ac dont work get the delete kit if u already havent ...that wiil clean up alil bit but personally i love my ac and ill never get rid of it...good luck

Re: Manual Rack???
 

I never bought a "manual rack" I just got rid of all the hoses, and the pump. I do have skinnys up front ALL THE TIME. Mine drives as good as one could ask for. Ask your self this, How bad do I want to go fast? There are too routes to accomplish this MONEY & NO MONEY. I came up with no money, ran 11.68 @ 116 best ever. Ran 11s with several diff set ups. Now money is not the problem. When you truly answer YOURSELF, DO I WANT TO GO FAST? Things will fall into place for you. If others decide 3/4 of your decisions for you , How will YOU be happy? A bone stock motor in my car will run 12.50s because of the choices I have made, I regret none. 10 years ago a man asked me, Do YOU want to go fast? I said YES.

Re: Manual Rack???
 

well if ur broke then listen to him..manual rack will be eaier to steer than a power rack w/o a pump..if ur not racing the car dont take the p/s off ...is not worth it put the money in something else..buy a nitrous kit

Re: Manual Rack???
 

FWIW, I love my manual rack, the turning radius has improved and it's just as easy as power steering, only 20lbs lighter. I drive it on the street all the time. I replaced it because I went with a tubular K-member and had it off anyway, if your just starting the mods and like everyone else said if you want to go fast, start somewhere else. If you really just want to clean up the engine bay, it would help. Good luck.

Re: Manual Rack???
 

I put a manual rack on my car, drove it EVERYWHERE and LOVED it. Honestly that was one of the best performance upgrades I ever did to it. It handled better, steered better, and NONE of the "Fighting the steering wheel" that you're thinking. LITERALLY steered this thing with one hand at 120+ I will say that I had "skinnies" up front, but they were radials. Go to Pep boys and get tires for a VW bug! :rolleyes: But even making a right from a stop sign, it steered every bit as easy as power steering. Front rims weren't "recommended" for street use, but I had ZERO problems, other than the lug nutz wanting to loosen up from time to time. Pay attention to that, and you're gold.

Now that being said. Performance increase? I dunno! It almost HAS to be, just because it's lighter. But how much HP does it take to turn that PS pump with a belt???? ALOT. Parasitic crank loss, is what it's called.

Re: Manual Rack???
 

thanks for all the replies!!

i still dont know yet i really dont wanna put skinnies up front on my car i would like to stay with the poney rims but i think the tire i have will be hard to steer 245/45/16.

this is my setup. gtp heads,explorer intake,65 thb,ford f-cam,24lb injectors with bigger fuel rails and pump, under drive pullies,3:73's,upper and lower control arms.

i am not to concerend about the power increas even thought it will be nice i just want the look in side the engine bay.

and i want to go fast!!!

Re: Manual Rack???
 

and i want to go fast!!!
and i want to go fast!!!
and i want to go fast!!!

This time listen to the little devil on the left shoulder not the little angel on the right :D

and i want to go fast!!!
and i want to go fast!!!
and i want to go fast!!!

Re: Manual Rack???
 

First of all, these two comments don't belong together, they don't like each other.

I run 17X8 99 Cobra rims with 255's up front on the street and can still turn it with one hand, granted I have the quick ratio kit use skinnies at the track, but love it and have no problems on the street. I also have the UPR bump steer kit on it.

Re: Manual Rack???
 

usmc302 hey does it steer too easy ,like over steering when ur goin 90 plus? i had a manual rack in a car befor i didnt like how it was at high speeds

Re: Manual Rack???
 

Well, the only time I'm going 90+, is in the quarter, so I try to stay as straight as possible anyway. I'm not trying to turn at those speeds. I feels perfect IMO..

Re: Manual Rack???
 

lol well i here you there

Re: Manual Rack???
 

If your driving straight, it hardly drags at all.
Everytime i run a shortbelt, i didnt see any gains worth mentioning.

However im sick of my leaking ps pump, and about to do what 88workcar did.

Re: Manual Rack???
 

IMHO, a power steering rack and pinion requires power steering fluid ran through it, you run the risk of the rack failing or locking up if not used properly. Not to mention, the steering shaft is not meant to handle non-power steering, it has old rubber bushings that will also be put under more pressure and eventually fail. That is why the manual rack and hardened steel steering shaft go hand in hand. It may be fine for a while, but is it really something you wanna chance? If your going to go through the trouble of plugging the rack, remove the hoses and lines, what's a few more bolts so swap in a manual rack? Budget you say? I had a guy tell me that Advanced Auto parts sells a manual rack and pinion for the 87-93 mustang for less than $150. Good luck either way!

Re: Manual Rack???
 

my buddy did the same thing.he just took off the pump and hoses.deff not the right way to do it..some people just dont pay attention to detail..i would only take the ps off if it was at the track most of its life

Re: Manual Rack???
 

ok i am going with the manual rack what else beside the rack and steering shaft it self do i need to get to make this work?

Re: Manual Rack???
 

While your down there, it wouldn't hurt to throw on some new tie rod ends and then be sure to get it professionally aligned. if your car is lowered, make sure you get the offset bushings. Good luck.

Re: Manual Rack???
 

great thanks alot to everyone that helped out and i will let you know how it works out and if i have any more questions i will be sure to ask them here

thanks agian