no power steering

[slammed_e30]

Anyone hear taken out their power steering? Just wondering how it handles and how is it for daily drivability?

[Gr00v3]

my SISTER's car has power steering.

its a Del Sol.
________
Kitchen Measures

[matt325is]

I took out my powersteering, I dont mind it at all. It is a little harder to steer when moving slow (drive throughs or parking lots), but otherwise its not that bad at all.

matt

[M-technik-3]

I bought my car without a ps belt on it and was heavy but do able. I put a belt and now it feels over boosted. i would prefer to have a manual rack as opposed to a ps rack thou. It depends on your tire size and your upper body strength and how parallel parking you do.

[bimmerlover]

My 323i is powersteeringless and I like it. Feels good.

Parking lots can be a little tricky.. but that's really the only time.


Rachel

[Fred]

I've found that cars that are supposed to have power steering but don't (removed pump, cut belt, etc) are a pain to drive at low speeds around town (especially parallel parking in a tight spot). But that's just me.

Fred

[slammed_e30]

well i guess the only thing to do is pop the belt and try it out...

[Jordan]

Simply cutting the belt, or removing it for that matter is a unrealistic "test" to see if you like it.

At this point with you in the car steering, you steering input will be churning fluid, and you will be forcing it back and forth through the pump. This will increase steering effort.

If you really want to know how it feels, remove the P/S system and cap the rack.

[Ryan Stewart]

Does anyone sell a non-PS rack rebuilt for our cars? Preferably a slightly shorter ratio too?

I got a true non-power rack for my truck and I liked it. I could imagine that just running no boost on a power system would suck because you have to push all that system around where a true manual rack is designed to be manual from the getgo.

[Jordan]

some euro e30's have manual racks....

[Jarvis]

I've found that cars that are supposed to have power steering but don't (removed pump, cut belt, etc) are a pain to drive at low speeds around town (especially parallel parking in a tight spot). But that's just me.
Fred

A friend of mine and myself broke the power steering pump in his sister's ~2000 Olds Alero. He couldn't turn it more than about 150deg either way. That was a BITCH getting home.
I used to have a shitty old pickup truck without P/S. That was a real work out. Most of my friends were to weak to park it or move the wheel at all unless they were going over 10mph.
I can't predict whether or not I'd like my E30 without P/S. I love the steering at slow/moderate speeds. But at higher (75mph+) it's way too light and vague. Feels dangerous. Don't know if that's due to my dinky snow tires or alignment/steering problems.
I can't remember, but didn't someone have an estimate of the amount of "driveline loss" the power steering causes? Wasn't it something insignificant like 1-2hp? Well, I guess that would help out anyone with a feeble M10 318i.

[LikeCDoos]

what power gains would be expected with the p/s removed?

[Jordan]

what power gains would be expected with the p/s removed?

You wont gain any power.

You might see more power that is already being produced (but used turning accessories)

[Jonathan M3]

I've dynoed a couple e30s with, then without the powersteering, it only robs about 2hp from the motor. Its not worthwhile removing for only that reason alone IMO.

[LikeCDoos]

what power gains would be expected with the p/s removed?

You wont gain any power.

You might see more power that is already being produced (but used turning accessories)

thats what i meant. I knew it wouldn't make more power but you would get more