Power steering?

300zx300zx Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
OK, I just got a 4wd civic from the junkyard and I was think about things that I should do to it. One thing that Ive been thinking about is removing the power steering,
that will make the engine bay alot cleaner. Or should I keep it? And is having AC important because I was thinking of removing that too.
www.civicwagon.com

Comments

  • KahunaKahuna familEE
    Clean it with a pressure washer and de-greaser, that will make it look 10000000times better. Not having power steering is really not that bad.. Only time you notice it is when you are sitting still, and if you have any strength at all you should be able to turn the wheels.. A/C just depends.. I don't have a/c, I just ride with the windows down, but it will get aggravating some time, especially when it's hot..

    Wire tuck will make it look nicer as well.
  • NJCIVICWAGON1NJCIVICWAGON1 Council Member
    Well I kinda miss my AC. Only on the really hot days. My wagon is not a daily anymore so Im not sweating it too much. We only get a few really hot days here in Jersey. I sacrifise it for the clean look. I dont recommend taking it out if its a daily and if you are keepin the stock motor or leaving it a SOHC. Just my opinion.
  • 300zx300zx Wagonist
    What is the best way to remove the powersteering? I can do two ways

    1. I can remove just the pump and and cap off the rack
    2. I have another civic wagon that has no powersteering and I could swap the rack but I dont know if will bolt up the same. its a 89 civic 2wd.

    What do you guys think.
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    Why to Keep both:

    AC:
    1)It's more for winter than summer.It defogs the front window faster than just the heater.
    2)When on long enough it defogs the rear windows too.
    3) As a game I use it to slooowww the Wgn down on off ramps,which also helps keep the AC system lubed.

    PS:
    1)Actually looks good when you clean the bay.It has goldish fittings.


    Do a search some have capped it others connect a hose between the in &out.I'm pretty sure u can swap it w/a manual.
  • 300zx300zx Wagonist
    AC:
    1)It's more for winter than summer.It defogs the front window faster than just the heater.
    2)When on long enough it defogs the rear windows too.
    3) As a game I use it to slooowww the Wgn down on off ramps,which also helps keep the AC system lubed.
    What do you mean about slowing the car down, how big is the difference.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    i could feel the AC on my standard hatch (70 hp, 4-speed stick..) when it turned on, it would ever so slightly drain a little power. nothing to be worried about at all, especially not with the D16A6 engine. i would say its worth keeping if this is going to be your daily driver.

    and power steering is nice to have if you will do ny city driving. if not then DITCH IT haha. honestly you wont need it unless you are trying to parallel park in tight areas. even then, just lean on the wheel 8) but i mean, if its there, i'd leave it
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    300zx wrote:
    AC:
    1)It's more for winter than summer.It defogs the front window faster than just the heater.
    2)When on long enough it defogs the rear windows too.
    3) As a game I use it to slooowww the Wgn down on off ramps,which also helps keep the AC system lubed.
    What do you mean about slowing the car down, how big is the difference.

    Jake Brake!
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Ditch the AC but keep the PS.

    PS doesn't create enough drag to warrant removing it, versus the benefits it provides.
  • jarmersonjarmerson New Wagonist
    Well on Thursday something happened during my daily drive and as I was leaving the office I noticed a puddle underneath the wagon. Further investigation revealed PS fluid leaking. I haven't put it up yet to look closer but I can't look down into the bay and see it, and from underneath it is coming from the rear cross member.

    I'm thinking about loosing it. The CRX is manual and its fine once you get used to it. The wagon can't possibly be that much more weight. And besides, one point that no one else brought up, its one less thing to go wrong ;)

    I wish someone could go into detail about capping it off or doing whatever
    Do a search some have capped it others connect a hose between the in &out.I'm pretty sure u can swap it w/a manual.
  • eldonciv777eldonciv777 Wagonist
    Just take the valves out of the rack and disconnect the hoses. AFAIK the fluid is only involved in the valveish part of the rack and has no effect on the actually rotating assembly so it should be just fine without any fluid.

    IF you cap it you still have to push against the the valves but the fluid you're trying to move will have nowhere to go because the lines will be capped off which will make it harder to steer. Likewise, if you loop it you will still have to push fluid through the valves. So, taking the valves out and running it looped or dry should net the easiest steering.

    I once read how to remove the valves. I'll try to find it again....
  • jarmersonjarmerson New Wagonist
    I never plan on selling this car, and if I do I want to sell it to another enthusiast. The plan at this point is to weigh my options on what to do with what...

    Yeah, so taking it as it comes I've decided to take the PS belt off and later completely remove the PS system and set the rack up according to this guys post http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=184202&postid=1666202

    Seems like the best option. Right now w/o the PS belt it feels like the crx. It was weird because I only drive the wagon now and I've become familiar with the PS. Anywho, that is that regarding the PS issue.

    For the rest of my plans see my rides thread. http://www.hondacivicwagon.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=35988#35988
  • judebertjudebert familEE
    I replaced my power steering rack with a manual one. Due to size differences, I had to reuse one of the boots and the rubber mounting brace. The whole thing cost me $50 with the manual rack from the junkyard, and replacement was simple enough for even my meager skills.

    I've finally got it in drivable state again, so I can also tell you that the power steering is extremely helpful at a standstill. As soon as I get moving at all -- even creeping so slowly the speedo doesn't register -- manual steering becomes easy enough for my 13-year-old daughter to do it.

    I'd ditch the P/S, but I've always been big on simplicity and reliability.
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