Removing power steering, yay or nay?

vtecn8ivevtecn8ive Senior Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
I have a leak in the steering rack and I am debating converting it to manual rack and pinion.

Any experience with it? Good idea or bad?

I've been driving the last 8 months without a power steering belt (obdo pump and obd1 crank pulley) and since I'm an owner of a Crx too, I'm familiar with the EF manual steering.

I would replace the entire setup with a new/rebuilt manual rack. Or eventually I'll replace it with a new/rebuilt power one.

Comments

  • quartersquarters Council Member
    i don't like power steering and generally remove it in favor of a crx si manual rack. nice and tight.
  • JakerJaker familEE
    Manual rack won't fit the power steering subframe without minor modifications.
  • vtecn8ivevtecn8ive Senior Wagonist
    Any idea if I could use a crx Subframe? The Civic is rt4wd so hopefully it wouldn't affect the rear mount location.
  • JakerJaker familEE
    The mods are really minor.
  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    Jaker wrote:
    Manual rack won't fit the power steering subframe without minor modifications.
    What modifications? A manual CRX rack seem to fit fine when I recently removed the power steering, I didn't need to use the CRX subframe either.
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    :?: What kind of PS fluid did you use?
  • vtecn8ivevtecn8ive Senior Wagonist
    I'm pretty sure I haven't even added any since I've owned the car.
  • vtecn8ivevtecn8ive Senior Wagonist
    Just got done running parts through hondaautomotiveparts and the manual racks and power steering racks are identical throughout the EFs.

    I'll go off of costs. If power steering is reasonable I'll get that, if its cheaper to get the manual (used) i'll go that route.

    I'll let people know.
  • JakerJaker familEE
    doitdub wrote:
    Jaker wrote:
    Manual rack won't fit the power steering subframe without minor modifications.
    What modifications? A manual CRX rack seem to fit fine when I recently removed the power steering, I didn't need to use the CRX subframe either.

    Wasn't the passenger side of the rack a little loose in the subframe?
  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    Jaker wrote:
    doitdub wrote:
    Jaker wrote:
    Manual rack won't fit the power steering subframe without minor modifications.
    What modifications? A manual CRX rack seem to fit fine when I recently removed the power steering, I didn't need to use the CRX subframe either.

    Wasn't the passenger side of the rack a little loose in the subframe?
    No, seemed tight as the original. If I get some time tomorrow I'll get under there and snap some pics or something.
  • vtecn8ivevtecn8ive Senior Wagonist
    I should clarify that not all racks are identical since gearing is different and obviously power and manuals are different. But both should bolt up with no issues. I plan to get a crx si and install it in my rt4wd
  • klumklum Senior Wagonist
    lmk when u do this!
  • elmalounoelmalouno New Wagonist
    I have done this swap on my wagonRT, the only difference that i found when swapping a crx rack in was that the rack itself is narrower. the bushing that holds the rack will therefor be to loose around the new crx rack. my fix for this was to leave the wagon bushing in and use the crx bushing on top of the wagon bushing. fit nice and tight. anyone has any questions about this feel free to ask.


    good luck
  • JakerJaker familEE
    When I did it, I used the full manual steering rack bushing, and 1/2 the power steering rack bushing, and the c clamp metal piece from the manual steering rack (smaller diameter). I welded a small piece of metal to one of the tabs on the c clamp piece so I could drill another hole at the right spacing to bolt to the power steering subframe.

    Next time I'm under the car, I'll try and remember to take a picture.
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