93CamaroLT1

Assuming you remove the power steering belt, can you run a power steering rack without power steering fluid on a 99 civic Si? My buddy told me that when he tossed in his new motor (turbo b18), he drained the power steering fluid and ran it without the power steering belt for a year. He then tossed on the belt, put in fluid, and his power steering works perfectly now. He believes you can run the power steering rack without fluid. My car, a 99 civic si, has power steering leaks both at at a bellows boot on the rack and at the feed line. For now, I simply pulled my power steering belt. It drives fine without power steering. Can I just run the power steering rack without fluid (I assume the fluid in there will leak out eventually given the leak at the boot)? Or will the rack eventually seize up?

dck1ng69

It's a bad idea, I've been doing this for the last 4 years, had to replace my rack because internally with no fluid it eventually gets fucked, I was going to loop my line but didn't have the line at the time i replaced the rack so I'm running the new one with no fluid and am probably going to have to replace it again because I'm a retard and didnt do it right lol

93CamaroLT1

^ So it's safe to drive, though, without the power steering fluid (i.e. it won't seize up)? What eventually happens if you run the rack without fluid? And how long does the rack last without fluid (if it's 4 years, I'm okay with that because I'll probably sell the car before then)?

dck1ng69

I don't drive that much, I've put like 20,000 miles on my car in the 4 years I've owned it. When I changed my tires and it was up on a shop lift, we started moving the front tire left to right with our hands and the rack sounded like it had ****** marbles in it lol

93CamaroLT1

^ LOL... It sounds like I might as well just rock it without fluid. I mean it sounds like eventually I'll just need another rack, but I already need another rack (given the massive leak at the feed line), so it doesn't really matter. I was mostly concerned about it locking up from not having fluid in it (the Honda tech said that it would, but that sounds a little absurd that a manufacturer would design a rack in a way that it would cause an accident if a line rips open while driving). I did a google search about this, and other people seem to be saying that it won't seize as well (although it will **** up the rack, which doesn't matter in my case, since it needs replacing as it is).

dck1ng69

yeah, good luck...I have no idea if it'll lock up or not hopefully it wont. Maybe loop the line on the next rack, so there's fluid in it but you're not running the belt or reservoir

Axatax

If you're going to do this, at least loop the rack and add PS fluid or ATF before you seal it up. This is not optimum because the piston is still in the power rack, but you won't destroy anything.

Best way is to disassemble the power rack and remove the piston - then you can grease it up and seal off the pump connections.

jmarshall098

Yes, you can drive without power steering fluid but not for a long time. The steering fluid not only helps in steering but also lubricates the steering pump; driving without fluid will ruin the pump and the steering pump is not cheap to purchase.

EsotericImage

iTrader: (8)

listen to axatax ^^

https://honda-tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes-54/ek-steering-rack-de-power-integra-pinion-2796677/