How long has everyone been running without PS and without any fluid in the rack?

I'm thinking about takin' off the belt and draining the fluid, but just want to make sure the rack will be ok for the next few years without any fluid.

Thanks guys!

 

No, you don't want to run the rack dry. Drain half of the fluid, then cap off the rack.

 

If the RealTime guys left the fluid in the rack and installed reservoirs, I would guess that you should leave it too. Racers do not add (or leave) weight in a car unless they really have to.

 

can you put a manuel rack in, is there on that will fit?

 

I have a friend that removed the pump on his GSR and drove it for a year and a half. It finally locked up on him in the middle of a corner and he wrecked his car. Not very smart.

 

OUCH!!

 

damn...i just took off my ps and now that makes me want to put it back on

 

somepeople use the power sterring rack from a 92-95 Civic. The ratio is 19:1

 

...I don't know of one, but with the popularity of the ITR, one would think there is a quick ratio manual rack out there somewhere...

 

From everything I have seen of the steering system the power steering fluid does not go directly into the rack. It is used to lube the pump and create force on the piston that actually moves the rack. The rack itself is permanently lubed with grease, the power steering fluid does not touch the rack. Correct me if I am wrong but that is what I can tell by examing the shop manual. I have driven without the belt and fluid for a few months now. If it is damaging I would return the fluid, but the steering is so much easier to steer without the fluid for some reason. Any other info would be appreciated. That is interesting about the Realtime cars though.

Joey

 

Are you sure that was the cause of the lock-up? FYI, I have driven my car without the pump and fluid for over 3 years without problems. If anything, I would think that it would lock up gradually not all of the sudden.

 

Vegeta see Mike K

 

Going on three years now. Removed every thing to the rack. Looped a tube to the inlet and outlet on the rack, left fliud in and changed it once since then.

 

Well not necessarily. The Realtime Racing R's need to weigh in at a specific weight, according to race restrictions. If they for instance would dump weight from the finished car, in any manner, their car won't meet the weight requirement and it would have to be added elseware. They cannot make the car as light as they want--it has to weigh a specific weight. They might have left the PS fluid in for peace of mind and ease of maintenance rather than absolute weight reduction.

Another thing is that we are talking about race cars here. They have professional mechnics. They can just dismantle the rack and relube it before every race if they want to. So even if the the Real Time guys are doing a modification, it does not mean that this would be recommended for street use. Professional racers perform maintenance before every race. Most street users don't. For street use racing modifications could be very counterproductive in the long run since street cars are generally not maintained to as high a degree as race cars are.

So will anyone be my professional mechanic? I wanna dump the fluid.

 

When you say drain .5 fluid and cap rack, how do you tell when half the fluid out of the rack is drained out? To cap the rack does that mean to plug the inlet and outlet holes comming off the rack? More imput would be great because ive been running no PS and no fluid for about 3 months and dont want to mess anything up. Thanks!

 

Remove the lines from the inlet and outlet of the rack, with the steering wheel straight. Then turn the wheel left (or right) to lock. Then install a line or hose that connects the inlet and outlet on the rack (looping the system) -- this will allow the existing fluid in the system to circulate.

 

Y would u do it unless u plan on competitive track use???

 

Andy,
Great, thanks for your help. Since I had already pumped all the fluid out, whats the best way to get some PS fluid back in the rack. Do I need to put the belt back on or is there some way to pour the fluid directly into the rack? Thanks again.

 

I have the 92 CX rack in my car. Some people complain that the different steering ratio sucks, etc.. I don't notice it. I just notice the weight my car lost. Aside from losing the pump and all the lines, the CX rack is about 1/2 the diameter and it weighs a LOT less.

My car is 2320lbs. w/ full interior and A/C.. can't complain.

It's a direct install. You just need the Civic's rack bushings and the joint that links the column to the rack part from a Civic also.

 

I think you might be able to just pump fluid directly back into the rack via the inlet on the rack itself. This can be done with a hand-pump found at any automotive store -- they can usually be found it the gear and differential oil section. I am not sure of the required capacity of the rack, so your guess is a good as mine as to how much fluid it needed to fill it.

 

Mike,

After talking to Taz Harvey at the San Diego GP (World Challenge event in 2000) I thought about installing a 92 CX rack too. But before I shelled out the bucks on the new rack I wanted to try out the stock R rack, minus the pump, lines, and half the fluid. Albiet my car is not streetable (in the legal sense) personally, I love the way the R rack feels on the track.

 

Alright thanks. I think id rather spend the extra 10 min putting the belt back on which would save me more time and money than going to the parts store and getting the pump. Sucks, but oh well, better than screwing up the rack. Thanks all for their imput.

 

Ok im asking a big favor of you all here, but can someone help me locate both the in and out lines. Im looking in my 96-00 Helms manual here on page 17-39 which is "power steering hoses, lines". Which seems to give the clearest description. Im assuming the return line that needs to looped is on the far right labeled "a",, the one heading back to the fluid resevior. Now the "in" line im having a hard time locating. Is it the line just to the right of the left boot labeled "cylinder housing-to-cylinder lines"? Some someone please help?
Thanks!!

 

ttt, anyone?

 

I've driven mike k's car and it feels awesome with the CX rack, reminds me of my VX days. I've driven my GSR without he PS belt and this feels so much more natural, the way the ITR should have came from the factory.