Ok I just bought this car like a week ago.
Its my first eg style hatch.
The previous owner removed power steering. And ac.well I was reading up that u have to loop some hoses sand keep fluid in a power steering rack chances are it will lock up if it dries..
I kinda want to install it again but not sure,I dnt really want to take a chance it possibly locking up.

Because the steering boots It currently has are all ripped.I'd have to replace both those and I'd have to find all the crap for power steering.and I couldn't really tell but the lines might have been pinched off.I didn't get a chance to look too good it got dark early.

I called local parts store and they gave me a price like 165+tax for a manual rack.dx model.

Should I just use that?

Another thing,I imagine it should fitt but does anyone know forsure?
What steering rack are you using?(If your car is pwer steering equiped)
Thanks.

 

You can swap in a manual rack, but you'll also need the subframe that goes with it.

 

Oh damn,I thought I might have glanced that over when I was looking around..does anybody know if 96+ civic racks or subframess woud work.probably not huh?

I might just. Re install power steering

 

Niether are compatable.

If I were you I would fix the minor issuse with your current rack and reinstall power steering.

There is not much to the power steering system, very simple. Shouldn't be to hard or expensive to source the parts you need.

 

Ok...I was lookin at the lines on the steering rack..there is 3 right?
The bigger line,thinking it the 1 that goes to the pump.its got the sensor mounted on it.
Well that 1 is cut.and that line is like crimped on(or whatever its called)were rubber and the metal connectm..does the metal section unhook
Somewere?

Ya I saw a few fresh civic at the junk yard.ima try and go

 

Ok..somehow I think I got lucky but I went to a junkyard.
I found a civic dx manual rack,sub frame,a arms for 150 and they guy said he will pull it?
Is that a reasonable price for it?

I'm thinking of picking it up

 

That is a tremendous deal IMO. I say go for it

 

Just curious to why you would need the subframe? i have a 93 Si that had a bad rack and switched in my 94 CX Manual rack. The only thing was the passenger side mount that mounts the rack to the framing needed a little fabrication but nothing i couldn't handle. Should i be looking for a problem doing this or is this the only reason the subframe is needed as well? it's been about 2 years with no problems whatsoever with my steering.

 

So what ''little fabrication"" did u have to do?I think I had read somethin like that too?

Didn't u have to remove the subframe to remove the power steering rack?
Some one said that u might have to remove it to take the rack off.

I'm probably gonna go with that manual rack.cause ima have to replace them boots anyhow.I imagine a shop will charge me at least 100+ for labor on both sides..

Ima be replacing my tranny also so ima try and do it while it out.

 

Everything on mine worked and lined up perfectly except for the one small bracket on the passenger side that held the rack to the subframe.

The bracket I'm referring to.


It was close to being a clean in-and-out swap but this didn't secure the bushing around the rack securely (can't remember if it was too loose or too tight to fit around it). It's been a little over 2 years so i don't remember which of the brackets we used for a guide and we just fabbed another "U" shaped bracket. Whichever bracket had too much slack.... we used that one and sized it down a little. Other than this everything else was a direct swap.

 

Hey I had a chance to looks at the diiference in the racks...I noticed the manual is thinneer in diameter than the power rack. Maybe 1/4 to 1/2..I'm guessing??

Riggint it,did u get both power and manual rack brackets???I imagine since one is thinner the bracket would be different.just wondering if u checked that.unless mounting holes are different.

If its too loose,think if I cut 2 bushing in half and double em up will hold?bootleg ya.

 

Manual swap is easy. I too just used the extra cusion bushing on the passenger side, that goes around the rack...where the brackett bolts to the subframe. In short, just re-use your power rack passenger brackett, and fill the voided extra space with the bigger bushing. Picture #4 above. no need to swap subframes!

 

Ya that's kinda what I was thinking of doing but wasn't too sure..