I'm looking for opinions and facts on which would be best to hang on to. I have both manual and powersteering racks in my garage. I've read the ratio has a difference of 1.5. For example; a powersteering rack would take 3 rotations from lock to lock, and a manual would take 4.5 rotations from lock to lock. Ill be using the car as a summer daily and time attack events. I have also read that manual steering rack is only difficult when the car is at a stationary position, ie;parking. Also that a manualsteering rack 'connects' you to the road more, meaning you can feel where your wheels are 'better'?

What do you guys think? Pros? Cons? And input is good input for me.

 

 

I prefer manual steering. Doesn't leak oil. Doesnt take engine power.Steering doesnt go stiff when engine stalls while in motion. Doesnt take space on the engine bay for easy access to other parts. One belt less to replace. Good for the arm muscles also.

 

im a big fan of manual rack and pinion.

my opinion? manual.

yes, it does connect you to the road more, you feel most everything.

 

Yea, I just make my car move just a little bit when I'm trying to steer. these little hondas dont really need power steering for a daily driver, unless youre a girl, haha

 

I'm the other way. Drove a manual rack 94 Civic for 10 years. Now I have a 93 Si Hatch - difference is night and day. Doesn't feel like I'm driving a shitbox anymore.

That said, there are ways to retrofit a power steering system that is all electronic (from a Toyota). Google and user 'fungus mungus' will point you the way.

 

my dx didn't come with power and i'm glad! love the feel of manual steering!! ( except while parking in the city)

 

Are the power steering rack and the manual rack interchangeable in the EG hatch?

I currently have a power steering rack with no pump (taken off during swap) and I'm looking to switch to manual rack or buy new pump.

 

I love my P/s in my daily but for my track car I just looped the p/s line and ran it as a manual rack.

 

I have been driving an EG with a manual rack for over a decade and I like the feel just a little more than power steering. My '96 has power steering and it feels a bit numb compared.

With the manual rack, the steering when-not-moving deal doesn't bother me as much as the ratio does. It's annoying sometimes when I have to make quick and sharp left to right transitions. Makes me want to get a suicide **** at times lol.

I think someone on here said that the manual rack cuts the wheels farther too (tighter turning radius).

 

My DX had a manual rack. I had the car for five years and I liked it a lot actually. You do "feel the road" a bit more than with power steering and the extra effort required isn't a problem. Yes, if you're sitting still it's a bit tough to turn the wheels. Turn while you're moving, IMO this should be done anyway, regarldess of whether or not you have power steering. I do like the quick ratio I have in my current GTI, but I'm hoping to pick up a project Civic soon and I'll definitely go for a manual rack if I can. They have positives and negatives, but overall from a driving enjoyment perspective, I'd go manual. If you're all about comfort, power is a LITTLE bit easier to live with.

 

In for more information/opinions.

 

I have had power steering cars (eagle talon 1gb 1992) and I removed the pump and looped the lines and it was doable. I am 6 foot 2 and weigh in around 140 lbs. So i am tall and skinny. my 94 del sol S came with no power steering and honestly I like it alot. only problem is , city parking in CHIcago can be a pain. lol but hey I get stronger and get a workout at the same time. Great to have no power steering I say

 

I see what you mean, its a small car so there shouldn't be that much resistance. It's just I've never tried manual and its my first car. So I have both racks and all the equipment to do so, its still a 'iffy' thing for me.

We'll see what other people say aswell.

 

simple test for you
take the power steering belt off and go for a drive
this will give you an idea of what to exspect

 

Question for those with a manual rack.... I have a vx chassis and recently swapped in a gsr. I replaced all of my front end from tie rods, UCA, and all bushing. This all has improve the slop drastically!!! My problem is at 70-85 mph is the only place I have slop and it can be scary not feeling connected to the road. I am about to replace with a new rack but I wanted to make sure it isn't me being OCD???

Sorry to derail. I love the manual rack other than the problem stated!!!

 

I easily agree! if your not a strip only street illegal honda then why not have that creature comfort? if your strictly performance only, more power to you!

 

wtf is Slop?

From personal experience if you having issues with driving at high speeds the main culprits are:

-Bad Alignment
-Bad Tire[s] (damage/heavily warn camber)
-Bad Control Arm's
-Worn Bearings
-Poor Driving conditions (Weather etc)

Back to OP,

I'm used to Power steering and I enjoy how I can easily one-hand 90-120 degree turns. However, I don't have real experience driving all manual steering so I can only say what are you're goals with this car? I read DD, but is this also a weekend warrior?

If DD only just use PS. Will thank yourself in those times you need to make a turn and hold onto you're coffee/soda/cellphone/gun/grenade etc...

 

Someone said cut the belt and see what it fells like, i dissagree with that. My experience is if you have a power rack and no pump feeding it it is harder to steer than a manual rack. also, I have tried to swap out a manual rack for a power one and the only difference I've found is the ujoint (or whatever its called) at the bottom of the column is bigger for a power and smaller for a power. I havent swapped out that u joint yet, I still have to find one for my project car. but when I do I'll let you know

 

All my other vehicles have power steering and there is not much of a difference driving my little manual rack civic so I don't see it as a creature comfort. As long as the car has some sort of forward momentum, it takes very little effort to turn the wheel.
The AC on the other hand, I def consider a creature comfort that I am not willing to lose unless the car becomes a track only car. It sucks being a fat guy in a little car with no ac!!!


Slop- slack, loose, play

If you read my post you would realize that EVERYTHING on my front suspension is new with under 3000 miles. I have been upgrading the 300k mile suspension components in order to be able to handle the added power of the swap and soon to be boost. The only thing I haven't replaced is the steering rack and steering rack bushing. I am going to replace steering rack bushing when I get back to see if that fixes my problem.

The main reason I came in this thread was because I wanted to see if it was normal for a manual rack and might be a con to have play of less than 1/2" in either direction going down a level and smooth highway at 80 mph.

 

I think I'm going to stick with the power, just because it'll be more convenient for me. And I'm sure power steering isn't THAT bad for the track, if anything it should make it easier. Thanks for the help everyone, feel free to post info in this thread anytime. Thanks again!