What is the proper way to remove the power steering from an ITR. I've read everything from just removing the belt, to draining the system, to leaving it full, part-full, etc. Some say the only proper way is to swap racks, and if so what rack swaps in? I've searched but found no real answers. Thanks.

 

If you want to totally remove the PS system from your ITR you need to remove the pump, lines, reservoir, and rack. You can replace the ITR rack with a non-PS Civic rack.

I would not recommend doing this. PS is not all that bad in our cars. It is not overboosted at all and isn't all that heavy.

-kenji

 

Not to mention the fact that the Civic racks are a much slower ratio than the ITR. If all you care about is drag racing (why did you buy a ITR?), then do the Civic rack swap. If you just want to drag race every now and then, just take the belt off when you get to the track. All you need is a 12mm socket and 3 minutes. When you're done, put it back on.

 

And why would you do this?


Boba- who enjoys his PS.

 

Actually, I've dyno'd two seperate ITR's before and after the PS belt that picked up 6hp. 6 hp is significant, and my own track testing has resulted in a .15 improvement in 1/4 mile times

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm removing the PS for more power in general, not only at the strip. I'd rather not swap racks because of the different ratio and the cost and time involved. Anyone else have any experience with this? Can the system be run dry or is it necessary to keep all or some of the fluid in it? What lubricates the non-assisted Civic racks? Will the steering effort decrease if the rack is drained?

 

ok, get this.

You can remove just the belt and be done with it. This will gain the HP, but it will take more arm effor to turn the rack due to the fact that you have to push the fluid back and forth through the pump.

You MUST keep the rack full with fluid.

The realtime racing guys remove the pump, but run the two lines of the rack up to a external reservior.

I did something similar, I ran a loop to route the fluid back into the rack, but put a "T" in to provide a pressure relief.

I used brass, but you can use plastic, like my friend did here:
http://www.honda-perf.org/pics/B18C1...steering_rack/

HTH
Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff, thats exactly the info I was looking for. If you don't mind, could you explain to me how you made your fluid recirc. setup - maybe you could email it to me. Also, what parts do the Realtime cars use for their setup? Is it something that could be easily duplicated? Thanks again for the info.

 

i have a different solution that i will be testing shortly. ive made my rack just like a non power steering type. i removed the piston inside the rack. i greased the gear side liks stock and greased the other end where the rack slides on the "bearing" ie, big *** nut. anyway no fluid is needed here, and ive also gutted the pinion side. all this is done to remove friction in the system. i have an ITR rack in stock condition if someone wants to buy it from me. came from a 00 or 01, i dont recal. email me.


as for power increase, holy ****! the motor is very responsive with no AC and no PS. if you install energy suspension motor mounts you will feel like your motor has instant throttle response...a light flywheel added to this combo will help too!

 

I got almost 5hp taking mine off. I find it to hard in slow areas though.

 

yeah - how difficult was it to modify the stock rack? Can it be done in a garage or is a machine shop or other specialty tools needed? Anyone else know about Realtime's system?