So, 4 days ago I decided to take off the p/s belt to see what kind of "feel for the road" I get....besides pulling into/out of parking spots, which is the biggest bitch in the world, I like it. It definitely helps me in long sweeping turns (these are local roads im talkin about) where previously I'd steer too far into it and i'd have to steer, then straighten, then steer again...or maybe that was just crappy driving.

Anyway, the point I wanted to bring up and discuss was, that for an autocross or track event...does anyone drive w/ no p/s? I'm just afraid that in the event of a spin or oversteer, that I won't be able to counter and recover quick enough....I think this applies more to an autox where speeds are slower, perhaps on a road course, it won't make too much of a difference...comments?

 

Removing PS belts would put you out of stock class

 

I wasn't aware of that, but thats ok, since my AEM CAI and rear stb already kicks me out of that anyway...besides, I just want to learn how to drive, i could care less about winning and getting a little sticker that says "class winner" hehe...altho its a good feeling to go out and win novice in your first ever autox

 

LIAR! LOL!!

If you're not lying, you'll change your mind, heh.

 

To drive without a PS belt you have to have something that will lubricate the rack.

 

Can't you just get a non-PS rack?

 

Speaking of this thread...

I, too, tried driving for a week or so without the PS belt. I really liked the new feel at speed, but got sick of parking lots, etc.

Is anyone using an underdrive PS pulley? If so, did that have any effect on steering feel (particularly the "overboosted" situation with Type R's)?

 

I have been driving without the belt for about two weeks and love it. I will never go back. Parking lots can be a bit of a pain, but if you have ever driven a manual rack before you will remember the simple trick of getting the car moving first (just slighty will do) before attempting to turn the wheel.

What I am trying to work out now is if I can reduce the effort a little by bypassing the power steering pump - https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=98558.

 

if you remove the PS system, and correctly modify the steering rack so that there are no pistons creating drag, then you will notice how easy it is to drive with no power steering. by the way i have two ITR steering racks if anyone wants to buy one from me. i will also modify it so that you do not have to run fluid in it, grease is enough. email me if you want.

as for driving, if you do the roger foo upper a arm swap, you will even notice an easier time steering the car. the change in caster makes steering input even easier. wow, no need for power steering after i did that mod!


[Modified by yeah LS, 11:26 AM 12/11/2001]

 

I wander why Honda left PS in ITRs in the first place.

Here is the current topic in competition forum about it: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=97823

 

Is this modification reversible? Do you have to disassemble the rack to remove the valves?

 

I would like to know this also. I know unorthodox sells just a power steering pulley (you do not have to buy the whole set)...just the power steering pulley is $85 on their site. Would this affect the feeling of the power steering at all?
Thanks.

 

the main piston in the rack has to be remove and cannot be reinstalled. sorry. that is why you should keep yo ustock rack and buy one of mine.

 

This may sound a little strange, but are you really at the level of skill in driving the R where the only change you can make to go faster is to the power steering? I'm not meaning that in a bad way .. I'm just wondering if you're focusing your attention in the right places ....

just a thought

 

I think many people (myself included) will be interested in the areas which are less $$$, such as this... it's free! In other words, yes I will spend the $5 for the hose fitting to take out the PS pump before I spend that $5 toward a set of coilovers that I do plan to purcahse in the future.

 

For me at least this has got nothing to do with going faster. The 3 whp or so is not perceptible.

What it has everything to do with is feedback, which is what the R is all about (and what power steering is most definitely not about).

 

by the way on my racecar when i took off the power steering, when i first mashed on the pedal my face lit up! i was surprised. throttle response was improved. im sure it helped in hp but responsiveness is key. just like installing motor mount stiffiners, i love throttle response.

 

I didn't say anyhting about going faster, I could care less about the 1-3 whp or whatever the gain is from taking the belt off...all i really wanted to know was how it felt and if in the case of a spin, if it would be easier, harder, or the same to recover without the power steering as opposed to if i Had power steering..

 

dyno proven 4-5 HP

 

I thought it would be harder to recover, but i tried it at my last track session and impressed myself w/ a pretty good save w/o it.

 

obssessed much with Spaceballs, sackdz?

thanks for the input, i guess i'll just have to see for myself to see if im comfortable with it

 

If not broken, dont fix it.

 

I put a AEM power steering pulley on my R....I did not want to do the alternator because I hate when my headlights go dim at night from lack of juice. It gave me a little bit of power (butt dyno)....the car revs a little bit quicker.....but the steering feels a little bit heavier (which I like). All in all it is a pretty cheap mod ($75 for pulley and new belt) and it takes all of 10 minutes to install. Oh and dont forget your choice of anodized colors...I went with red

 

This was my route as well. I'd still like the steering to be stiffer, but I know enough about hydraulic systems to know better than to run around with the belt completely gone. I installed both AEM pulleys and noticed no difference in rev response or any increase in HP. Just a little tighter steering.

 

Have you drained out the power steering fluid ?. I removed the belt first and did the fluid later on, the steering effort reduced by 50% after the fluid was taken out, much easier to drive after that. I don't think there are any reliability issues taking out the fluid as the rack is greased, the fluid is for the pump and piston mostly. I found a 5 whp gain across the board , and I had an AEM pulley on my steering pump, so the gain could have been higher compared to a stock pump. I really like the feel you get, I can actually feel my front wheels slipping in corners where it was masked before and I could never feel that, I think it is safer , particulary in wet conditions. Keeping your front wheels inflated at a decent level will help reduce steering effort also.

Joey