Hello there everybody. i have been Auto-xing most of the summer and here in Upstate NY the courses are short and TIGHT. At some points in the even it seams that my PS seams to fall behind? Possible?
Now i know that you can Underdrive the PS, now would it make sence to OVERdrive the PS? Would it make the pump work "better"

Any thought and comments are more than welcome

 

I Think that you may increase the pressure inside the rack to a level that would damage the seals.

AWWNALD SEZ: J00 HAVE ZEE ARHMS OF AH WEEK LITTLE GIRLY MAN

 

don't prelude's have variable power steering based on vehicle speed? if so, that is where your problem is.

nate

 

No, 5th gen prelude's just have problematic power steering. Everyone who autocrosses them talks about it. Back when I owned a prelude I remember someone modifying the pressure relief valve on the PS pump. Changing the spring or something like that.

A search at preludeonline should turn up something.

 

Yup... it's a problem in all 5th gen preludes. It only happens in very very tight transition from left to right, or right to left. My car has never done this other than on some auto-X courses. Most of the time if your smoth enough you will not lose the PS.

 

simple solution: remove power steering.

more power and lighter...........b00yA

 

Oh the infamous Prelude p/s... I've owned and autcrossed a 98SH a few years ago...

This is a well known problem with the 5th gen P/S, probably made worse in the lude cuz of it's portly 3000lbs. It is variable but with RPM. It is especially bad at low speed high RPM situations that you may see at an auto-x. Basically, you get almost no assist from about 5000RPM on up. I know someone once experimented about using the DSM Eclipse/Talon fix to bypass/modify the pressure relief valve but dont know if it ever succeeded.

The only workaround is to avoid using 1st gear, especially through tight quick transitions. I used to actually shift to 3rd through long slaloms (6-7 cones+) and then downshift to 2nd on exit. I've even used 4th gear through a rather quick slalom once. In 4th, the PS is like butter.

The problem is not really with smoothness but with track layout and which gear/RPM combo it forces you to be in. Can't be smooth if you got no assist in a 3000lb sled with 225 tires.

The other solution is to auto-x a CRX...

 

My 5th Gen Accord does that as well @ autoxs. Whenever there is a sharp left/right or vice versa the steering will lock up for a brief second, so i just yanked all the power steering stuff out when i swapped motors.

 

I notice it in my 99 Si sometimes as well. I just fight it and continue on with life...

 

does anyone make a manual rack for the prelude? I'm thinking about getting rid of the PS also. I would rather get a normal non PS type rack, than loop the 2 sides of the pistons in the stock rack.

 

Just wanted to say this happens with my '98 Integra too - so the speed-sensitive thing goes off of engine speed, not vehicle speed? Wow, that's kinda lame....

 

You should be able to swap in the p/s unit from a 4th gen prelude & solve your problem immediately

 

Hmm. Can you swap that into a G3 Integra?? What exactly do you have to swap?

 

Is there any benefit to installing a larger p/s pulley?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there any benefit to installing a larger p/s pulley?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes! i did this on my autox civic. it slowed p/s speed substantially. i had a problem on hot days while running high rpm (9200-9500) the p/s fluid would come out of the resevoir bottle. so, i installed an aem p/s pulley, and the problem dissapeared. also, i have increased steering feel/effort at low speed which is all around.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rodney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have increased steering feel/effort at low speed which is all around. </TD></TR></TABLE>

What about high speed (i.e. on track) ?

I'm not ready to dump the system out of the car yet....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What about high speed (i.e. on track) ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

well, feel from 3k-9500 seems the same, and we don;t need p/s over 25/30 mph, so i do not feel you will see any benefit aside from the overspiining the pump.

 

The problem in the prelude is that at high rpm, the pressure builds too high in the system, and activates the releif valve. AEM pullies UNDERDRIVE the ps pump, lowering pressure, and will raise the RPM that the releif valve opens at.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rodney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

well, feel from 3k-9500 seems the same, and we don;t need p/s over 25/30 mph, so i do not feel you will see any benefit aside from the overspiining the pump. </TD></TR></TABLE>

larger pulley UNDERDRIVES the pump

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What about high speed (i.e. on track) ?

I'm not ready to dump the system out of the car yet.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

RJ,
I have wanted a larger PS pulley for awhile, but couldnt really justify the cost for one. I strongly suggest pulling the PS belt off next time you head to the track. It sucks driving the car in the parking lot, but its amazing on-track. You really feel connected to the road. Just make sure you dont drain all the fluid out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there any benefit to installing a larger p/s pulley?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I had a larger pulley (AEM) on the Prelude. The thing is that i had it when i started autoxing the car so i have no idea whether it helped or not. All i know is that the problem was still there...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by siisgood00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Just make sure you dont drain all the fluid out. </TD></TR></TABLE>

why not? i know at least 10 cars personally that have been running p/s racks dry for 6 years+ with no problems.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rodney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

why not? i know at least 10 cars personally that have been running p/s racks dry for 6 years+ with no problems. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well that is news to me. I have just heard to not drain the rack completely (which is why RTR made a trick setup with a reservoir to keep fluid circulating in the rack). 10 cars and 6+ years sounds like decent proof that it may be OK to drain, but I would leave a little in there just to be safe.