BC-BF without power steering?

integrator · Post by **integrator** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 11:41 pm

Does anyone know of a legacy w/o power steering or any manual rack I could use in my Legacy? I'm considering going to manual steering but this car is too hard to steer with no power steering with the power rack.

Subie experts please chime in.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:49 am

I don't know of any.....personally....you don't want a manual rack....I've got one in my pickup....it sucks nads.

If you don't like the feel of the current steering....get a 97 gt steering rack.

206er · Post by **206er** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:35 am

I cant speak for subarus but I had manual steering in my rabbit and it felt just right, even with 205 series tires. it also weighed about 1800lbs tho. bit of a difference to a legacy...
you could try looping the power steering hose on the rack(maybe this is what you already did?), try to get as much fluid in the hose as you can. Ive never driven a power rack that has been looped but ive heard its stiffer than even a manual. in a car as heavy(especially in the front) as a subaru, I'd stay with power steering. but it doesnt hurt to try.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 5:02 pm

There's probably a way to reduce power steering pressure.

My neighbor's 99 Taurus SHO has speed-sensitive steering and it was WAY to light. Pulling the power steering fuse on his car cut assist by 70% (stated in the Ford Owners manual for his car. It's a fail safe, if the fuse blows, you still have SOME assist), so that's what he did. Is this part of a saftey feature of our cars?

mikec · Post by **mikec** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:47 pm

I don't think so... From what I've seen, it looks to be purely mechanical.

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 7:27 pm

Our system is purely mechanical. If you have the svx or similar cars with electrical ps....then yes you could do something like that.

mikec · Post by **mikec** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 7:28 pm

While we're on this, what about a newer Impreza? They've got a lead coming off the pump. While it's most likely a purely mechanical system like ours, anybody know what the lead's for? The only thing I can think of is a pressure sensor to tell the ECU to increase the engine speed, like it does with the A/C.

douglas vincent · Post by **douglas vincent** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 7:29 pm

I dont have the powersteering pulley currently hooked up now and am about 85% happy with the way it drives. And if I were to get new front struts, that may make it 95% happy.

I just am bypassing the powersteering pump pully on the way to the supercharger.

I have rallycrossed it this way and suffered no problems.

G-reg · Post by **G-reg** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:22 pm

Back in the day when my rack blew up I ran it dry until I could swap it out. It wasn't that bad at speed. Of course it blew in a parking lot or at slow speed. Where it scared me was in bad conditions I couldn't move the wheel as much as I would have liked, and almost didn't catch it a few times. How about a older Impreza L or Brighton, did a stripper Impreza ever come w/o power steering? Because then you could swap that rack and it would be geared properly for no power.

integrator · Post by **integrator** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:39 am

Yeah, I'd like to see if I could get a manual rack out of something. I have no power steering (looped manual rack and my lazy ass still hasn't gotten around to getting a shorter belt to bypass the pump). The car is almost impossible to park, I'm positive just a manual rack would be a huge improvement. I'm on a budget and since I will need a new rack soon (the line fittings are rotten and the rack is rusty) I figured I'd cheap out with a manual rack.

G-reg · Post by **G-reg** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:52 am

Used racks are not too expensive, I spent 75.00 shipped for a 94 legacy rack

evolutionmovement · Post by **evolutionmovement** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 6:48 am

Draining the fluid from the system helps enormously when driving a power rack without the pump running.

Steve

integrator · Post by **integrator** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:35 am

Thanks for the tip, I'll drain it on Sunday.

Now, does anyone know if the power steering lines are still available. This all started with a blown line. If I can get the lines as a bolt in I will have no problem sticking to the power steering but if not I'd rather not have to fab up my own lines since it's getting cold and when I do decide to tackle it I would like to finish as quickly as possible.

integrator · Post by **integrator** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:00 am

I'll check tomorrow for the availability of power steering lines. Maybe they will also know a thing about the interchangabilty of racks.

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BC-BF without power steering?

BC-BF without power steering?