Converting PS rack to manual rack

[Gavatron]

I am thinking about getting rid of the power steering from my MA61 Supra track car. The rack is leaking and I will need to get custom lines made to suit the new engine.

Has anyone on here converted a power steering rack into a manual rack? Is it even possible? Before it is mentioned, there are no manual racks available for these cars.

[Disturbed1]

i want to do the same with my ma70....

just never got around to it so just bled the fluid and used the current rack without the pump hookd up

[Javal]

Excuse my idiocy Gav, but did the RA60/SA63/RA65 ever come with a manual rack?

If so, it should be a fairly straightforward affair.

[Gavatron]

Apparently they mount differently and are not as wide. There's a thread about that on here somewhere. I wish it was so simple

[Javal]

Apparently they mount differently and are not as wide. There's a thread about that on here somewhere. I wish it was so simple

I wish YOU were so simple babe.

[Javal]

Now, man up, get that angle grinder and welder out, and move the mounts to suit.

Make that shit work, son.

[Gavatron]

Mounts further from firewall, wider track, etc. Needs new rod ends, new steering shaft, new mounts.

Bit more than me and ye olde angle grinder can handle

[wilbo666]

What do you mean by "Convert power to manual" ?

You can run the PS rack without the PS pump, just make sure it is full of fluid and loop the lines is my understanding...

Also PS racks ussually have a lower turns to lock ratio... as they can get away with it and the power assist. This might be a good thing also.

As said fitting RA60/SA63/RA65 manual rack would be a PITA.

Cheers
Wilbo

[Gavatron]

I meant is it possible to remove internal seals, valve body etc to make it fully manual, to not need the fluid at all.

If need me I'll just loop it back, but it means the leaks will still be present.

[wilbo666]

Manual racks still have fluid in them to my knowledge...

I also think you'll find that as soon as stop sending pressurised fluid through the rack the leaks will stop...

Another option is spending $400-500 on a rebuild...

Cheers
Wilbo

[Gavatron]

Pretty sure manual racks just have grease inside the rack housing. The price of the rebuild is the main reason I want to get rid of it. Reckon I'll just loop it back for now and see how it goes.

[allencr]

I meant is it possible to remove internal seals, valve body etc to make it fully manual, to not need the fluid at all..

No reason not to.
I don't know what rack ever needed the 'looping for fluid' thing or if yours does, but I'd always assumed that it's an old wives tale.

[Gavatron]

So what exactly would you remove?

[allencr]

So what exactly would you remove?

I don't know, I don't know what you have.
I'd only have what was necessary for steering.
I know it needs a housing, it needs a pinion gear with a bearing on each end & the ability to adjust their pre-load, and it needs a rack gear with a sleeve bearing on one end & a adjustable guide on the other end to keep it in contact with the pinion gear. It also needs things to keep out water & dirt & smega and keep some clean lube inside it.

[The Real Roadrunner]

So what exactly would you remove?

The fluid, just go lock-lock repeatedly until the majority of fluid is out then link the ports to stop ingress of contaminents.

Be aware that most P/S racks are weaker than manual racks when not used with pumped fluid. Im not sure on the toyota stuff though as i havn't needed to pull a toyota P/S rack apart yet.

cheers
linden