Power Steering Pump

Charles & Morven Lynch · Post by **Charles & Morven Lynch** » Mon Oct 07, 2002 7:56 pm

You can swap the rack with one from a non power steering model. I've seen
that written up on miata.net somewhere.
My MX5 has power steering, but my wife's one doesn't. There is quite a
difference
and I much prefer having it. Morven (my wife) on the other hand is used
to not having power steering and
she hates driving my MX5 because of it.
--
Charles & Morven Lynch, chicnmo@ihug.co.nz on 07/10/2002

On Tue, 8 Oct 2002 08:30:52 +1300, lou Girardin wrote:

Remove the pump, the hoses and block the inlet / outlet to the steering

rack.
[...]

Cory · Post by **Cory** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 8:12 am

What is envolved in removing the power steering pump for good? are there any
implications? being such a small car surely they don't require this, its
just more load on the engine

Cory

lou Girardin · Post by **lou Girardin** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 8:30 am

Remove the pump, the hoses and block the inlet / outlet to the steering rack.
Cancel your gym membership, your biceps won't need it.
The power rack is higher ratio than non-power = harder to turn.
Lou

Ian Chapman · Post by **Ian Chapman** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 9:06 am

Hi All,

Has anyone 'geared down' a power steer pump?

I've had this idea in my mind (fantasy?) for a while that if I altered pulley
sizes on the engine and pump to reduce the speed of the pump you would get
less flow/pressure and therefore less assistance. Possibly less severe than
removing it completely. Or could you fit a flow restrictor or regulator in
the line to do the same? Am I dreaming about the technically impossible?
I'd be interested in some expert opinion here.

Ian

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 11:09 am

for a free demo, find a *quiet* street with a slight incline. Turn off ignition. Attempt to steer car.

The power steering rack has fewer turns lock-to-lock than a manual making it heavier. Typically there is lots of caster in the alignment which makes it feel heavier too (but provides good feedback and self-centering). Lastly, the mx5 was designed with pwr steering from the outset! And like so many other things on this gem of a car, designed properly...

So, try it and tell us what you decide !

Cory wrote:What is envolved in removing the power steering pump for good? are there any
implications? being such a small car surely they don't require this, its
just more load on the engine

Cory

Graeme Naisbitt · Post by **Graeme Naisbitt** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 11:12 am

But don't forget to leave the ignition key turned to the first position
=) Or you'll find it even heavier as the steering lock cuts in. This
is obviously a dumb piece of advice but I've seen it happen _sigh_

Graeme
D4NGER

Ian Chapman · Post by **Ian Chapman** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 11:18 am

Don't forget to turn the key back on so you don't lock the steering!!!

Ian

Gary Morrison · Post by **Gary Morrison** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:02 pm

Re: Power Steering PumpHi Ian,

I'll copy an email I archived from Lester Seal on the power list a couple of
years ago about this. I have tried it with the belt off (too heavy) and
thought about Lester's mod. I talked to him recently and he said he'd dropped
the idea and was now using the standard power steering again as he was happy
with it...

Gary

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At the pump, under the pressure hose, is the pressure valve that controls the
variable assist.
As pressure builds (RPM increased) pressure is bled back to the pump, giving
less assist to the rack.
If the spring holding this valve has less resistance, it will take less
pressure (less RPM) to activate the valve and bleed pressure back to the pump.
I'm currently running a stock spring with one coil cut. Although the spring
is not weaker, the static length of the spring seems to bring the valve into
by-pass sooner.
Pulling the wire from the sensor will do nothing for your power assist, but
it's funny how the mind works, if you think it does, then it will feel like
it does.
It could be the same with this spring mod.

As always YMMV
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

lou Girardin · Post by **lou Girardin** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 3:33 pm

Don't forget that with no engine you'll only have 1 or 2 brake applications
before the booster goes away.
Lou

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 4:25 pm

oh go on ... live dangerously !!

my suggestion is based on my lazy method of backing into the garage. Anyone else should consider how much they paid for my 'advice' before undertaking it

nmr · Post by **nmr** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 9:30 pm

seen that written up on miata.net somewhere. My MX5 has power
steering, but my wife's one doesn't.

Woohoo! A 2xMX5 family. You guys obviously have neither
children nor a gardening habit.

Graeme Naisbitt · Post by **Graeme Naisbitt** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 9:52 pm

Hehe, yeah us too. Two shiny red MX5's, no kids and overgrown garden.

Graeme
D4NGER

my2cta · Post by **my2cta** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 10:14 pm

Only got one shiny MX5, two kids with their own cars and a 2 and a half
acre garden (not much overgrown). Can't fit many plants from the nursery in
the MX5 so you have to make a lot more trips. The best nurseries, of
course, are way out in the country a nice long drive on winding roads from
home...

No height restrictions when carrying trees home in an MX5, unlike the
limited overhead space available in large 4x4s. Every keen gardener should
have one.

Tim Dutton
MY2CTA
"Raindrops", Main Road North, Kaitoke, Upper Hutt
http://communities.msn.co.nz/Raindrops/

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 10:15 pm

""One must have Two" doesnt everyone!!! - in my case a Yellow and Laguna
blue. Have also had a BRG and red.

Graeme Naisbitt · Post by **Graeme Naisbitt** » Tue Oct 08, 2002 10:31 pm

When I first arrived in NZ, my partner Jo made the mistake of letting me
borrow hers for a week or two. When she took it back I was devastated
so I took a handful of GBP to the shiny car dealer. I was going to buy
a silver but spotted a red jellybean in a different garage, cheaper and
in much better condition so bought that instead. Jo was quite taken
aback when I arrived home in a red one too, she refused to get the
'HISMX' and 'HERMX' reg plates though.

Graeme

redwon · Post by **redwon** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 10:55 am

No height restrictions when carrying trees home in an MX5, unlike the
limited overhead space available in large 4x4s. Every keen
gardener should
have one.

Must be a bugger to get potting mix out of all the nooks and crannies
of the interior!!

Steve

CAUTION - This message may contain privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this message is prohibited. If you have received this message in error please notify AMCOR immediately. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and may not necessarily reflect the views of AMCOR.

lou Girardin · Post by **lou Girardin** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 2:36 pm

What about using old MX's as planter boxes?
Lou

my2cta · Post by **my2cta** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 11:22 pm

Just keep the tree upright and the potting mix stays in the planter bag.
For this you need a passenger who can hold the tree between his/her knees,
otherwise it tends to get blown over as speed increases and on bends (MX5s
seem to suffer from a lot of increased speed and bends). Passengers tend to
complain if this is done with prickly specimens such as holly, so you have
to choose the right species. You have to carry a good pair of secateurs in
the glove compartment too, so you can prune off any branches that are going
poke up the passenger's nostrils.

Tim

my2cta · Post by **my2cta** » Wed Oct 09, 2002 11:26 pm

They rust too quickly when used this way. I prefer rustic planter boxes
anyway, like Morris Travellers with the roof taken off...

Tim

Who is online