power steering vs manual..

**Firebirdformula** · 07-16-2009, 11:35 AM

do they make a manual steering box for the firebird....and if so how much harder will it be to turn?

**JoshieDoom** · 07-16-2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Firebirdformula

do they make a manual steering box for the firebird....and if so how much harder will it be to turn?

Yes, they are a different ratio so it is a bit easier but if you want to get a feel for no power steering put your car up in nuetral and kill it and drive around...

BMR I do believe makes the kits.

It does clean up everything A TON

**Spaz** · 07-16-2009, 12:02 PM

the only thing power steering does is make your wheel easier to turn when moving slow... my 74 vette had no power steering and was easy to drive/turn once it was moving...

**Firebirdjones** · 07-16-2009, 12:20 PM

Ya they make manual racks for the 4th gens to rid the power steering.

These cars are relatively light up front, and with the engine set back as far as it is (almost completely behind the spindle center line),,,manual steering in a 4th gen is a breeze.

I still drive 2 other cars with manual steering, I actually like the feel.

**Firebirdformula** · 07-16-2009, 02:41 PM

o i had to drive my bird with out power steering.... it went out on me when me and sum buds left school at lunch and wer doing donuts lol i was like o fuck .....it wasnt that bad once it was moving lol.....but it sucked backing up and shit..

**wenn_du_weinst** · 07-16-2009, 02:42 PM

my car had it I liked it I had en excuse why people couldn't drive it

**Firebirdformula** · 07-16-2009, 02:45 PM

haha hell ya ....but i dont let no one drive it any way

**wenn_du_weinst** · 07-16-2009, 03:05 PM

neither did I to much power and it was a 6spd so I just pictured them fishtailing in to the curb

**Firebirdformula** · 07-16-2009, 03:12 PM

haha exactly....how much was the rack you had??

**Firebirdjones** · 07-16-2009, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Firebirdformula

o i had to drive my bird with out power steering.... it went out on me when me and sum buds left school at lunch and wer doing donuts lol i was like o fuck .....it wasnt that bad once it was moving lol.....but it sucked backing up and shit..

Well a power steering car that throws the belt or becomes inop,,,,is a completely different ballgame than a manual steering car.

Just for starters,,,,the manual steer cars come with slower boxes that have different ratio's, and are much easier to use then say,,,a power assisted car that isn't working,,,that's nearly impossible to drive for very long.

**Firebird Phoenix** · 07-16-2009, 07:24 PM

So how much of a weight savings are we talking (if any) and increased handling performance if you were to switch to manual steering?

**Firebirdformula** · 07-16-2009, 08:51 PM

plus there wouldnt be any drag on the belt i no the ps pump doesnt take any at all but i want every lil bit i can get lol

**Firebirdformula** · 07-16-2009, 08:56 PM

o ya i no that....but it still wasnt that bad once you got it going but jus moving the car was a pain in the ass

**Firebirdjones** · 07-17-2009, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by Firebirdformula

plus there wouldnt be any drag on the belt i no the ps pump doesnt take any at all but i want every lil bit i can get lol

I've tried the trick of removing the power steering belt on my 70 firebird at the track.
It's amazing how much that power steering soaks up HP. I picked up close to 2 mph when I took it off.

**shady milkman** · 07-17-2009, 07:41 AM

subscribed

**Firebirdformula** · 07-17-2009, 10:14 AM

haha thats wassup!!!! next will prolly be my ac hahaha

**wenn_du_weinst** · 07-17-2009, 01:37 PM

I could barely notice it had no power steering
when going slow it would feel like I had really wide tires at slow speeds but other than that I didn't really notice you should have no problem with driving it

**Firebirdformula** · 07-19-2009, 10:52 AM

hell ya plus i can get rid of the pump and all that... but ya i dont think it will be that hard ....once you get it rolling plus its alot easier i bet then jus driving without ps