Manual Rack&Pinion

adude · 01-15-2006, 09:59 PM

Has anyone replaced the power rack and pinion with a manual one? How does it feel/work? What unit did you use and do you know ratio of the unit? How about the BMR K member with the pinto manual rack? Anyone Installed one yet and how do they feel (improved handling)?

Thanks, Adude

**MadSeason** · 01-16-2006, 07:53 AM

I've seen the bmr and another aftermarket k-member brake before, the guy eventually went back to the stock K member. It was on his daily driver too.. It's not built to improve handling, just reduce weight up front. It does allow for additional caster on the alignment, but you'll never need it. The Manual Rack is only ment for a drag car. It frees up HP and reduces a little weight up front from removing power steering. The only real benefit is more drastic turning from moving the wheel less. If you're at a stand still its harder to turn the wheels, moving will make turning a little easier though, but nearly as good as having power steering attached - Mad

**mrr23** · 01-16-2006, 05:31 PM

here, do this. take your belt off. start the car and try to turn the wheel. that's how hard it's going to be to turn the wheel with a manual rack. just like madseason said. mainly for losing wieght.

**MadSeason** · 01-16-2006, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by mrr23

here, do this. take your belt off. start the car and try to turn the wheel. that's how hard it's going to be to turn the wheel with a manual rack. just like madseason said. mainly for losing wieght.

I've actually done that when my pump had a hose go bad... Did get 4 more MPG on the highway trip home without it though. Still turning was a bitch

adude · 01-16-2006, 06:34 PM

Absolutely not. A system operated with the pump (power supply) disabled is vastly more difficult to turn and has way less response than a system that was designed from the start to operate without power assist. There is also the ratio factor; much higher gear ratio results in only having to turn the wheel slightly for a very fast and wide response. Designed properly they should be only modestly hard to turn when stopped, and if your draggin' some cat in a ricer, you ARE running that PS pump at way past it's normal design parameters, so yup, it's sucking up significant HORSEPOWER. I have always made manual steering, electric fan and waterpump,manual tranny w/OD and reasonable rear gears my recipe, so I could run the AIR. (been thinking about trying to design a top loading super charger that will bolt right to the top end sorta like a GM 871 only FI) Whoa!! Where'd that come from?

I was really interested to see if anybody had tried any of the few manufacturers out there in particular and had any first-hand experience that they could pass on so I could avoid any real dogs. Believe it or not I was thinking of trying the BMR K-member with integral MM stands designed for use with a Pinto Manual Rack. Anybody try that one yet?

Man, I gotta go. Thanks for the replys guys

**01 Red WS6** · 01-20-2006, 05:36 PM

Just taking the belt off of his car now and driving like that won't tell him what it will be like with a manual rack. It's setup differently. I owned a car with a manual rack and it wasn't that bad. Sure it was a little more work to turn the wheel but it was setup to be like that so it wasn't too bad. When my PS pump went out on another car it was 10x's harder to turn the wheel because the whole thing was setup to have the pump.

There is a shop here (RPM) and their shop car has a manual rack on it. The girl that races the car doesn't seem to have any trouble turning the wheel. She is a little thing to 5'3" maybe. If she can do it I don't see any reason why you would have more trouble than her.

adude · 01-27-2006, 09:41 PM

Thanks for everyones input. I think I will stay with the stock K member like Mad said. I'm not real hot on the light weight K members appearance, they just don't look like they could hack my every day driving and hold up (alignment, tight handling. M6, and the funky roads in Fla.). But if someone could tell me through personal experience that they obtained superior results with a particular fabbed K member I could be pursuaded to give it a trial. I think I will try to get in touch with RPM in Arlington to check out the manual rack 01Red mentioned,it sounds like what I'm looking for. Again thanks to all for your input. I welcome this and any other info that members can offer. This site really is the best. Keep it up!!!! adude aka Dan

**MadSeason** · 01-27-2006, 09:48 PM

Glad we could help, good luck and if you try anything remember to post some feedback on it for everybody. See you around.

**01 Red WS6** · 01-28-2006, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by adude

Thanks for everyones input. I think I will stay with the stock K member like Mad said. I'm not real hot on the light weight K members appearance, they just don't look like they could hack my every day driving and hold up (alignment, tight handling. M6, and the funky roads in Fla.). But if someone could tell me through personal experience that they obtained superior results with a particular fabbed K member I could be pursuaded to give it a trial. I think I will try to get in touch with RPM in Arlington to check out the manual rack 01Red mentioned,it sounds like what I'm looking for. Again thanks to all for your input. I welcome this and any other info that members can offer. This site really is the best. Keep it up!!!! adude aka Dan

If you want to contact RPM it's in Lewisville. PM Me and I'll give you their number and website.