question about power steering conversion

I know a Miata owner who has a power steering pump going out on their
1996 model. I was asked to replace the pump, but was also asked about
simply removing it.

Is this an option without going to a manual rack, and if so, do I simply
plug the hydraulic line fittings to the power steering rack and remove
the pump?

If I remember correctly, this is what was done on the 1991 red turbo Miata.
It definitely had no P/S, and this Miata owner was happy with the
steering effort required on that car.

I glanced around miata.net and did not find anything on it other than
doing the entire conversion one way or the other, but I may have missed it.

Thanks!

Pat

In article >, pws >
wrote:

> Is this an option without going to a manual rack, and if so, do I simply
> plug the hydraulic line fittings to the power steering rack and remove
> the pump?

FM explains all:
http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php

A depowered rack will be a bit stiffer than a real manual rack, because
the ratio is faster (fewer turns lock to lock).

--
Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, MO
'94C

Lanny Chambers wrote:

> FM explains all:
> http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php
>
> A depowered rack will be a bit stiffer than a real manual rack, because
> the ratio is faster (fewer turns lock to lock).


Turns out that was the setup on the red '91 turbo Miata. Now I remember
the seller mentioning the faster turn ratio.

It felt easy to turn to me, and that was with 7 inch wheels and
215/40/16 tires.

What's up with this information not being available at www.miata.net? I
looked for it there and figured that I had just missed it.

I will probably de-power the rack on my next Miata if it has power
steering, though I will get one that has not had the A/C removed next
time. :-)

Thanks sir,

Pat