Removing power steering?

bubbaflaat · Post by **bubbaflaat** » December 28th, 2004, 3:16 am

Alright. I've been having power steering leaks for a long time now. And i've been too lazy to fix it. And about a three weeks ago it got to the point where the fluid would leak out faster than I can pour it in. I just said F*** it and kept driving. Now that i've driven for about 2 weeks without fluid, i'm guessing the pump is toast. I've gotten used to not having power steering, but I need to get that pump out of there before it it melts the bearings and stops spinning and wrecks the belt and i'm stranded somewhere. I've heard a little on probe talk about a water pump pulley from a 2.0L 4-banger probe that would work if the holes are drilled out differently. So all the accesories can be run off the alternator and A/C pump. Has anyone else done this? I need help fast!! LOL I've also searched a bunch and come to no conclusion. I've also heard a 323 manual steering rack will fit into a mx-3, is this true? Thanks!

Grants · Post by **Grants** » December 28th, 2004, 7:27 am

And i've been too lazy to fix it.

Someone needs a new years resolution here. Disgraceful!!!

Theres trade offs in design, no way will a system made for power assistance last long without it. Nobody else has done it cause you just hit the bottom my friend. Everybody fixes broken things but your comment

I just said F*** it and kept driving.

pretty much says it all.

So all the accesories can be run off the alternator and A/C pump.

Both the alternator and ac compressor are parasitic loads. Maybe probetalk can help you. I'm also sure they can tell you about the 323 rack.

goldsberry1 · Post by **goldsberry1** » December 28th, 2004, 10:22 am

well, i'm not sure which belt fits with out the pump, but i have heard of people removeing the ac, and the power steering. but i think it was just for track use car. it would remove some of the power loss from driveing the pump. not much gain, but a little. try it see what happens. couldnt be that bad if your already used to not haveing it.

93SOHC · Post by **93SOHC** » December 28th, 2004, 1:19 pm

Your pump isn't nesserarily shot. I had a very leaky p/s system on an old ford aerostar. During the winter I said screw it and didn't put any in cause it was too cold and it was my winter beater anyway. About 4500 miles later I put some in and the pump still worked fine, (it was again pumping fluid everywhere else but the rack, LOL)

fry_81 · Post by **fry_81** » December 28th, 2004, 2:14 pm

dont you find it hell to drive in a parking lot or just at slower speeds?lol my pump was gone when i bought it, and man was it an awful ride home lol.

Gro Harlem · Post by **Gro Harlem** » December 28th, 2004, 3:12 pm

my ps pump was whining & being a bastard....eventually my PS pulley striped the teeth of of the pulley shaft and caused my belt to fall off, leaving me stranded.

I would think you wouldn't even need to have a special pulley made, just remove the pump and wrap the belt around the tensioner pulley. You'll need a shorter belt but it'll tension fine if you find out the proper legnth.

And yea, the 323 manual racks fit BUT keep in mind they are 4.3 turns lock-to-lock compared to the MX-3 GS which is 2.7. The power steering racks on the RS mx-3's (and all protege/323/escorts w/power steering) are 3.1 lock-to-lock.

If you wana remove it, just loop the power steering hose back into the rack and make sure there is some fresh fluid in there. IT should lubricate it enough for just manual use. My buddy w/ a escort did this and he's been driving it like that for about 3 years with no issues and its pretty easy to turn.

kiwi_MX3 · Post by **kiwi_MX3** » December 29th, 2004, 3:25 am

Hi Bubba,

Same along the lines of Gro was on about, for the Mazada series 6
we built up for racing here, we looped the power steering lines into a
small resivour tank for for lubrication.

Personally Id machine up a polyvee pulley in place of the idler one,
but seriously mate i think in the long run some new hoses..

bubbaflaat · Post by **bubbaflaat** » December 29th, 2004, 4:01 am

LOL, see i'm usually not like this. But I just got done painting my car, pulling the engine out to change the front main seal, and install a new clutch. That was a crapload of work, and after that i'm just not motivated to work on my car right now. I'm not taking it out for power gains or anything. Just too dumb to fix it at the time. You think I can put a serpintine belt around the tensioner even though the ribbed side would be what is wraping around the tensioner?

lakersfan1 · Post by **lakersfan1** » December 29th, 2004, 9:52 am

bubbaflaat wrote:You think I can put a serpintine belt around the tensioner even though the ribbed side would be what is wraping around the tensioner?

Someone did do that. I forget who. He even emailed me a video showing what he did. I deleted the video since then, but he basically just did what you just suggested.

RoundTop · Post by **RoundTop** » December 29th, 2004, 10:26 am

With the MX-3 having speed sensitive power steering, I would fix it.

I mean, the point of it is that at low speed it kicks in full, but as you go faster it turns off (making it respond better at high speed).