Power steering bypass?

[nightfire]

Has anyone tried setting up a P/S bypass switch in the cabin?

There's a P/S pressure control wire that leads to the ECU to change the assist rate; if this were interrupted/held high/low (whatever it needs), would that fully disengage the P/S pump?

Has anyone raced with the pump disengaged? How is the road feedback?

[Daninski]

With the belt still hooked up would it make any difference?

[nightfire]

Well apparently we have variable power steering assistance, and the P/S pressure is controlled electronically (tied to engine speed).

I'm just wondering how much control we really have. If you were to ground out the P/S control line (or +12V, whatever it needs) would that close the pressure completely?

[Nd4SpdSe]

As far as I know, and as far as I can tell, it's a 100% mechanical system.

It would still be a variable assistance because the pump is tied to the crank system of the motor, so the faster the crank spins, the faster the pump spins, the more assistance you get.

Why would you want to close off the pump completely? Sealing the lines would mean the fluid has nowhere to go, so it would make it immensly harder to actually steer. Those who tie their lines off to bypass the system (to remove the P/S pump to free up power), have the lines looped so the fluid has a place to go, and because the fluid lubricates the system.

If you want to make it easier, you'd have to look into an electric powersteering pump, so it can run at peak efficienty no matter the RPM's of the motor.

[Ryan]

Or swap in a manual steering rack.

[nightfire]

Well, I was looking for a best of both worlds solution. I'd like to keep power steering for parking (because manually cranking 225's while parallel parking would not be fun), but be able to switch to full manual for better road feedback when driving fast.

I swear I remember seeing a wire listed in the schematics for "P/S Oil Pressure" .. and I swear I remember hooking up a harness for it... but maybe that's only a sensor. Or maybe I'm high. :/