Power vs. Manual steering

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11-13-2006, 06:42 PM
trickyrix

Power vs. Manual steering

My car has power steering and, while it's very light and direct, it seems a little bit TOO light and sensitive on fast sweepers (I recently had it aligned when I put shocks on it, so I don't think that's the issue). Now, I'm not complaining or anything, BUT I've heard that the manual steering is a whole different animal. Having owned several old RX-7s with manual steering, I can see how the Miata would be suited to a manual rack. So... I'm actually thinking of swapping out to the manual rack. Am I mentally challenged? Do I need to just stop bitching and get used to it? Does anyone have anything to weigh in with on this debate - power vs. manual?
11-13-2006, 06:47 PM
Miatamoto

For a daily driver I wouldn't go with manual steering.

For an autocross car I wouldn't go with manual steering.

For a track car, maybe, the manual steering might be better.
11-13-2006, 06:49 PM
Treibenschnell

I disagree with Miatamoto, my car (when it ran :( ) had manual steering and I loved every minute of it. Later, when I drove a NA with power steering it felt extremely loose. YMMV
11-13-2006, 06:51 PM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

My car has power steering and, while it's very light and direct, it seems a little bit TOO light and sensitive on fast sweepers (I recently had it aligned when I put shocks on it, so I don't think that's the issue). Now, I'm not complaining or anything, BUT I've heard that the manual steering is a whole different animal. Having owned several old RX-7s with manual steering, I can see how the Miata would be suited to a manual rack. So... I'm actually thinking of swapping out to the manual rack. Am I mentally challenged? Do I need to just stop bitching and get used to it? Does anyone have anything to weigh in with on this debate - power vs. manual?

Another option is depowering your current rack.
11-13-2006, 07:12 PM
icepenguin66

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

Another option is depowering your current rack.

Did that to my track car. Since its not street-legal, I can't say much for daily driving other than its a bitch moving it around the garage with the shaved RA1's! At Hallett, it felt great.
11-13-2006, 07:20 PM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by icepenguin66

Did that to my track car. Since its not street-legal...

Depowering is not street legal or your track car is not street legal...
11-13-2006, 07:24 PM
altiain

One thing to keep in mind about the manual rack is that it has a slower ratio than the power unit.

My '99 had a factory manual rack. I loved it at the track and on longer autocross courses, didn't like it at all on tighter autocross courses. On the street there were times I liked it and times I didn't.

Personally, I'd try to find someone with a manual rack and drive their car before you make the switch. You may love it, you may hate it, but I'd rather find out before I went to the trouble of swapping them.
11-13-2006, 08:50 PM
Adam Payrot

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

Depowering is not street legal or your track car is not street legal...

Depowering is street legal, he means his car ;)

FWIW, I depowered my Miata's, would never have gone back to the powered rack afterwards.
11-15-2006, 09:10 AM
trickyrix

Interesting... I like the thought of de-powering the power rack, since the ratio seems to be just fine. However, I'd like to drive a car with the regular manual rack before I do anything. Wouldn't mind driving a de-powered car too... hmmmm.