WTB: PS rack for proper de-power

[Jiggerachi]

Before I start calling TDR and junkyards, i'm looking for a PS rack core that I can sit next to all my other boxes of car parts for 6 months start depowering in my spare time. That is unless they are retarded expensive in which case i'll pull mine out and start working on it. I need an allignment and my tie rod bushings are shot, so I figured now would be a good time to do this as well.

Anyone have one laying around? Have cash, but i'm a cheap bastard. What do these go for? Couldn't find the price on Planet Miata.

Also can't seem to find the idler pulley assembly so I can keep my AC. I've looked all the regular vendors, apparently Mazda stopped making them.
Any ideas where to look?

[rmonheim]

I recently did mine, and it only took just over a day (I went slow). And I hadn't touched a steering rack in my life. I also got mine welded @ Vorshlag for $20 and I highly recommend that.

Also, I couldn't find a idler either (they're $$$), so I just gutted the PS pump and it works just fine. Just pull the vanes out and plug the holes. Took me all of 10 min after I had the pump out.

You'll love the depower, its the best improvement/$ mod I've done to any car.

[Black_devil_miata]

Ebay has manual racks all day long for $150-200.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAZDA-MIATA-...vxp=mtr&_uhb=1

[Black_devil_miata]

Oh and Idler pulley

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Four-Seasons...vxp=mtr&_uhb=1

[Jiggerachi]

^The problem with that idler pulley is you need the bracket once you remove your power steering. Nobody makes that bracket.
The problem with Manual racks is, one that's about $100 more than I wanted to spend, and manual racks have a higher steering ratio, more turns between locks. You get the sharpness, but less go cart feel. That's why I want to depower a PS rack.

http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php

[Jiggerachi]

I recently did mine, and it only took just over a day (I went slow). And I hadn't touched a steering rack in my life. I also got mine welded @ Vorshlag for $20 and I highly recommend that.

Hmmm you've got me thinking here. Never touched a steering rack either, but car's a weekend toy so downtime isn't an issue. I've read some say the job was easy and some say it was an absolute bitch. The more I read, the more it looks pretty straight forward, I can't see what would be difficult. Miata Heaven has a rack for $50, but if its no that bad, maybe i'll just pull mine some day soon, motivate me to hurry up. Can't beat free.

And i'm probably going to end up gutting the PS pump. Even if I found the rare bracket, it looks as heavy as the pump anyway, don't really see the point after that. Thanks for the insight.

[Awdieee]

Brandon,

I am in the process of depowering my PS rack too. The idler is very hard to come by but I did manage to find one on the pointy board at a premium. $96 shipped.

Last I heard, Planet Miata have the idler, you might want to give them a call. Good luck.

[modernbeat]

...I did manage to find one on the pointy board at a premium. $96 shipped.

That's actually a very good price. I bought one new from Mazda Motorsport and I think that the discounted price was around $110 shipped.

[Rob®]

I got my idler bracket and pulley for free from a friend in NJ. Pretty sure he has another on a second parts car. I will give him a shout tomorrow and see what he wants for it if he has it.

[Jiggerachi]

^Sure, thanks Rob.

[motorollow]

The rare bracket is available locally but you have to buy a supercharger to get it.

[Jiggerachi]

Don't tempt me...please pleeeeaase don't tempt me, i'm too weak.

[Rob®]

Tells me he sold it, sorry.

[Jiggerachi]

Thanks for looking out though. Honestly the prices I'm seeing for those things and looking at the design I can't seem to justify buying one vs just gutting the PS pump and using that. If it begins to fail then i'll look at other options, but it's not like it wasn't going in the trash after pulling it, might as well get some use out of it.

I can get a PS rack for $50, but really I can just pull mine and try it in a day, worse case it sits in the driveway for a week...instead of the garage. Really this thread is useless at this point, haha.

I have read that Mazda used multiple vendors for the racks and that some are different inside and can be more difficult to work on. If I get unlucky and have one of these then I'll spend the cash on another one...providing it's one of the 'easy' racks, however you can tell...???

[motorollow]

Fyi- my PS rack is starting to leak. From my understanding they are not DIY rebuildable. I am going to replace my 19 year old PS rack with a remanufactured one. I only want to do this once.

[modernbeat]

Who dropped off their PS rack pinion at Vorshlag today for some welding? Ryan was checking with me on how much bead was going to be too much.

[Awdieee]

Who dropped off their PS rack pinion at Vorshlag today for some welding? Ryan was checking with me on how much bead was going to be too much.

I stop by there this morning. :) Thanks for the awesome job.

[Jiggerachi]

Wasn't me unfortunately. Next week hopefully.