How to Convert Power Steering to Manual

There are two distinct types of steering mechanisms used in today's vehicles---rack and pinion steering and the conventional steering gear box. Both can be converted to manual steering. Manual steering frees up horsepower, although the biggest advantage is to give better feel for the road for racing purposes. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that, although the steering feels quite easy while moving, at a stop or slow speed it is quite difficult to turn.

Things You'll Need

• ½-inch air gun
• ½-inch sockets
• Ball joint and tie rod separator
• Large hammer
• Set of wrenches
• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Line wrenches

Instructions

1. Decide what type of steering mechanism you want to install. Manual steering, be it rack and pinion or gear box, comes in different ratios. Both types of steering come in both close- and intermediate-ratio steering. Close-ratio steering has the least amount of turns lock to lock---it is much more difficult to turn when moving slowly. Intermediate-ratio has the most turns lock to lock. The more turns the slower the response but the easier at slow speeds.

2. Remove the accessory belt for the power steering. Remove the power steering hoses and drain the fluid into a container. Remove the power steering pump and brackets. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands.

3. Remove the nuts and bolts from the steering column rag joint to separate the steering shaft from the rack and pinion or gear assembly. Remove the tie rod ends from the spindles on the rack and pinion or the drag link from the pitman arm on the gear box. In both cases, use the ball joint and tie rod separator tool to break them loose.

4. Remove the gear box by removing the three long bolts through the frame. The box is heavy so be prepared to hold it so it does not land on something important (body parts). In the case of the rack and pinion, remove the two or four bolts holding the rack and pinion to the frame. Some rack and pinions have two bolts that go through the rack itself and hold it to the frame and the other type has rubber bushings that surround either side and are held down with c-clamps with two bolts each.

5. Remove the tie rod ends from the old rack and pinion because the new one does not come with the tie rods. It is important to count how many turns it takes to remove each of them so they can be installed on the new unit the same amount of turns. If this is not done, the alignment will be off so far it will need to be aligned just to drive it. It will need to be aligned even so, but it will be much closer. This is only necessary on the rack and pinion.

6. Center the unit before installation by turning the shaft all the way one way and then counting the turns in the opposite direction. Turn the shaft back half the number of turns so it is centered. Install the unit in reverse order of removal.