RSX power steering removal?

[tag]

Hi Tobi!

My power steering pump on my 02' RSX type S apparently doesn't think that 40 continuous minutes of track time on a hot summer day is acceptable. So it decided to crack open and bleed everywhere.

I am considering just removing the thing, car is dedicated for racing and sees no street time. Aside from making it a complete pain to get on the trailer and drive at low speed, what other concerns shoud I have?

My understanding is the idler pully from an 02+ Civic Si will allow me to keep the same belt configuration. Once that is done, I assume that I just need to remove the lines going to the rack and plug the inlets . . . is that all there is to it, or something I am missing?

Thanks once again for your help!

[em2Greg]

She lives again! Congrats!

[tag]

She lives again! Congrats!

Thanks. Been up and running since roughly April, made it through a couple of Trials events and a club race pretty reliably. Just a few little problems here and there, but nothing suprising from a car that is pretty heavily abused :)

[tag]

Okay after a bit of research, I have once again answered my own question. Since it looks like the rack is also lubricated by the P/S fluid I will need to retain some sort of reservoir, loop the lines together and feed them from the reservoir with some sort of breather to prevent a pressure buildup.

I think this is a good idea, steering has always felt a bit numb on the RSX and one less part to fail.

[stu]

While you're researching, see if there is a manual rack from another car that will fit into yours. I doubt there will be one since your car is so new, but that's what I did with my 90 Integra. I just put a manual rack from a CRX in it, and never had to worry about it again.

[tag]

While you're researching, see if there is a manual rack from another car that will fit into yours. I doubt there will be one since your car is so new, but that's what I did with my 90 Integra. I just put a manual rack from a CRX in it, and never had to worry about it again.

I think the closest available would be the Ep3 setup that is electric. I am not sure what the TypeR has, probably the same as the S though. The loopback thing should be about 20$ in parts - only potential problem is the ratio may be a bit low for manual steering. I guess the best way to find out is to do it and see if I like it.

[exciv2000]

get back to work ;)

[HONDA GHANDI]

We pulled the PS off of Chris car too and looping the fluid results in heavier steering than normal. Because now you will have to move the steering and the fluid through the lines. What I did on my Si is tear down the entire rack and lubricate it with high temp grease. Reassemble it so that it can breathe filtered air when you move it back and forth. It feels very light even with slicks on. The only issue like you said is pulling it on and off the trailer and moving it around the pits at slow speeds.

[tag]

Thought I would post back on how it turned out . . .

I picked up some adapters, and 1/4 hose nipples to tap into the rack. I ran two lines into a tee fitting and ran the third into a brake reservoir that is designed to bleed off extra pressure. I threw a rag into the reservoir to prevent the P/S fluid from squirting out when the pressure builds up.

I picked up an idler pulley from an EP3, and used a 50 1/2 in gatorback six-ribbed belt to replace the 7 rib belt (I had been using a gates 7 rib belt with custom machined spacers on the alternator to get the length correct, for the A/C delete -- but go figure gates has a backorder on the belt?!?.)

So how did it work? Over 100 mph it feels light like stock. Under 15 mph it is a chore to steer, but overall it feels great! I can feel what the wheels are doing on the track which definitely helped me drive the car at its limits not over them. I didn't get a chance to test the car before going to the club race at pueblo so I was very nervous about what would happen - but it turns out to be one of the most benficial things I have done to the car. The gatorback belt seemed to hold up just fine despite being a 6 rib instead of 7. Both days of the club race were over 104F and the belt held up.

I had a couple of mis-shifts mid-corner, and it turns out that I definitely need both hands to steer in low-speed corners :) But the added feedback from the car was well worth the effort. Oh ya and the extra 3 horsepower :rolleyes:

Anyways here is a short clip from the first race, you can see how much more feedback the wheel gives . . .
http://www.generic-racing.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=43&pos=3

[HONDA GHANDI]

Nice :thumbup:

[taikahn]

Very. ;)