Topic: Manual steering rack?

[username]

Not interested in looping my PS lines, but I feel the car has overly-assisted steering.
I have found that the steering shaft is shared with the Cobalt, but is there a drop-in manual steering rack available?
Failing that, is the steering rack in this car shared with another? I can go on a parts cross-reference adventure from there to try and find a compatible manual rack if I know an alternate source for the PS rack in the car.

If it comes down to it, I guess I can either find or have an underdrive pulley for the PS pump made, but I'd rather save the weight and remove some unneeded hardware under the hood if I can.

[DeepBlueGXP]

You could always take off the steering belt.  It's a stand alone.

[username]

My power steering pump is not on it's own.

[ophidia31]

Yes it is. AC/Alternator is on one and the steering pump is on the other. And I recommend against trying to use the stock steering rack with the ps disabled.  Pulled the belt a couple weeks ago to try it. Unless you are a body builder, it takes ALOT of effort to move these giant wheels. Trying to find a manual rack with an easier ratio is a better solution.

[wspohn]

Agree that you lose significant feel with the PS, but the ophidean makes a good pont about the steering being stiff with the large tires we have.

Miatas came both ways and the Solo guys all run manual racks because you have far better feel, particularly at the edge of break-away.

If you are concerned about Solo driving, removing the belt might be a way to go. I doubt you'd want stiff steering all the time on the street - parking would be a .  I own a 3300 lb. car with manual steering and a big block Chrysler up front and it is manageable, but the tires are around 215x15, not 245x45.

[username]

Yes it is. AC/Alternator is on one and the steering pump is on the other. And I recommend against trying to use the stock steering rack with the ps disabled.  Pulled the belt a couple weeks ago to try it. Unless you are a body builder, it takes ALOT of effort to move these giant wheels. Trying to find a manual rack with an easier ratio is a better solution.

I have an LS under the hood; the belt for the PS drives most of the other accessories as well in my case.

I'm definitely not interested in running power rack ratios without the assist. 265s up front shouldn't be terrible if a real manual rack is out there. Most everything else I own has manual steering, admittedly with only 225s at the front.

[username]

Agree that you lose significant feel with the PS, but the ophidean makes a good pont about the steering being stiff with the large tires we have.

Miatas came both ways and the Solo guys all run manual racks because you have far better feel, particularly at the edge of break-away.

If you are concerned about Solo driving, removing the belt might be a way to go. I doubt you'd want stiff steering all the time on the street - parking would be a .  I own a 3300 lb. car with manual steering and a big block Chrysler up front and it is manageable, but the tires are around 215x15, not 245x45.

Not worried about low-speed steering effort, mine is an autocross and weekend car. I don't take it anywhere with tight parking already.