power to manual steering

tooms351 · 09-03-2009, 06:02 AM

Hi all. I would like to switch, have found a manual rack and wonder if I can use the original down shaft from the fire wall to the steering box. This is an 86 turbo thanks in advance!

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

The manual input shaft is longer than the power one. Not sure if they are still available new or not, you may need to have your current one lengthened.

tooms351 · 09-03-2009, 07:00 AM

wow, thanks for the quick comeback! I could buy a used unit including the down shaft but not sure how much wear and play until ihstalled. I would rather buy new and lengthen, I imagine it couldn't be to tough to do........

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Check paragon to see if they are still available. They were as of a few months ago but remeber reading they were getting pretty low on stock and unsure if more were coming.

zedsn · 09-03-2009, 04:50 PM

I lengthened one a couple of years back and think that I had to add an inch or more. It was a pain to do because you have to keep the upper and lower the same as it was when I cut it apart. The top and bottom ujoint placement are not the same. I also had a manual one for reference while I was doing the job which made it a little easier. When it was all said and done the shaft was not exactly strait and I had to put it in a press to straighten it a very small amount.

Aslet · 09-03-2009, 05:09 PM

944online had a kit for $1200 for the whole manual power system...

tooms351 · 09-03-2009, 06:04 PM

ugh $1200 is a little pricey, I'm hoping to get away with $400. Hey zedsn I was looking at the shaft earlier and if I mark it to keep the u-joints in position, just cut it in half and weld a sleeve of the correct length, how did you do it and are you happy with the end result over your previous ps setup, thanks.

tooms351 · 09-03-2009, 06:06 PM

hey techno, I didn't see one on paragon, but autozone had one on their web catalog!

zedsn · 09-03-2009, 06:13 PM

Hi, I took a steel rod and turned it down to the same size OD, cut my shaft in half, ground metal away to make 2 points and welded her up. Some poeple like the manual steeering feel where as others do not. I do personally and don't have to worry about anymore power steering fluid leaks. If you need an exact length of the shaft I can maybe get you the length.

tooms351 · 09-03-2009, 06:24 PM

I think I'll try the sleeve method as it should be easier for me to weld and just as strong(I hope) thanks but I should be able to mock the length up. I'm basically looking to keep the car leak free and simple, I'll like the feel of manual steering but will miss being able to whip the wheel around one handed!

962porsche · 05:07 PM

i find parts like that on car-parts.com car parts checks bone yards over the USA . i picked up a good used man.rack and steering shaft . the rack was 100.dollars with shipping and the shaft was 20. bucks with shipping .

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aslet

944online had a kit for $1200 for the whole manual power system...

If you're patient, you should be able to find a manual 944 or 924 at a junkyard and buy the entire car for less than that. You'd be able to pull out all the manual rack pieces, part the rest and probably still come out ahead on $$$.

techartisan · 09-05-2009, 12:29 PM

Im fine with using a bit of muscle to avoid the leaks. Bought my manual setup off ebay for $450...the guy douglas5325 has another setup listed. Another ebayer has a cheaper one, $300 but its not as clean as the one I got or the one he's got listed now.

josephsc · 09-05-2009, 01:05 PM

The cheapest way is to gut an old leaky power-steering rack. Just open it up, take out all the rings, seals and other unnecessary parts, grease it up and plug it up with some normal bolts. Cost is just grease and bolts.

The gear ratios will be different (some might prefer it), however.

tooms351 · 09-07-2009, 12:48 PM

Hi everyone, sorry for the delay I just got home from flagging a CFR SCCA club race at Sebring. I haven't worked a race since the 12 hour in march and this was really fun. There were about 130 cars, enough workers, good close racing and the following was free both days, food, beer, camping and a laid back atmosphere! Anyway back to work thanks for the replies, I like the carparts.com idea my only concern is how much wear will the used box have? I know it's german engineering but has anyone who bought a boneyard box got one with a lot of slop with the wheel at center? I'll try to buy one real soon. cya later

tooms351 · 09-07-2009, 12:55 PM

oh yea as much as I would love to buy another car, my garage and drive have reached total auto saturation point!! One more vehicle or toy and code enforcement will explode as well as total gridlock on my side! But thanks for the help Porcche-O-Phile and all others.