Power or Manual rack and pinion steering? - Lateral-g Forums

lancejames22 · #1 05-06-2008, 10:42 PM

Can I get some advice/experiances on power and manual racks. I have a 68 Camaro and I am installing ; Global West upper and lower tubular control arms, SSBC disc brakes, QA1 coil over shocks, and a hotchkis sway bar. the only thing I have not addressed is my steering. I am looking at unisteers set up and am impressed. I currently have power steering. I have heard that a manual rack gives you great feel of the road, yet I am sure that a power rack must have a great feel too right? I'm just concerned that the manual rack will be a handful at a dead stop or at really low speeds. Any way this is a street car (weekend driver) what do you guys think?

crazycarl · #2 05-20-2008, 12:23 PM

Whichever route you decide to go, make sure that it's not based on a Mustang II or Pinto rack as you will have HORRENDOUS bump steer issues in your car that is now easier to steer.

68TINCAN · #3 05-20-2008, 01:28 PM

In my opinon, power steering is the way to go on a street car. If you have never driven a maunal steer car before, just take off the power steering belt and drive it to the store and park it in the most difficult parking space you can find and you will understand. The real question you should be asking is power steering gear box or power steering rack. From reading this form, alot of folks are getting performance gear boxes with 12:1 ratio from lee manufacturing. (quick turning and better feel)
Manual steering is for high perf. raceing where horsepower is the only concern.

Silver69LS1 · #4 06-04-2008, 11:32 PM

I agree, power is definitely nice for the street. Especially if you plan to run a wide tire up front and a smaller diameter (Modern) steering wheel.

LS1NOVA · #5 06-05-2008, 06:59 AM

Just remember that manual boxs typically have a different ratio that is easier and slower than a power box with no belt on. I run manual and its fine. I dont park in tight spaces at the mall anyways.

**CraigMorrison** · #6 06-05-2008, 07:24 AM

A manual rack can give you a better feel for the road, but depending on which power rack you get, you can still have a great road feel that could probably be equivalent to that of a manual. It's the power steering setups of the 70's and 80's with the "one finger turn" that we think of that completely removed any communication between the road, tires and your hands.