To powersteer or not

Fairlady280z

Fairlady280z

Spectator
alright guys, My old z has both powersteering which is rather stiff and doesnt feel powered at all and a really small Grant wheel (i think like 12") anyway when coming out of drifts and straightening out, a few times i was too slow with the steeering and wasnt able to get the wheels straight before the car came out of the slide, so the car would start going in the direction I was countering in instead of straight, few times almost ending with me wrecking the car. Now im thinking is it the powersteering slowing me down maybe? ive never drifted any car but my own so i dont know how manual steeering cars handle or will getting a bigger diameter steering wheel gonna help me steer faster? Thanks
 
The smaller diameter steering wheel should make you steer faster and the p/s shouldn't be slowing you down. Maybe try replacing the bushings in your steering rack and eliminate any rubber in your steering shaft (if there is any - on s-chassis there is).
 
Tonymac said:
The smaller diameter steering wheel should make you steer faster and the p/s shouldn't be slowing you down. Maybe try replacing the bushings in your steering rack and eliminate any rubber in your steering shaft (if there is any - on s-chassis there is).
Click to expand...
yeah thats what I was thinking when i replaced my old torn up stock wheel with the smaller grant one. I mean when im parked and turn my wheel its almost like its manual steering, like the power steering isnt doing anything but it does work. i dont know if that normal for 25 yr old power steering or maybe something is wrong with my bushings in my steering rack. In comparison watching in-car drifting videos the drivers never look like theyre are fighting their wheels, they look smooth while turning them. While i look like im struggling to get it to turn. Maybe its just my low physical strength lol. So do most drifting drivers use power steering? I was under the impression all out drift cars used manual since i see 86 owners always trying to convert to manual.
 
I would just get rid of your p/s if it sucks that bad - especially if there's a manual rack available for your car.
 
Fairlady280z said:
yeah thats what I was thinking when i replaced my old torn up stock wheel with the smaller grant one. I mean when im parked and turn my wheel its almost like its manual steering, like the power steering isnt doing anything but it does work. i dont know if that normal for 25 yr old power steering or maybe something is wrong with my bushings in my steering rack. In comparison watching in-car drifting videos the drivers never look like theyre are fighting their wheels, they look smooth while turning them. While i look like im struggling to get it to turn. Maybe its just my low physical strength lol. So do most drifting drivers use power steering? I was under the impression all out drift cars used manual since i see 86 owners always trying to convert to manual.
Click to expand...

Most other drift cars use power steering. Us 86 guys use manual because it's available to us, has more steering angle when used with the power steering knuckles, and since our cars are so light, it's not that hard to turn the wheel. I used to have manual steering in my old SR5, and it was hard to turn the wheel at all. I've driven an S13 without power steering, worst driving experience of my life. I would just see if there is something wrong with your power steering system.
 
My old 240sx that I bought (had for 2 weeks, switched sohc to dohc and didnt feel like putting in the PS lines) had no power steering, but it wasn't that bad. Got used to it in a day. But man, when I went into my parents cars like a week later you feel like a muscle man.
 
hmm i never heard of anyone say dat powerstreering slows u down but i really cant talk cuz i really cant drift my car yet lol!!!!
 
RedDrifter240 said:
hmm i never heard of anyone say dat powerstreering slows u down but i really cant talk cuz i really cant drift my car yet lol!!!!
Click to expand...

Its going to be harder to turn your wheel, and in transitions its not going to flick back and counter steer as nicely.
 
Tonymac said:
You don't have an engine sitting over your rack though!
Click to expand...

Yea, thats true.

From what I just looked up online the 280z weighs like 2800+lbs. Defintaley not a fun car to have no power steering in, I'd say keep it in because I bet it's worse without it.
 
RedDrifter240 said:
hmm i never heard of anyone say dat powerstreering slows u down but i really cant talk cuz i really cant drift my car yet lol!!!!
Click to expand...
You Fukin Ricer....Wat Was It That You Said About Drifting The Other Day At Walmart...???Na Dood Im Not Gona Drift My Car...Thats Gay!
 
FlyinFINN said:
Yea, thats true.

From what I just looked up online the 280z weighs like 2800+lbs. Defintaley not a fun car to have no power steering in, I'd say keep it in because I bet it's worse without it.
Click to expand...

thats about right my car is pretty heavy for its size:( Ill guess my best bet is to just check the power steering system and the previously mentioned bushings, to see if the powersteering may be bad. Or just work out so i can throw the damn wheel around lol.
 
Is there anybody who knows what size belt to run the waterpump to the crank and elimate the powersteering pump? Has that been done successfully? LMK thanks
 
i've had my s13 for over 2yrs running with no power-steering...it's great for daily driving and on the highway you really feel the road. but trying to dry ground drift forget it. in the wet it's find and i can manage. I'm very close to having mine working finally, just need to get the damn pump to stop leaking. If you wanna drift seriously, and in the dry fix the power-steering. how else are you gonna do the cool 1-hand out the window i'm the man show-off drifts??? :rolleyes: :D
 
having no power steering sucks unless your grip driving, I like the weight of no powersteering for doing auto-x
but not drifting it sucks.
 
Vr6wantsr20det said:
how else are you gonna do the cool 1-hand out the window i'm the man show-off drifts??? :rolleyes: :D
Click to expand...

I can do those, just waiting on some pics from someone. but the door is open cause my window doesn't go down lol.

yeah I want to fix it eventually but I saw a link:

http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=271851&postid=3002568

AltDelete06.JPG


hmmm I might want to do this. I've been drifting without psteering and I like the workout.
 
If I remember correctly you had a tiny steering wheel in there the last time I was over there for some Kart track fun. I would check to see what the problem is to the PS and also get a normal size steering wheel. The bigger the steering wheel the more leverage you'll have(of course theres a limit to everything).

Like my fellow lightweight car owners have said manual steering works great in a AE86, MR2, etc. I drive with one and it feels more responsive, more angle and I like the weight savings. I can't imagine it being too much fun on a heavier car. I hope this helped a little at least.
 
I have stock steering wheel, but if I can check into this adapter piece on the alternator to run the belt to the waterpump
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom