Miata Question

[Dtangard]

Hey guys,

I've been thinking about converting my power steering to manual steering and was wondering if the results are worth the effort. Has anyone depowered a miata steering rack using the flying miata method? http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php

[Grippy]

Hi Derek,

I have done that mod, I was pretty pleased with the results. Once rolling the wheel was fairly light but with increased feel for what the tires were doing. The effort to turn got higher as the G forces go up with race tires and good suspension, it can be a workout.

I have also run a manual rack, I never noticed a difference in ratio at the track. I would look for a used manual rack before I cut up my power unit. You could always go back if you didn't like it.

[breakaway500]

I cracked a PS line on my Miata this year and was lucky it happened on the last session of the event.The extra effort to steer (for 6 laps) was amazing,with only 225 width tires. I think the PS is worth it just for the fatigue factor. I was even thinking of doing an electric rack in the Atom for a while when autocrossing,but for track events,it's not as demanding.Still gives you a workout,though. I'm just an old wimp

[Dtangard]

Thanks guys for the advice. Gordon, you made a good point about being able to go back to PS if need be so I think I'll look for a used manual rack and swap it in. So my next question is, does anyone have a manual steering rack for a miata hanging around collecting dust?

[Dtangard]

I cracked a PS line on my Miata this year and was lucky it happened on the last session of the event.The extra effort to steer (for 6 laps) was amazing,with only 225 width tires. I think the PS is worth it just for the fatigue factor. I was even thinking of doing an electric rack in the Atom for a while when autocrossing,but for track events,it's not as demanding.Still gives you a workout,though. I'm just an old wimp

Will the Atom make it to the track this year? I've always wanted to see one and watching it in action would be awesome.

[escortracer]

http://www.partsgroup.com/

[breakaway500]

"Will the Atom make it to the track this year?"
It all depends on scheduling conflicts which events I'll attend.
I earned my instructors rating with NAAC/NEQ last year and will be attending their events mostly,as I really enjoy instructing.They allow qualified instructors to drive almost anything,so the Atom will be seeing track daylight again. I drove mostly on the street last year. I am also planning on attending Atomfest'11 being held at VIR this year (late september),so if you are into Atoms,that's THE event to attend! The Atom is built right at VIR,and they will have demos and ride alongs, with the new Atom500 in attendance,a V8 powered Atom..
I've talked myself into a test drive in one..

[Dtangard]

http://www.partsgroup.com/

Thanks Robert, that website looks like a good place to get parts. Does anyone ever buy parts from expoline in Londonderry?

[Dtangard]

"Will the Atom make it to the track this year?"
It all depends on scheduling conflicts which events I'll attend.
I earned my instructors rating with NAAC/NEQ last year and will be attending their events mostly,as I really enjoy instructing.They allow qualified instructors to drive almost anything,so the Atom will be seeing track daylight again. I drove mostly on the street last year. I am also planning on attending Atomfest'11 being held at VIR this year (late september),so if you are into Atoms,that's THE event to attend! The Atom is built right at VIR,and they will have demos and ride alongs, with the new Atom500 in attendance,a V8 powered Atom..
I've talked myself into a test drive in one..

Congratulations on earning your instructors rating. I was considering doing the winter driving school with NAAC in my miata this year but I thought it might be a little hard on the suspension.

Oh and Atomfest and the Atom 500 sound awesome...

phpBB [video]

[breakaway500]

All that Atom500 needs is a good set of race tires.. I feel mine is extremely fast with 225whp..I can only imagine doubling that.. The paddle shifter is nice as well.

[Grippy]

Yes Leos at Expoline is a good parts source and a good guy. At least a few cars in the COM paddok came from him.

[6PAK72]

Liz and I got our '91 from him - I think it was a fair, not great, deal. Jeff Wasilko got an engine from him last year, so you could talk to Jeff.

[Dave_G]

Regarding the original question, keep in mind that installing a manual rack will keep you in ST4, but depowering a power rack will bump you up to SPC. I asked this same question a couple years ago: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1685

[Dtangard]

Regarding the original question, keep in mind that installing a manual rack will keep you in ST4, but depowering a power rack will bump you up to SPC. I asked this same question a couple years ago: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1685

Hi Dave,

I think at some point they changed the ruling.

7. Power steering rack may be de-powered or replaced with a manual rack if one was offered by the factory for that model and
year. (page 15)

[WillM]

i've purchased many parts - and even a car - from Leos @ Expoline.

Very good local source for parts (no shipping!).

I have run a power rack, de-powered rack, and manual rack. The most dramatic difference between power vs. non-power is the weight of the steering. "Feel" is subjective, and in my opinion, the heavier weighted non-powered racks get too much credit for improved "feel".

There are trade-offs to all 3 racks.

The power rack has the best ratio, yet is the lightest-feeling. That said, I never had a problem feeling the front tires through the power steering. De-powered or manual racks do give a bit more feel though. I wasn't very surprised when I learned that the original engineers and designers of the Miata never intended a manual rack. The car was built around the power rack, and they spent a considerable amount of time on it. The manual rack was tacked on at the last minute. Bean counters (the accountants) in the US figured they needed a low-feature "base" car.

A de-powered rack keeps the better ratio, but the increase in effort can be substantial. The weight is much heavier than the power rack, but that decreases as speed increases. Another draw-back is that most de-powering methods introduce a bit of steering slop. When I autocrossed and ran wide, sticky tires, I absolutely hated the de-powered rack. I could barely move the steering rack at those low speeds.

The manual rack has the less-favorable ratio, but has better weight-at-speed than the power rack. This is what is currently in my car. The only issue I have with the manual rack is in the bowl at NHMS. I *just* run out of steering angle when my left arm hits the side of my seat. I'm not big on shuffle-steering.

I am going to try this method of de-powering a power rack for next season:
MotoIQ.com Miatabusa de-powered rack

I'd hope to have nicely-weighted steering, the quicker ratio, and to eliminate the slop.

For a daily-driver with occasional track use, keep the power rack.