E34:Change to non-power steering rack

[ktteoh]

i wonder if anyone here has experience doing a conversion to a non-power steering (ie fully manual steering) on a E34 either thru:

1. disabling the pump

2. total conversion to a steering rack without power steering (is there one in fact ?)

i'm looking at this from the point of reducing the # of hydraulic items to go wrong and also reduce parasitic loss on the engine.

[bahnstormer]

1 is not a viable option.
2 is a lotta work...

[pundit]

i wonder if anyone here has experience doing a conversion to a non-power steering (ie fully manual steering) on a E34 either thru:

1. disabling the pump

2. total conversion to a steering rack without power steering (is there one in fact ?)

i'm looking at this from the point of reducing the # of hydraulic items to go wrong and also reduce parasitic loss on the engine.

1. disabling the pump
You won't make the first corner. In fact disabling the pump is downright dangerous. Powering steering systems are engineered to be powered. There is no provision to simply run them as manual by disabling the pump. The hydraulic pressure required cannot just be replaced with 'elbow grease' (unless you're the Incredible Hulk) Just pick a safe area on a slight slope let the car roll a few yards with the motor off and see how easy it is to steer... not!


2. total conversion to a steering rack without power steering (is there one in fact ?)
Someone did a rack & pinion (powered) conversion on an E34 a while back.

Rack & Pinion Conversion (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=1625)

Pretty big job & not cheap.

Frankly I don't have a problem with the steering on mine. While some complain about the E34's steering; ie lack of feel in straight ahead position etc mine is just fine. No center slack or vagueness just the right amount of assist. I've driven cars in the past with rack & pinion steering both powered and manual and I don't favor them over my E34. Maybe I just got a good one?

As for going back to manual steering... http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/puke.gif :D

[jplacson]

OMG!!! I have a story to tell... A few months after I purchased my car, my PS pump was making funny noises.

Then one day, while parking --of all times-- I heard a "clank"... then my steering just felt like it locked in place!!! (It didn't lock in place, my PS pump shaft just snapped... the car was just so heavy that my wheel felt like it froze in place)

Anyway, I was out already, and couldn't do anything about it til I could call a shop, I drove a few days with the pump absolutely dead.... just to let you all know... the car is much lighter than you think once it's moving...even just a few mph. That's the beauty of BMW engineering. And at speed, the car actually feels more stable since you feel the weight of the car.

Anyway, just to let you know, making a 3-point turn w/o PS takes a lot of effort...specially since I was running my 18" rims already. Turning the wheel in place to full lock on my rims w/o PS was almost impossible. While rolling, a bit easier.

I wouldn't remove my PS unless I was turning my car into a serious TRACK-ONLY car. I do wish they would come up with an electric-assisted PS system though. This would be lighter on the engine both in terms of power drain, and weight. Plus a dead electric system wouldn't ADD weight to the steering (a dead PS pump makes the car heavier to steer than a car w/o PS to begin with since you're now turning the weight of the hydraulic system)

[winfred]

you would need a manual box to have the correct ratio for manual operation, the pumps hardly ever die on these cars and when you are not turning at parking lot speeds the pump is not really dragging on the motor

[genphreak]

surely once ur off idle it'd make no difference whatsoever...

[jplacson]

I think it's about 0.5HP and that's at FULL load... standing still turning to full lock. That plus weight savings of a couple of lbs would be all you'd gain. You'd gain more speed by ditching your spare tire, and using EMTs. And only fill up to a half tank of gas.

Winfred... my pump died. The belt drive shaft snapped/bent, was there when the mech took it down for the swap. I think the previous owner ran it dry for a while since there was a slight leak when I bought the car... had to top it off a couple of times before it gave.

[ukm5]

i wonder if anyone here has experience doing a conversion to a non-power steering (ie fully manual steering) on a E34 either thru:

1. disabling the pump

2. total conversion to a steering rack without power steering (is there one in fact ?)

i'm looking at this from the point of reducing the # of hydraulic items to go wrong and also reduce parasitic loss on the engine.

youre probably best taking out the water pump also, as they can sometimes go wrong and take a few horses from your power. Throw your air compressor out aswell they can also go wrong. Prob best to throw away the door locks too they are always going wrong, oh and get rid of the engine too they are a nightmare to fix...

[E34-520iSE]

youre probably best taking out the water pump also, as they can sometimes go wrong and take a few horses from your power. Throw your air compressor out aswell they can also go wrong. Prob best to throw away the door locks too they are always going wrong, oh and get rid of the engine too they are a nightmare to fix........ but keep the power steering!!

[ktteoh]

my only intention is to keep things simple. power steering has the potential to leak hence my reasoning to remove it.

so back to my original question: what is the best way to achieve manual steering on an e34 ?

[ktteoh]

my only intention is to keep things simple. power steering has the potential to leak hence my reasoning to remove it.

so back to my original question: what is the best way to achieve manual steering on an e34 ?

[pundit]

my only intention is to keep things simple. power steering has the potential to leak hence my reasoning to remove it...
Engines also have the potential to leak along with any component that contains any kind of fluid, gas or anything else. So after your get rid of you 'potentially leaky' power steering, you will have to remove your 'potentially leaky' engine, transmission, differential, radiator, water pump, aircon etc.
In fact I bet you already have a leak, minor or not, from somewhere other than your power steering.

If you want to keep things really simple, 'simply' sell your car and walk.

Sorry, but your rationality is not rational. ;)

[genphreak]

P/S is highly reliable. The whole car is designed to employ it... its a safety feature, not a limitation.

:D This thread is ridiculous... our forum moderator should delete it.

[Mobius]

my only intention is to keep things simple. power steering has the potential to leak hence my reasoning to remove it.Uhh..
There are a lot of cars I could understand doing this "for the sake of making it simple" - but, I'm sorry, you want to go to manual steering on a nearly 4,000lb sedan... because it could leak? There are a ton of more potentially problematic excesses of complexity on this car than the (simple and traditional) power steering.

We don't have a good answer because it hasn't been done. It hasn't been done because it's not practical.

[Gene in NC]

Just remeove the ps drive belt and try it. We have been running e30 that way and it is fine. Not good to tuen wheel when not moving anyway.

[pundit]

Just remeove the ps drive belt and try it. We have been running e30 that way and it is fine. Not good to tuen wheel when not moving anyway.
But P.S. is not designed to be run without hydraulic pressure!
Can we please have this thread deleted before someone tries the above and kills themselves or worse.. someone else!! - FMOFO's!!

While we're at it lets start a thread on how to cut coils to lower your car and remove the bump stop rubbers - "Way to go man!!"

[winfred]

a e30 has a rack and is not a absolute bitch to turn without power, e34 has a box and i don't beleave it can handle the pressures of being operated without boost without wearing out the top end of the box (the part that turns the part that's powered) quickly


Just remeove the ps drive belt and try it. We have been running e30 that way and it is fine. Not good to tuen wheel when not moving anyway.

[winfred]

nah man, cutting em takes too long, heat em up with a torch :D i've sold many sets of springs for cars that had the springs totally removed and hunks of wood put in to support the car at the desired level, kinda gives you a warm and fuzzy fealing that **** like that is on the road with you and yours don't it?


While we're at it lets start a thread on how to cut coils to lower your car and remove the bump stop rubbers - "Way to go man!!"

[pundit]

nah man, cutting em takes too long, heat em up with a torch :D i've sold many sets of springs for cars that had the springs totally removed and hunks of wood put in to support the car at the desired level, kinda gives you a warm and fuzzy fealing that **** like that is on the road with you and yours don't it?
"Way to go bro!! On da ground my man!! I mean down 'n' dirty... in da dirt yeah!! Can't wait 'til I get my 24" chrome rims with 325/5/24 rubber band slicks. Yeah street legal... the guy that sold them to me said they were!"

"Power steering? Now that's for girlie men. Gimme a few weeks and I'll let you feel my biceps. Beats them home ab fab excercise thingamegoos." :D

BTW - I'm getting my pimpmobile tinted all round. Headlights, tailights, stoplight, license plate light, glovebox light and all the glass. It'll be so damn black no mofo will be able to see in while my woman shifts my stick... and so black that I won't be able to see out. But **** man at least the pimpmobile will rock da beat. Yo Bro!!" :p