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Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:14 AM
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Default Manual Steering

Does anyone make a manual rack for the C5/Z??
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Old Dec 4, 2009 | 10:56 AM
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
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Ok, curiosity has me asking why you would want this.

I don’t recall anyone offering a manual rack for C5's.
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Old Dec 4, 2009 | 12:58 PM
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Get the pump/pulley out of there, less chance for failure/leaks, weight reduction, simplicity, more direct feel, etc.
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Old Dec 4, 2009 | 02:08 PM
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
Get the pump/pulley out of there, less chance for failure/leaks, weight reduction, simplicity, more direct feel, etc.
Having a serpentine belt that uses the power steering pump pulley, how would you get around not using it? Idler pulley?

Mass reduction would be less than ~12 lbs (pump, fluid & lines) as the rack would still be needed. The downsides would be the need for more steering wheel rotations stop to stop to reduce effort for slow speed maneuvering, not to mention a BIG reduction in response.

The power steering system absorbs very little power, so not much gain here either. The highest load is parking lot maneuvers. While cruising, the power steering sucks less power than the water pump system.

Some of the later model cars are using electric assisted steering systems; there might be something out there base on that type of system.
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Old Dec 4, 2009 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
Get the pump/pulley out of there, less chance for failure/leaks, weight reduction, simplicity, more direct feel, etc.
Sounds like a great idea
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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Eric D
Having a serpentine belt that uses the power steering pump pulley, how would you get around not using it? Idler pulley?

Mass reduction would be less than ~12 lbs (pump, fluid & lines) as the rack would still be needed. The downsides would be the need for more steering wheel rotations stop to stop to reduce effort for slow speed maneuvering, not to mention a BIG reduction in response.

The power steering system absorbs very little power, so not much gain here either. The highest load is parking lot maneuvers. While cruising, the power steering sucks less power than the water pump system.

Some of the later model cars are using electric assisted steering systems; there might be something out there base on that type of system.
I've converted plenty of cars to manual from power and I must say if you can't turn the wheel in a parking lot, the gym might be a good idea! ;-) It's not hard at all, lol, just not done FOR you like PS.

Weight out is weight out.

No leaks is definitely a selling point for me, especially since mine is leaking.

Response increases not decreases. It's a direct system.

And, yes, you remove the pulley you reroute the belt. Same thing with removing the AC. It's not rocket science.

I was just wondering if anyone made a manual rack. If not, it's all a cow's opinion anyways.
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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 03:31 PM
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Isn't it a manual rack once the pump is disconnected, or the engine isn't running?
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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Warp Factor
Isn't it a manual rack once the pump is disconnected, or the engine isn't running?
Yep, and just think how this well affect response time on a slalom course.
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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 07:02 PM
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Wow....I guess the Corvette racing team is really missing the boat

The power steering system in the C5R was regular production parts.....

Ahhhh....what do those guys know anyway.........
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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 07:36 PM
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The car would feel like it weighs a ton through the steering, IMO. I had a power steering pump go out on a 5.0 mustang back in the day, and that car felt HEAVY.
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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
Get the pump/pulley out of there, less chance for failure/leaks, weight reduction, simplicity, more direct feel, etc.
Hey, that's a great idea

I guess you guys never saw this post

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/drag...-of-heart.html

Here's a pic of my rack



Here's a pic of my relocated alternator

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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 08:14 PM
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For a drag only car, makes great sense. For a road car, ummmmm not so much.

Reminds me of the people who have cars with manual windows, they always say I dont want power windows, less stuff to break. Yeah right......
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Old Dec 5, 2009 | 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Chevy Guy
For a drag only car, makes great sense. For a road car, ummmmm not so much.

Reminds me of the people who have cars with manual windows, they always say I dont want power windows, less stuff to break. Yeah right......
ehhh. idk. I mean, power steering is worth the leaks, but power windows I can understand. My first car was terrible when it came to power windows going out. I became proficient at ripping the doors apart
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Old Dec 6, 2009 | 09:07 AM
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From: Texas Hill Country
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When a pump goes out on a PS system it is VERY hard to drive. This is VERY different from having a manual rack. A dead pump provides unbelievable resistance due to the hydraulics working against you. A manual rack is not a PS rack without a working pump, lol!!!

And I guess if the C5R team uses power steering then it is what's good for everyone in the whole world!! What was I thinking! Oh my god, the C5R has power steering!!!

Ok, so I guess the conclusion here is that no one knows the answer to my actual question but everyone has an opinion. Typical.
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Old Dec 6, 2009 | 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 4DRUSH
Hey, that's a great idea

I guess you guys never saw this post

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/drag...-of-heart.html
Ah, here we go. Very nice, thanks!! Let me read now.... :-)
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Old Dec 7, 2009 | 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
Ah, here we go. Very nice, thanks!! Let me read now.... :-)
In stock ready to go, but we do consider it more of a drag component then road course.
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Old Dec 7, 2009 | 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by DOUG @ ECS
In stock ready to go, but we do consider it more of a drag component then road course.
How many turns lock to lock on this manual rack?
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Old Dec 7, 2009 | 10:33 AM
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Interesting to know that there is actually a manual rack out there for the C5's... the C5 racing team uses power steering, and so do all the cars in NASCAR.... something I didn't know till a few years ago when we had one of the Dupont cars on display at our truck dealership for an open house ... one of the pit crew accompanied the car and stayed with it for a couple days here and told me all NASCAR drivers had power steering for as long as he can remember...
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Old Oct 18, 2010 | 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 4DRUSH
Hey, that's a great idea

I guess you guys never saw this post

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/drag...-of-heart.html

Here's a pic of my rack



Here's a pic of my relocated alternator



Got any more pics of that rack setup? On the ecs website said some fabrication may be needed done to the cradle?
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