can you change power rack to non power rack?

[ric325i]

i think my power steering has failed?

checked level and adjusted belt after it was making some noise.

steering feels heavier so thats how im guessing it has failed. feels good actually

but i guess this is bad for the MOT?

was looking to either replace or change for manual rack?

any advice on what to check to fix and can i change it to non power?

cheers people.

[gooner1]

Ric if you do a search mate you will see ive been asking basically the same thing.
Apparently you can just remove the belt to get it through the mot, which is what i will be doing this weekend
but will be removing the pump altogether at some point and somehow blocking the parts where hoses fix.

[eko]

Just get the non power rack and the steering coupling,simple swap!
Then remove pump/reservoir and belt,job done

[ric325i]

oh yes good work. cheers people.

was going to search as i normally do but i fancied a post because i my comp wouldnt let me access the the zone!

pure anger.

so for starters say good bye to the belt!

[Brianmoooore]

MOT tester won't be in the least interested in your rack unless there's wear in it allowing movement, but if there's fluid leaking from the rack ends, then it will wear rapidly, because the fluid washes out the grease.

[Jesus325iTouring]

With my tester,whose not an arse,his opinion on the rack was if it's power,it MUST work and not leak,simply disconnecting it wouldn't allow it through the mot.
I put a manual rack on mine after my power started leaking badly,and flogged the leaking rack on Ebay for £15 (Advertised as leaking)

[Brianmoooore]

Changing my mind on this one. Just had another read of the manual and "power steering malfunctioning or inoperative", " a leak in the system" and "pump... drive systems missing or defective" are all failure points in themselves.
The last one would mean that removing the belt is not an option.

[ric325i]

good work!

thanx thats a major help!

so i will need to take a look at the rack then.

my fluid res seems not to be good and not falling. i know there is play in the rack and the rod ends need changing. i have new rod ends but taking those off has always been a nightmare!

may get a new power rack and check from there.

[zaust]

got a couple of manual racks for sale..

[Toby_Unna]

if you don't want PAS...

remove the piping and pump

then make up a link pipe from bits of the the old pipes to join the two connections on the rack together. this is what my tester asked for - no leaks, no breaks in system. it's been through 2 more tests since and the rack doesn't seem to be suffering.

the non PAS rack is a slower rack if i remember, which isn't ideal as the PAS rack is pretty low geared anyway.

non pas is much nicer unless you do a lot of town driving/parking

[ric325i]

hummmm.

ok this is a good option! at one point i was thinking of keeping the power? simply because when the big 3.5 lump goes in i may want it?

but.....lets face it, the lump aint that much heavier and if the power rack is better without it being power assisted then this could be the best and CHEAPEST option!

so HOW THE HELL DO I GET THE TRACK ROD ENDS OFF??????????

i hate these things!