Convert 245 to manual steering

I have an 81 245. If I pull the manual steering rack and associated parts from an 80 242, will it bolt right in to my car so that I can dump the power steering? I notice the input shaft on the rack is 19mm on my car and 14mm on the 80 but I thought I would grab the universal and other parts from the donor car.

I am currently using the p.s. rack with the pump removed. I filled it with grease to lubricate it due to the now missing power steering fluid. I am thinking the manual rack will be better.

Reply to
Apple Computer
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Just make sure you get the whole shaft (2 universal joints) that's inside the engine compartment, as that's longer on a car with manual steering. Also make sure you have all the mounting hardware from the donor car.

Reply to
Mike F

What's it like to steer without the pump? Do you do anything to avoid any resistance from the hydraulic system still attached? I was considering just removing the belt from mine rather than fix the leak.

Reply to
jg

It can be done, but a power rack without power is much stiffer than a manual rack. Personally I like power and would just get a replacement rack, if you don't mind manual then look for a real manual rack.

Reply to
James Sweet

Thanks for the reply, I like the power too but not keen on fixing the oil leak. They are also downright dangerous with a motor which might stall, like with power brakes. I'd rather have an old (pre power steer/brakes/auto) car than a "modern" one when it gets old.

Reply to
jg

In addition, PS racks always have some play when used as a manual rack because the assist valve still deflects. I definitely second that - replace with a manual rack if you don't want PS.

Mike

Reply to
Michael Pardee

Again thanks fellas, can I ask another... it goes fine for a few weeks then dumps about a reserviour full from the end of the rack away from the steering box all at once. (it's a 1980 265). Is it likely to need more than seals, and are they hard to replace?

Reply to
jg

How's it dangerous? I drove mine for a while when the belt came off before I got a chance to fix it and while it was stiff in parking lots and such it was fine on the road. I had a truck for a while with manual everything and the brakes were just as stiff as a power braked car with a bad booster or stalled engine, had to put most of my weight on the pedal to stop, particularly with a load.

Reply to
James Sweet

considering

Dunno, I've never tried, I'd probably just look for a "new" rack from a junkyard, though you always run the risk of a leaky one from there too.

Reply to
James Sweet

I guess it's mainly because you are expecting a certain resistance, specially the brakes which are very light on this car. Usually the first indication it has stalled is you can't steer or brake as effectively and that, coupled with the surprise, is just the time you needed to stop or make a turn. The volvo is not so bad but big fords for instance, really need more strength than most people have to steer or brake when power fails.

Reply to
jg

I have been driving my 245 with the power steering pump removed for almost a month. I had some zerk fittings brazed into the banjo fittings so I could pump some grease into the rack to lubricate it in place of the missing power steering fluid. It works, it is not really easy when parking. At speeds over 20 mph it feels better than with power assist. However, I did pick up a manual steering rack yesterday from a yard and plan to fit it some time in the future.

Reply to
Apple Computer

Resealing a rack is an involved process requiring some special tools. Volvo had dozens of different racks, made by several different vendors, and so there are lots of different seal kits. Add in the fact that racks may have been swapped from a different car, then just getting the correct seal kit can be a challenge! There were some detail changes to the steering column in 1979, any rack from that year or newer fits any other car in that range, provided you get all the mounting hardware. Also, the dealer sells a mounting hardware kit that consists of every piece of hardware to mount any rack.

Reply to
Mike F

If you leave the pump hooked up the resistance will be greater than disconnecting it. See other reply (from Apple Computer) for more details.

Reply to
Spooky Mulder

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