How to De-Power the MX-5 Miata Steering Rack - Episode 45 - Time Attack TURBO Build
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Here's how I went about de-powering the steering rack on our NB MX-5 Miata track car to achieve the BEST STEERING FEEL EVER!
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This is BY FAR the best instruction video for de-powering an NB rack I've come across. You made it look like an evenings worth of work. Thank you so much!
Wow, thanks! Glad to be of service.
Thanks! I’m de-powering an NA soon and this video will definitely help!
No worries :-)
Thanks mate. Really good video! I've just put a deposit down on a stock 2001 mx5 and am already planning some mods - this included. I'm used to working on a 1970's car so power steering is a luxury I can do without! Did it make a big difference to steering feel? Cheers. James.
I subbed to you in case you upload videos of your mx5!
@@printedprops8730 thanks for the sub. You are officially the first subscriber to know about the mx5! But yes, I will be doing mx5 videos, probably more update videos that strictly 'how to' videos, as between this channel and a few others, there's already some excellent content available in that respect. Cheers. & stay tuned!
@BEAVIS Motorsport. Thanks for the reply. Even though for some reason I can't see it in comments, I can in my Inbox. Sounds like a no brainer 👍
No worries mate, UA-cam is weird sometimes, good luck!
No worries mate, UA-cam is weird sometimes, good luck!
How was tracking the car with the looped lines doing my research and looping the lines is the cheapest but people say it’s also dangerous saying if it gets to hot steering could get hard and maybe not even turn so I was wondering how your car has been with the loop
I've never had a though of it being dangerous using the 'looped lines' method. I never had issues, the car honestly felt fine and held up to track abuse without issue, and obviously its simple to do.
Hey mate! late to the party but i’m trying to reinstall my rack and having issues, i have an nb2 and i can only get two bolts on one side in and the other bolts feel as if they just wont thread in. any tips?
Sorry I don't have enough information to give you any tips or advice with your issue.
Check the weld on the pinion as these have been known to crack under track use. Best is to leave it as is and not weld. There is a little bit of movement, but nothing you really notice on the track.
The worst case, if the welds were to crack, is that the tiny amount of slop in the OEM pinion would come back, so there's no downside to adding the welds, and I feel they aren't likely to crack.
Top notch as always
Thanks E30! :)
Great video as always. Would that job be easy with the radiator still on? And how's the steering feel now? I've been thinking of doing this on my daily driven track toy.
It's doable, I've done it personally. You'll need to remove it from underneath though.
Definitely possible with the radiator in place, I just took the opportunity to do this while I had the extra space.
Hey quick question what fluid do you put in to lubricate? Or just leave it with the residual fluid?
What if - i just remove all the fluids, belt, power lines, leave the rack as is, then just inject grease using the holes from the power lines, then just seal them with bolts that will fit?
Yes absolutely that's a common solution. I've used that method myself for many years. It works fine.
The only real extra step implemented in this video is to remove the rack to weld the pinion. It's a lot of work for one extra step, but doing so eliminates that last little bit of play.
Any video off the results ? I want to see if it's hard to turn wheels after that
There's a lot of videos of the car running on this channel, i also added a epowersteering setup recently, as seen here: ua-cam.com/video/UpDjgS0wpHE/v-deo.html
Quick question did you put steering oil in the rack? Or just grease on the joints? Shouldn't the rack have fluid inside, even without the assistance bits?
The rack doesn't need power steering fluid if there's no power steering.
@@Bbeavis makes sense as the fluid would be between the pistons you cut out... what about rack and pinion? Just thick grease?
@@cutdepiefails6596 You can almost just make out in the video at around 10:50, I have greased it up before installation.
What did you use for a belt? Or no ac?
Yeah it's a race car, no AirCon.
I have no power steering anyway from factory, gives a much better feel to the driving experience I prefer it raw like that👌🏻
A bonus to a depowered rack over the factory manual rack, is the power rack has a slightly quicker turning ratio, which is nice for making small corrections on track as well tight corners at autocross. Won't have to saw at the the wheel quite as much.
I’ve had all 3 options. I’ll be honest, PS is fantastic. Especially on a daily.
ByteVenom can defiantly be annoying in car parks etc but I love it in all fairness 👌🏻
The problem with power steering is it's vagueness on a track vehicle. For the street I prefer to keep it for convenience.
Why do you actually need to weld the pinion? I noticed Greg didn't do it in his video, does it make a difference? If so, what?
Whether or not the pinion is welded does not have any impact on risk/safety/strength. It merely eliminates a small amount of play that exists in that pinion. The play is there to allow the fluid movement with the power steering system - we no longer need that play in the pinion with the power steering components having been removed, thus welding it makes for a completely solid steering setup.
@@Bbeavis Aah that makes sense, thanks for the reply Brendan!
Coming from your top 10 cheap engine mods video, can one get away with simply removing the belt that connects the AC and PS pumps and the crank pulley or is this complete procedure you were referring to over there?
You can get away with simply removing belts, yes, and it will work. However the process detailed in this video is the more complete and precise "de-power" method.
@@Bbeavis Sweet, I don't have a garage right now but can't wait to remove that belt later today!
Great video! I'll be de-powering my NB rack this Winter, when the engine's removed :)
Thanks for watching Jason!
Maybe is a stupid question, but why would you want to remove P/S? Thank you
Because the miata/mx5 is already a fairly light car (albeit adding big tyres makes the steering effort quite high), and also the powered steering numbs the steering making control and feel less ideal for track driving.
I did the same thing to my Mitsubishi and very very similar to the mx5. I did not weld the pinion and I kinda have a little play in the steering rack. It's a FWD Drag car with big slicks in the front, after seeing this that I didn't weld my pinion. Should I be afraid something will break? If I weld it, could I weld it with a gas mig welder?
I cannot comment on a Mitsubishi, but for the MX-5 whether or not the pinion is welded does not have any impact on risk/safety/strength. It merely eliminates a small amount of play that exists when converting from powered to de-powered. I don't see why you cannot use a mig.
I assume your driver and passenger windows are polycarbonate/lexan, if so could you do a diy of how you made them please? Cheers
They are indeed lexan. Unfortunatly I made them a long time ago, so I have no need to do a video on how I made them... because they already exist! hah
But it's very simple, i just traced the shape of the oem glass and then cut it out with a jigsaw.
Really good ASMR...
Well that wasn't quite what I was trying to do, but thanks for watching :)
Nice. The PS rack has a different ratio to the non PS rack I think. Can't remember if it's quicker or slower, so long as it feels good
The non PS rack would be slower and that *may* be disappointing on the track...
The OEM manual rack has more turns lock to lock and requires excessive movement compared to a de-powered rack. I prefer this setup although some people may choose to install a OEM manual rack instead for simplicity of installation.
@Eli peraza What about it?
Where can i get that fastback hardtop?
You need to contact Lightyear Carbon Fibre
4:52, its called your tension yolk.
Thanks!
If anyone knows how to quieten down the birds nearby I'm open to suggestions... the things seem to squark all day and night.
BEAVIS Motorsport how's the difference between this and how it was before, and will you recommend this for my daily nb?, Mines still has power steering but I want to remove so the engine can be happier :D, To awnser your question check for a better mic. One that only picks up close up sounds and not ambient sounds, idk about brands but a simple Google search will sure help you out. There's also videos on UA-cam comparing different mics and their abilities.
Ahh thanks for the tip regarding mic's, maybe i should try do some tests and see what works.
The difference between power steering, and none, is quite considerable and isn't something i'd do for a daily driver. It adds some effort that makes parking and slow driving a bit of a drainer. But feel and precision us much nicer with the manual rack.
Im going to fully depower my wrx steering rack like this as well, i have no PS as of rn but the lines are not looped just open higher up in the engine bay with no fluid, so obviously i cant keep it this way. I assume the general idea is the same and i can figure it out. My question is, would JB cold weld work on the quill? It has a little slop and i can live with it, but while im going for the full delete i figured it wont hurt to try to get rid of it. Anyone ever try JB weld or something of the sort?
Probably best to try find a friend or workshop who can weld it.
@@Bbeavis i wish i could, my tuner said its not possible to make it a true manual rack and it cant be done, so did all the other shops around here. The play in my quill isnt noticeable really anyways i just have my pump out and the lines arent looped
yes!
Heyy!
Great video as always !
Quick question , what material is the steering rack and can I weld it with a mig?
Cheers,
I'm not 100% sure, it's steel of some form. I used stainless 316 filler with the TIG. I've no doubt a MIG would be fine, just control the warping. Alternatively, people have had success with drilling and inserting a pin instead of welding.
@@Bbeavis We have used an Inconel 625 TIG rods and it welded perfectly.
For people not in England, Australia, or Japan, take pictures of EVERYTHING so you know how it lines up. (note to myself)
Good tip Gavin! or just watch the video upside down :-P
Gonna have to convert to meters first though
Needs more rb 😂😜
:)
DO NOT USE AN IMPACT ON THAT TENSIONER BOLT! They strip incredibly easy.
Using the impact for removal seems not so bad, I did try to use the torque wrench for reassembly, so I feel like I was mostly a good boy.
why would u want to do this never herd of it i got the 2007 mx5 power top
Reduce weight, more direct steering feel.
Easy, buy an na6 😂😂
Lol
too much work... screw it, just drive with no steering wheel and hold a dumbbell. Tada "no power steering"
Having no power steering does not just exclusively mean heavy steering.
Keep in mind de-powering the rack also eliminates play and slop in the steering setup.
why on earth would you want to de-power the steering????
Less weight, more direct feel, remove hydraulic slop.
@@Bbeavis that is a bit over the top isnt it? mine has a manual steering rack and I like it ok but I much prefer the ps one once I have tried it.