ColinRX7

It's up to you what you like.



Try it with power steering, try taking the belt off to give you a rough idea of how much difference it makes. The technology Mazda put into the power steering computer back in the 80s is not to be underrated. I love the feel of it.

mazdaspeed7

Theres a HUGE difference between unplugging the p/s or removing the belt and completely removing the p/s pump. The steering is MUCH lighter when youre not trying to force fluid through a non-moving pump.



I have the pump removed on mine, and I have never once found myself wishing I had power steering. The feel is so much better, and its not much heavier than many sports cars with power steering. It feels about the same effort-wise as the WRX STi, and only a little heavier than the S2000. Its nowhere near as bad as the old mitsubishi truck with manual steering I drove from time to time.

Lionheart240

The power-steering has this thing that activates when you hit speeds above like 70mph where the car becomes stiffer and not as twitchy so that you won't fly off the highway. I drove an AE86 without power-steering and it wasn't hard at all, except when making turns from a dead stop, and parking in general.



I'm keeping power-steering in my RX7 though because there's no reason NOT to have it. Unlike piston motors, simply removing the belts because they "rob horsepower", is not an issue with RX-7's. I'll be keeping my A/C too, thanks. lol

mazdaspeed7

We've got a bright one here...

TII777

Ive got the whole ps system removed and I don't regret it one bit. I like the feel much better. If I'm not mistaken I thought the FC's had power assisted steering where you only have ps at low speed, so thats the only difference. Its not bad at all, I think I could park with one finger if I tried hehe.

'79rx7

Everyone seems to think you can't drift without power steering... Uh i must be special cause i drift all the time, without it. Once you get the feel for it, you can throw the wheel and let go and let it correct its self... I like to let go and scream when there's a passenger in the car to scare them, though the whole drift thing usually does a pretty good job of doing that as is.

-=DRIFT=-

Hmmm......... I'm removing my ps and air, and I dont think it will nearly be as hard to turn as my dodge dakota that has a blown pump. Ive driven the 7 with the key turned off, and found it fairly light, like the pump didnt do anything anyway. I think it would only matter if you drive from a standing start, and need to turn on a low radius, as in parrelel parking.

BigTurbo74

i think people are missing something here. there is a HUGE difference between a looped power steering rack with no pump, and the plain old manual rack. i thinking that's why many people's opinions are conflicting a bit. i have driven all types and believe that it's a decision between either power steering, or convert to the manual rack. either system is easy and comfortable to drive, but like someone previously said, it is all opinion based.