De-powered steering on SN-95 Mustang?

[mcolangelo2005]

Hey guys, I have a 95 Mustang GT and would like to get a more precise steering feel than what the stock rack gives me. I'm thinking that de-powering the steering rack may give me this. Has anyone tried this on an SN-95 Mustang (or even a Fox)? Good or bad? Thanks for any info.

[Keith]

What about underdrive pulleys? They help with steering feel...

 

How's that Ford runnin' anyway?

[Adam Ginsberg]

Don't run the PS rack without the PS pump operating. It's damn hard.

 

If you're looking for improved steering feel, verify/check a few things first:

 

1. 1. Pump - is it in good shape, leaking like a kids diaper?
   2. Rack - age, miles, leaking like a kids diaper?
   3. Lines - age, miles, that damn diaper again?
   4. PS cooler - have one? If not, consider it.
   5. Steering shaft - age, miles? R&R with a MM unit.

 

If you have issues with items 1-3, R&R those items first to get a better handle on what's going on.

 

If items 1-4 are all in good shape, consider #5.

[mcolangelo2005]

Don't run the PS rack without the PS pump operating. It's damn hard.

 

If you're looking for improved steering feel, verify/check a few things first:

 

1. 1. Pump - is it in good shape, leaking like a kids diaper?
   2. Rack - age, miles, leaking like a kids diaper?
   3. Lines - age, miles, that damn diaper again?
   4. PS cooler - have one? If not, consider it.
   5. Steering shaft - age, miles? R&R with a MM unit.

 

If you have issues with items 1-3, R&R those items first to get a better handle on what's going on.

 

If items 1-4 are all in good shape, consider #5.

 

Adam, thanks for the info. 1-3 are good. The previous owner maintained the car well. No on 4 & 5. The car does have underdrive pulleys. Last year I tracked a Spec Miata with a depowered rack and that was just awesome. That level of steering "precision" - if I can use that term - kind of spoiled me. I'm hoping for something close to that. But I'm sure you're right about a depowered Mustang rack being much harder to steer than a depowered Miata rack. Maybe I'll just have to get used to it the way it is. Adapt to the car, so to speak.

 

Keith, the car is running great! I'm glad to be driving a V-8 'stang again. I'll be running it in the NASA HPDE at Willow Springs this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes. Turn 9, here I come!

 

Aside from the lighweight flywheel, 03-04 Cobra front brakes, and 17x9 wheels, this car would be a good candidate for CMC, if I decide to go that route next year.

[bsim]

Keep in mind, effort and precision are not related. Meaning, it can be well over-powered, and still be precise. Or, it can have extremely high effort, and still be a barge.

 

I got my first CMC car after coming out of a 325 BMW. Trust me, the CMC car will never be as "precision" as a Miata (or 325).

[Keith]

Mike - glad t hear that this car is working out. After your Miata encounters, I was starting to wonder about your sanity. As Brad said (and was exactly what I was thinking when I read your second post), Mustangs/F-bodys are not precision instruments and the steering is no exception. Get some more seat time and see if you can live with it. If not, then revisit this here (good tech here).

 

PS Did you know that I bought a WS6 this week? Flying to Dallas to pick it up this Friday. I'll try to e-mail you some details...

[racercosmo1548534707]

Are pulley changes legal in the rules? On our AI cars, we used a ps pulley from a truck or something like that. I'll try to find the part number, but it was about 1 inch large than stock.

[donovan]

94 & 95 V6 Mustangs have a huge pulley, a lot of racers use them.

 

I bought mine at Ford for $14

 

David D.

[Adam Ginsberg]

Pulley changes are legal in CMC, provided you are still within the legal power numbers.

 

Something else I neglected to mention - do you still have stock rubber rack bushings?? As previously mentioned, our cars are nowhere near as precise in steering as other makes. Removing ALL the rubber from the system will help significantly:

 

1. 1. R&R the front control arm bushings with a set of MM Delrin units.
   2. R&R the stock rubber rack bushings with solid aluminum bushings. Not only will this help eliminate slop, you can also correct some bumpsteer issues by using offset rack bushings.
   3. R&R the stock steering shaft with an MM unit.
   4. Change pulleys to help improve feel, and eliminate overheating the fluid ( coupled with a PS cooler ).

[mcolangelo2005]

Well, I ran the Mustang this weekend at Willow Springs. Ten 20 minute HPDE 2 & 3 sessions and I have to say that there was never a time when I felt the steering feel was a problem. So, I'm just going to leave it as is. Never had a problem with the car except that my front rotors got blued and now have some heat checks. I guess I need to fabricate some brake cooling ducts, eh?

 

For the SoCal guys here, I'm signed up for HPDE 3 at this March's NASA event at Cal Speedway. I'll try to drop by and say hello.

 

Mike

[Tony G]

Great to hear Mike.

Make sure you come over and find us ,plus you are invited to the CMC dinner too on Saturday night!

Tony Guaglione

CMC National Director

[bsim]

Dinner? Where are we eating? Greg's?

[Renntag1548534718]

Pulley changes are legal in CMC, provided you are still within the legal power numbers.

 

Something else I neglected to mention - do you still have stock rubber rack bushings?? As previously mentioned, our cars are nowhere near as precise in steering as other makes. Removing ALL the rubber from the system will help significantly:

 

1. 1. R&R the front control arm bushings with a set of MM Delrin units.
   2. R&R the stock rubber rack bushings with solid aluminum bushings. Not only will this help eliminate slop, you can also correct some bumpsteer issues by using offset rack bushings.
   3. R&R the stock steering shaft with an MM unit.
   4. Change pulleys to help improve feel, and eliminate overheating the fluid ( coupled with a PS cooler ).

 

Adam's recommendations are spot on. bottom line, tighten up the moving parts, slow the pump down and ensure the fluid temp stays on the low side. Get lots of seat time.

 

FWIW, I am also used to Miatas, Porsches and VWs with tight and quick steering and thus am just now coming up to speed with my CMC mustang.

 

best of luck.

 

 

Dinner? Where are we eating?....

They feed you guys? We panhandle for left overs.

[RodeoFlyer]

get a S197 - I hear the steering feel is great.......

 

i'm still in the hunt for a fox - found a couple possible canidates. i'm signed up for CalSpeedway HPDE as well. if I haven't found a fox by then to start shaking down i'll be in my black 06'. kinda funny my street car will walk all over my future CMC car. gotta love 30 year newer technology!

[RodeoFlyer]

get a S197 - I hear the steering feel is great.......

 

i'm still in the hunt for a fox - found a couple possible canidates. i'm signed up for CalSpeedway HPDE as well. if I haven't found a fox by then to start shaking down i'll be in my black 06'. kinda funny my street car will walk all over my future CMC car. gotta love 30 year newer technology!