How to "depower" a Miata steering rack

If you want the fast ratio of a power steering rack with without the power assistance, you have several options. You can simply unhook the power steering belt but this leads to very heavy steering. The seals inside the rack are still trying to move fluid and the pump is in the way.

The next step would be to loop the lines around so that there's little resistance, but you're still pumping fluid.

The best way to do the job is to disassemble the rack and take the internal seals out. Here's how, starting with a rack that is already out of the car with the tie rods removed.

Start the tutorial - click on the photos or the "next" link to move through it.

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