Lightening of my '81 280zx has gone from small things to hard-core stripped race car. I've removed the front bumper, entire A/C system, all carpet, jute, all interior plastic panels, and muffler. Now comes the power sterring. First, has anyone ever done this? Will it have the heavy feel of my old 240z? Is it worth the effort and weight savings, not to mention engine drag? Any insight would help. Thanks

well, if it's recirulating ball and not rack and pinion, i would look into getting the out side parts of a zx that are different (the 83 turbo at the least had rack and pinion)....i would try and mate a 280z rack on it....

....lots and lots of work it appears, but doable.....

a lot of the zxs had recirculating ball steering (like a gm truck).....

Hey Makdiesel,

I have a 1983 ZX. When I got it one of the power steering hoses was split so badly that power steering fluid would pour out onto the ground faster than I could put it in .

I didn't bother to replace it as, like you, I preferred the road-feel that comes with unassisted steering.

As for driving characteristics, the steering is VERY heavy from standstill. Getting into and out of tight parking spaces will do wonders for your biceps. If you decide to go this route you will quickly learn a steering technique form the old days. Use the clutch. Once you get the car moving, even just a little, you greatly reduce the effort required to turn the steering wheel. Takes a bit of time to get used to but it works well. Once you're under way you won't notice that the steering is unassisted.

Having said all that, personally, I'll be replacing the hose when I put the car back on the road this spring. The ZX has rack and pinion steering, so road-feel is only slightly compromised by the power assist. And even with the slip-clutching technique, it does get somewhat tiresome having to muscle the car every time you start and stop.

If you want to see what the difference is all you have to do is remove the power-steering belt. It won't hurt the power steering unit or the steering rack and its easily reversed if you don't like un-assisted steering.

Cheers,

Peter

Originally posted by dogma420 a lot of the zxs had recirculating ball steering (like a gm truck).....

Correct me if I'm wrong. I thought that ALL of the ZX's had recirculating ball steering and that change was made in 1979 when they went to the ZX and power steering. My 1979 810 has recirculating ball/power steering. It's drivetrain is more or less modified ZX. My 78 has non power rack and pinion steering as do all first generation Z's. You will never be able to get that kind of steering feel by just removing the 'power' part of the steering from a ZX.

Hey Steve,

Seems we're both right. According to my Haynes manual the 79-81 NT's had recirculating ball and '81 turbo and all '82-83's had rack and pinion.

Cheers,

Peter

Okay, I stand corrected. But if the 81 trubo and the 82-83 have rack and pinion, it would still be a different rack than the 1st gen. cars and therefore not really designed to run without a power assist. I'm really not that knowledgable when it come to ZX's because I'm not really a fan. It just make sense that steering designed without a power assist would work better than power steering with the assist removed be it rack and pinion, recirculating ball, worm and roller, or whatever.

Steve,

Point taken, and we'll find out soon enough. As i mentioned, this spring I'll see how the steering feels with power assist as compared to without, and I can compare them both to the steering in my '72.

On the other hand how realistic the '72 vs '83 comparision will be is questionable due to the weight difference. Damn, now I have to drive them even more .

"Sorry dear, I can't help you with the housework. I have to perform an important experiment with the Zeds."

Cheers,

Peter