Manual Steering mod?

Mountainman · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:30 pm

So, here's my crazy, but serious question of the month. I looked all over, and haven't found anything relating to a manual steering mod. Has anyone tried this, or know if there are even parts that would bolt on without a ton of fabrication?
:POPCORN:

I like absolute reliability, and prefer to remove AC and PS, and it also gives me way more room to work, a little less weight (my old stripped down 4runner floats through some serious snow), and makes it easier to keep an eye on things... If I lived where it's hot I wouldn't remove AC. My PS pulley bearings are about toast at 164k miles as well.

Thanks for any advice! :rockon:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2014 10:50 pm

You'll be putting the PS back on pretty quickly after trying to turn the steering wheel on a CRD without it.Your way nose heavy to be without it.

Mountainman · **Posted:** Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:17 am

You think the 3-400 pounds over my old 4-runner would be that bad? I've owned two 86 4runners, and I ran them both without PS, and I didn't even change the gear box to the easier ratio of manual. One of them I ran with 33 12.50's for years. But the liberty probably has a higher ratio? hmm, I wonder how hard it is to just bypass the pulley and give it a try with the current gear box, and if the power gear box will hold up with the ones on my 4runners have?

-disclosure: I rarely drive in cities or traffic, so I'm able to take my time with slower steering.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 21, 2014 9:09 pm

Mountainman wrote:

You think the 3-400 pounds over my old 4-runner would be that bad? I've owned two 86 4runners, and I ran them both without PS, and I didn't even change the gear box to the easier ratio of manual. One of them I ran with 33 12.50's for years. But the liberty probably has a higher ratio? hmm, I wonder how hard it is to just bypass the pulley and give it a try with the current gear box, and if the power gear box will hold up with the ones on my 4runners have?

-disclosure: I rarely drive in cities or traffic, so I'm able to take my time with slower steering.

No steering box in the KJ,you have a rack and pinion and you will not be happy without the power assist with a R&P.

streetglideok · **Posted:** Sat Feb 22, 2014 1:23 am

It's one of those questions of why? The increased steering torque will wear out your steering column that much faster among other things. If you want to do it to say you did it, more power to you, but why make it that much harder on yourself? You wont see an increase in mileage or power. On a CRD, its going to be every bit as cluttered with or without it. Not to bang on you or anything, but if you're looking to cheap out over a p/s pump, wait till something really breaks on the engine!

Mountainman · **Posted:** Sat Feb 22, 2014 10:55 am

ok, one more of my crazy ideas that I don't have to go through with :5SHOTS:

Now I'll just have to focus on making sure that PS pump is in good shape. I wonder if the guts wear out on those things, or if a new bearing would make it like new again?

Thanks for setting me strait :rockon:

Manual Steering mod?

Who is online