The Acura Legend & Acura RL Forum - View Single Post

The Crowing · 03-27-08, 01:09 PM

No.

While the PS pump IS always "pumping" when the engine is running, it's not actually doing anything when you aren't turning. When you turn the wheel, passages in the rack open and route the fluid to push against certain parts within the rack, left or right, respectively.

When cruising, AKA going straight, the pump is hardly doing any work at all, not draining the engine at all.

On top of that, it's bad for an automatic steering system to be driven like a manual steering car. There's a pencil thick torsion bar within the steering rack, and without fluid pressure, you put a lot of strain on that bar. You can feel through the wheel just how hard it is to turn, now imagine all that force on a pencil thick metal bar. Ker-snap? Yes.

If you're "feeling" an HP gain from your PS pump being disengaged, then there are one of two things happening:
1) You have some form of resistance within the pump itself that is causing friction and fighting the engine.
2) You've established a placebo effect and your butt dyno is agreeing.

As far as a Legend without a power steering option? It's an Acura luxury car. What do you think?

03-27-08, 01:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
The Crowing Legend Anti-Christ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: :p Posts: 1,883 Car 1: 1991 Legend Coupe LS Car 2: 1968 Jaguar XK-E Car 3: 1990 L Sedan iTrader: (12)	No. While the PS pump IS always "pumping" when the engine is running, it's not actually doing anything when you aren't turning. When you turn the wheel, passages in the rack open and route the fluid to push against certain parts within the rack, left or right, respectively. When cruising, AKA going straight, the pump is hardly doing any work at all, not draining the engine at all. On top of that, it's bad for an automatic steering system to be driven like a manual steering car. There's a pencil thick torsion bar within the steering rack, and without fluid pressure, you put a lot of strain on that bar. You can feel through the wheel just how hard it is to turn, now imagine all that force on a pencil thick metal bar. Ker-snap? Yes. If you're "feeling" an HP gain from your PS pump being disengaged, then there are one of two things happening: 1) You have some form of resistance within the pump itself that is causing friction and fighting the engine. 2) You've established a placebo effect and your butt dyno is agreeing. As far as a Legend without a power steering option? It's an Acura luxury car. What do you think? __________________ $80 to make a 3.5 mount for 91-92 Legends. PM me. For 93-95, PM jkurl. Wishlist: 6-speed ECU? Passenger front wheel bearing Clutch hydraulic lines/hoses Power steering rack Passenger seat release cable Gold JDM grille Manual coupe 160 cluster Type II fuel pressure regulator 91-92 front passenger engine mount Catalytic converter Mod-Express kit for sale - $150. PM me.