I'm replacing the steering rack in my ranger. I would like to delete my power steering while I'm at it. I am going to employ the easy method of depowering by connecting the input to the output. Do i need to install the check valve from my old rack as the replacement rack's instructions state?
Don't connect them - drain most of the fluid out of the rack but leave a little to lube it, then vent the in/out lines so dirt won't get in and fluid won't get out (so basically run them into a T and connect the T to a cheapie Fram valve cover vent mounted a little higher than the rack. Otherwise you are fighting the fluid to turn it - making it that much worse than a already bad way to get manual steering.
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
Sweet. Thanks. That is an awesome idea. Good job.
I'd go for something like this:
http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php
That's what I did on Miata track rat.
That is, of course, my inspiration for depowering the rack in my 4WD pickup in the first place.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Don't connect them - drain most of the fluid out of the rack but leave a little to lube it, then vent the in/out lines so dirt won't get in and fluid won't get out (so basically run them into a T and connect the T to a cheapie Fram valve cover vent mounted a little higher than the rack. Otherwise you are fighting the fluid to turn it - making it that much worse than a already bad way to get manual steering.
This is what we did on the merkur, but we didn't put a filter on, just bent the tubes (metal ends on the flex tubes) so they faced down and rearward to prevent intrusion of anything like water, sand, etc.
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