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01-01-2012, 03:23 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Merced,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: West Coast-Ford Performance Solutions 533 BB
Posts: 390
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Not Ranked
Steering woes....
How necessary is power steering in a cobra?
 Well this is 2 1/2 years and two power steering racks/pumps/pulleys, professional evaluations and R&R etc. later and I still have problems with leakage from my power steering system. I put the toy back up on jacks to inspect the source and it seems it may be another bad seal...? Well we wanna drive it so I'll git 'er done somehow but I'm wondering...could I just go with a straight mechanical steering system?
Sure I've got 265 front tires and the car weighs about 2800-2900# but could I get away with a straight rack and pinion manual steering and forget about pressures, lines, leaks, pumps, pulleys and belts for steering? Smaller tires on the front wouldn't hurt any I bet, when it comes to manual steering too, I'd be easy on that change.
Thanks for your feedback!
P.S. I put this toy together with all the automotive know-how of a 3rd grader so 'splain it simpul pullleez 
Dirk
__________________
The government giveth and the government taketh away..... if our rights are not God given then they're subject to revision!
Last edited by DocDirk; 01-01-2012 at 03:25 PM..
Reason: Forgot something
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01-01-2012, 03:49 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,690
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Not Ranked
Here it is simple: I have manual steering and it sucks.
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01-01-2012, 04:27 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Manteca,
Ca.
Cobra Make, Engine: None, sold it
Posts: 2,439
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Not Ranked
It really depends on what you are using your car for. Regular street use, auto-X or ?.
Mine is a street car. I have manual steering and it works great. Just get it started rolling before you turn the wheel.
__________________
Terry
"I may be paranoid, but that doesn't mean they are not watching me"
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01-01-2012, 05:33 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Camarillo,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF #2608, Roush 427SR T-W
Posts: 911
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Not Ranked
I want power steering, but would go with the electric version if I did it. I think it runs about $1,000? I don't want to spend the money now, but it is definitely on my list of possible things to change on my Cobra.
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01-01-2012, 05:55 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Florence,
AL
Cobra Make, Engine: RCR GT 40 & 1966 Fairlane 390 5 speed
Posts: 4,511
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Not Ranked
I have a manual rack, 33,000 miles no problem.
Cobra weights 2660 with me and a tank of gas with 235 front tires.
And a 15" steering wheel.
Dwight
__________________
''Life's tough.....it's even tougher if you're stupid.'' ~ John Wayne
"Happiness Is A Belt-Fed Weapon"
life's goal should be; "to be smarter than inanimate objects"
Last edited by Dwight; 01-01-2012 at 05:57 PM..
Reason: spelling
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01-01-2012, 06:41 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: California,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: NAF 289 Slabside Early Comp Car with 289 Webers and all the goodies. Cancelling the efforts of several Priuses
Posts: 6,592
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Not Ranked
With a big block, 2900# and big tires, having had the power steering you would dislike it without it. Just put or get a new seal installed and enjoy it.
__________________
Rick
As you slide down the Banister of Life, may the splinters never be pointing the wrong way
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01-01-2012, 08:30 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Merced,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: West Coast-Ford Performance Solutions 533 BB
Posts: 390
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Not Ranked
Tellin' it like it is...
Gracias for the input guys! I'll get her fixed up but then if it happens again I'll be willing to try out the manual steering with smaller front tires just to see if it's a reasonable worry-free alternative.
Dirk
__________________
The government giveth and the government taketh away..... if our rights are not God given then they're subject to revision!
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01-01-2012, 10:29 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: California,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: NAF 289 Slabside Early Comp Car with 289 Webers and all the goodies. Cancelling the efforts of several Priuses
Posts: 6,592
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Not Ranked
Check all surfaces for nicks.
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Rick
As you slide down the Banister of Life, may the splinters never be pointing the wrong way
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01-02-2012, 01:17 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: McMurray,
PA
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance #522
Posts: 528
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Not Ranked
Manual steering is fine once the car is rolling. Much better road feedback.
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01-02-2012, 05:15 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Dadeville,
AL
Cobra Make, Engine: Sold my EM.
Posts: 2,439
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Not Ranked
Dirk,
My Cobra has Corvette suspension including power steering that makes if very easy to steer. My 1963 Corvette (3,150 lbs) has the stock manual steering it came with. Back in 1963 they used bias ply tires that had a very small contact patch compared with the modern radial tires I now have mounted. The new tires are much better than the old, but the added contact makes the car difficult to steer until you start rolling. My bottom line is the same as several previous people - manual steering is a chore for things like parallel parking, but it's fine once the wheels start rolling.
__________________
Tommy
Cheetah tribute completed 2021 (TommysCars.Weebly.com)
Previously owned EM Cobra
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor
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01-02-2012, 06:27 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,690
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Not Ranked
My car has 255/50/15 on the front and it is a pain to steer. I would assume there are a lot of variables though to answer this question correctly. It depends on the ratio you want, the weight bias of your car, and how stick are your tires. Also, do you work out or not? LOL
My car is somewhere around 55 rear/45 front, so the front is light. I'm sure it would be a whole lot harder to steer if I had a heavy engine and a front heavy weight bias with big tires.
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01-02-2012, 08:24 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Marcos california,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: 1989 KCC from South Africa Right Hand Drive
Posts: 1,597
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Not Ranked
Mine has a manual rack 225 in front a 11 inch steering wheel and no problems and not too heavy ever
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01-02-2012, 08:36 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Williamsport,
PA
Cobra Make, Engine: Kellison Stallion 468 FE
Posts: 2,703
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Not Ranked
Doc, my kellison (basically the same car) has the same tire sizes and manual steering........don't do it......the rack seals are blowing out for a reason...
is the pressure correct with the saginaw pump?
have you shopped for a higher quality rack?
Fred
__________________
Fred B
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01-02-2012, 09:06 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: San Marcos california,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: 1989 KCC from South Africa Right Hand Drive
Posts: 1,597
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Not Ranked
I agree ,you should not be having the problems that you are . Millions of cars have power steering without leaks
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