Disconnecting power steering pump..

chetanhanda · 13th January 2007, 04:12

Guys, is it ok to disconnect the power steering pump ?
Is it as simple as removing the belt which drives the pump ?
Main concern is - will it be even more difficult to drive than a originally "non power steering" version of the same car.. ?

khanak · 13th January 2007, 04:18

uhhm...why would you want to do that in the first place?

Pankaj401 · 13th January 2007, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by chetanhanda

Guys, is it ok to disconnect the power steering pump ?

Should be. Just that you would loose all the hydraulic assist it provides.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chetanhanda

Is it as simple as removing the belt which drives the pump ?

You have to loosen the tensioner bolts and then remove the belt. Done it myself once. Pretty easy to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chetanhanda

Main concern is - will it be even more difficult to drive than a originally "non power steering" version of the same car.. ?

Yes.

vikram_d · 13th January 2007, 11:22

A disengaged power steering will be a lot more harder to steer than a non power steering version.

flipsyde · 13th January 2007, 13:25

chetanhanda..... its going to make the steering much harder than the non-PS model of the same car. i have driven an esteem where the pump leaked out all the oil in it and it was terrible...... i found it almost impossible to reach the service centre! i would strongly advice aganist driving without the PS.......

elf · 13th January 2007, 13:43

Your power steering pump may also drive other hydraulic systems (if any) in your car. Don't think it's very advisable to do this.

jyobeb · 13th January 2007, 15:32

Your car will be almost twice as difficult to drive and your entire steering box will get screwed beyond repair.

Pankaj401 · 13th January 2007, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by elf

Your power steering pump may also drive other hydraulic systems (if any) in your car. Don't think it's very advisable to do this.

What are the other systems that you suggested? I couldn't think of any.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyobeb

Your car will be almost twice as difficult to drive and your entire steering box will get screwed beyond repair.

Can you please explain how would it damage the steering box?

I think there would not be any damage to any part of steering system except your musvles.

elf · 13th January 2007, 17:49

Well, Pankaj401, in our old Mercedes 123 (OM616), the power steering belt also used to drive the vaccuum system which was used for central locking, the heater & a couple of other things (can't remember now), apart from the power steering itself.

Since chetanhanda hasn't mentioned the vehicle he plans to do this on, I gave him a general note of caution.

Pankaj401 · 13th January 2007, 18:51

Elf you mean that the belt used for power steeing pump might also be used for other systems. What I was talking about was the pump.

rejika · 13th January 2007, 19:05

In an Indica ( diesel) , I know that the same belt is used to drive and Power steering pump as well as the alternaor. The vacuum pump used for break assist is integrated with the alternor. Hence removing the power steering belt will also result in loss electrical power and breaking .

Mpower · 13th January 2007, 20:40

Removing belt only cuts out hydraulic pressure. The rack still has slave cylinder with piston and seals which cause friction.

If you want true non assist steering, you have to change the rack to the new one or modify it by removing the piston and seals.

Vacuum pump is used only on diesels.

chetanhanda · 14th January 2007, 10:29

guys I think I got the point ..
thanks a lot...
I wanted to do that becoz i was planning on a long trip over the long weekend and did not want to leave the car at the dealership for getting the power steering fluid flushed, etc ..didn't have time for that. So I thought I could juist get it disconnected and have a closer look at it later on.
But I managed to get all that pump, fluid flushed belt checked in time.

and hey Pankaj , i have a separate belt driving the power steering only.

the car Im referrring to is a honda

mithun · 17th January 2007, 05:55

Recently I've seen a Zen LXi whose PS was removed at MASS and I found that it drives almost like the Zen LX.

The rack was a new one & piston & seals were removed.

But I don't know whether this modification will create any problem in the future.

13th January 2007, 04:12	#1
chetanhanda BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 887 Thanked: 49 Times View My Garage	Disconnecting power steering pump.. Guys, is it ok to disconnect the power steering pump ? Is it as simple as removing the belt which drives the pump ? Main concern is - will it be even more difficult to drive than a originally "non power steering" version of the same car.. ?
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 04:18	#2
khanak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai/Toronto Posts: 2,799 Thanked: 268 Times View My Garage	uhhm...why would you want to do that in the first place?
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 11:22	#4
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,427 Thanked: 1,185 Times	A disengaged power steering will be a lot more harder to steer than a non power steering version.
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 13:25	#5
flipsyde BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 644 Thanked: 84 Times	chetanhanda..... its going to make the steering much harder than the non-PS model of the same car. i have driven an esteem where the pump leaked out all the oil in it and it was terrible...... i found it almost impossible to reach the service centre! i would strongly advice aganist driving without the PS.......
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 13:43	#6
elf BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Your power steering pump may also drive other hydraulic systems (if any) in your car. Don't think it's very advisable to do this.
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 15:32	#7
jyobeb Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Madurai Posts: 1,010 Thanked: 704 Times	Your car will be almost twice as difficult to drive and your entire steering box will get screwed beyond repair.
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 17:49	#9
elf BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Well, Pankaj401, in our old Mercedes 123 (OM616), the power steering belt also used to drive the vaccuum system which was used for central locking, the heater & a couple of other things (can't remember now), apart from the power steering itself. Since chetanhanda hasn't mentioned the vehicle he plans to do this on, I gave him a general note of caution.
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 18:51	#10
Pankaj401 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 215 Thanked: 6 Times	Elf you mean that the belt used for power steeing pump might also be used for other systems. What I was talking about was the pump.
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 19:05	#11
rejika Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20 Thanked: Once	In an Indica ( diesel) , I know that the same belt is used to drive and Power steering pump as well as the alternaor. The vacuum pump used for break assist is integrated with the alternor. Hence removing the power steering belt will also result in loss electrical power and breaking .
	() Thanks

13th January 2007, 20:40	#12
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Removing belt only cuts out hydraulic pressure. The rack still has slave cylinder with piston and seals which cause friction. If you want true non assist steering, you have to change the rack to the new one or modify it by removing the piston and seals. Vacuum pump is used only on diesels.
	() Thanks

14th January 2007, 10:29	#13
chetanhanda BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 887 Thanked: 49 Times View My Garage	guys I think I got the point .. thanks a lot... I wanted to do that becoz i was planning on a long trip over the long weekend and did not want to leave the car at the dealership for getting the power steering fluid flushed, etc ..didn't have time for that. So I thought I could juist get it disconnected and have a closer look at it later on. But I managed to get all that pump, fluid flushed belt checked in time. and hey Pankaj , i have a separate belt driving the power steering only. the car Im referrring to is a honda
	() Thanks

17th January 2007, 05:55	#14
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 268 Times	Recently I've seen a Zen LXi whose PS was removed at MASS and I found that it drives almost like the Zen LX. The rack was a new one & piston & seals were removed. But I don't know whether this modification will create any problem in the future.
	() Thanks