Rack and Pinion vs. Power Steering. (was: Power Steering).

["therealdmcvegas" <DMCVegas@xxxx>]

If your steering is that difficult, than it's time for a servicing of 
some sort. I have the original steering rack, 2 properly inflated 
tires, and lubed steering knuckles and suspension. Even though 
it is noticably more resistant than my truck, I can still turn with 
only 1 hand. Most time when I do drive thru parking lots, I usually 
steer with my left hand open, palm pressing against the wheel, 
and I have no problems. Now if your talking about turning wheels 
lock to lock while stopped, that is always going to be difficult. 
Even on trucks with power steering, I need to use 2 hands. So a 
little grease in the right places on the front of your car, and you 
should be good to go!

As far as power steering removing the feel of the road, this is 
absolutely true. The reason being I have found is that power 
steering gives control to the road to direct the car, rather than the 
driver. A perfect example is where I live. Because of traffic, and 
where I work, my commute to work usually takes me thru the 
industrial areas of town. And this means HEAVY truck traffic. 
Because of the consistant truck traffic, the pavement depresses, 
and you will end up with wide grooves that snake all over. 
Particualy interections where they have to both cross, and make 
wide turns. Both my D, and my old car would feel them, but will 
not follow them. When they curve a direction, my car just keeps 
going straight, and drives out of them. Just the opposite with 
powersteering. I drove my friends '00 Cavalier back when my car 
was in the shop over the very same roads. The Cavalier kept 
wanting to follow the grooves in the road, so I had to keep a tight 
grip to compensate.

You also cannot take hard corners as smooth with 
powersteering as you can rack and pinion. Powersteering has 
(IMO) a nasty habit of trying to snap back straight after the 
wheels are turned. So with hard cornering, I have to fight the 
wheel to keep it from turning back. Turn too quick, and you'll over 
shoot. Turn back too fast, and you'll over correct and can loose 
control. With R&P, I just relieve my grip, and the wheel will turn 
only as quickly as I let it, without much force needed at all.

-Robert
vin 6585 "X"



--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "evm2k" <evm2k@xxxx> wrote:
> I did check out my rack & front end and found it in decent 
shape. I 
> even went into a few other Deloreans and checked them out. 
They all 
> seemed to be the same. Very hard. When I'm driving, there's 
no 
> problem but it's when I'm manuevering around town and 
parking is when 
> I wish that it did have power steering. Especially in San 
> Francisco!!!
> 
> Is this rack and pinion an exclusive Delorean design or is 
there 
> another car that shares the same components? If anyone 
knows, please 
> let me know so that I can do some further research.
> 
> Richard 
> Danville, Ca
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Marc A. Levy" <malevy@xxxx> wrote:
> > WHY?
> > 
> > If you feel you have the need for power steering, you may 
have some 
> problem with your car.
> > 
> > Even when parallel parking, I have no problem with the 
manual 
> steering on both of my DeLoreans.
> > 
> > Inspect your rack. Make sure it is properly lubricated. Also 
do a 
> general front end inspection (tie rods, ball joints....blah blah)