Miata Mailing List: April 1996, Message #218
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   From: dans@dmscomp.com (Dan Scolnick)
Subject: Re: R Package steering question
   Date: Tue, 2 Apr 1996 23:01:37 -0500

>Dan,
>
>Thanks for the response. If I was to want to revert from power steering TO
>manual steering, would I be able to get the steering ratio which the manual
>steering comes with?
>
>Thanks!
>
>Happy Motoring!                             -Zack
>
>|\  Kerim Zackariah Broadbent               #176 CS/SK
>| \  RacerZack@aol.com                      Cal Club &
>|  \  red '94 Miata, "Enzo, Jr."            San Diego
>|___\  PLAY CAR in Fullerton, CA
> 1904
>
>
>

good question and easy to find out.  The steering box is where the gears and
ratio are.  I would assume (and it makes sense) that the manual steering box
is different than the power steering box.  the real question is what else is
different.  could have a different rack, pitman & idler arm as well.
        Post the question to the list and/or I would go to a dealer and do a
little research on their feesh (sp) machine.  Look up all the steering parts
for manual and power and see what's the same and whats different.

my first miata had power steering and the smaller leather wrapped steering
wheel.  I loved the wheel but the steering was a little skittish over 95mph.
I was reluctant to get manual steering on my '94 but I really wanted the 'r'
model and that's the only way it came (the various dealers ignorance was
astounding on this issue, even had a dealer guarantee me he could get me an
'r' with power steering and i only had to give him a non-refundable deposit
first!)
        Now that i've lived with the manual steering and the big ugly wheel
for a year and 20k miles, i would never go back to the power (unless of
course the choice was a crapi).  I was going to replace the stock wheel with
the leather wrapped wheel but mazda wanted $479 for it, so I passed.  I
don't miss it.  PS. both wheels use the same air bag.

/^\dan
'94 'R'ed (being modified) - HERETIC (wish I was blue)
'81 Volvo "From Hell" 337,000 miles, catch me if you can (with dirty wheels)
'70 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 SixPack (power steering, brakes & power power)
1984 Hobie 33 - 'The Vicar Is...'
1991 Hobie Miracle 20' - 'Hazardous (when wet)'
1996 Hobie Magic 25' - awaiting a name

Writing to you from the capital of the world-
New York City, New York (so dangerous we warn you twice)