Possible to disable power steering on a T? | FerrariChat

Possible to disable power steering on a T?

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by sixcarbs, Jun 23, 2024.

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  1. sixcarbs

    sixcarbs F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 19, 2004
    10,345
    SF
    Is it possible to completely disable the power steering on a T?

    Anyone done it?

    My gut says just disabling the pump and taking it out of the circuit might leave you with something strange given the balance of the parts below around the steering mechanism.

    How easy might it be to swap it for the 3.2 set up?
     
  2. Mondi Cab

    Mondi Cab Karting

    Oct 9, 2019
    170
    EU
    Full Name:
    J.Schulz
    Of course questioning WHY you would like to do that?
    The T has a smaller steering wheel, because it does have power steering.

    Now to the technical part: I have not looked at the assembly specifically so it is just a guess, that IF the PS has its own belt driving the pump, you could actually disable it by simply pulling that belt.
    I was caught on a lonesome desert road once with an E30 BMW (that was the 80's square 3 series) and got a worrisome noise. Stopped to see a trace of oil squirting out of the steering rack. With hundreds of miles far of any help, ruining the hydraulic pump was not an option. So I found, that there were different belts for alternator + water pump than for the hydraulic pump feeding pressure to the PS. Swiss army knife out and cut that belt. Drove half a year without PS before able to get a new steering rack installed. So far no problem.
    HOWEVER: if that belt does serve something else as well, DON'T even think of it.

    F.e.: on most cars the dynamo/alternator is on the same belt as the water pump. Therefore when the battery warning light comes on, you must stop. Not for the electric power that is now drawn directly out of the battery, but for your engine not being cooled no more.
     
  3. sixcarbs

    sixcarbs F1 World Champ
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    Dec 19, 2004
    10,345
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    I don't own anything now. Just daydreaming.

    I was the long term owner of three different Ferraris; a Daytona, a 328 GTS, and a 550. I was never crazy about the 550 and felt it lacked a connection to the road, and I wonder how much of that was attributable to the power steering, even though it was variable.

    One day I would like to own a T Cab, but worry I could feel that same disconnect as I felt in the 550.
     
  4. Wingnut

    Wingnut Karting

    Feb 11, 2005
    151
    Corolla, NC
    I had the power rack rebuilt on my T a few years ago. The unit was losing the power assist occasionally, making it a bear to turn the steering wheel at slow speed.
    I've been happy ever since the unit was rebuilt. The power assist now functions perfectly, with just the right amount of "feel" on the steering wheel.
    I believe the Mondial t's power assist varies with speed - the faster you go, the less power assist. You really neeed max power assist at slower speeds.
     
  5. afterburner

    afterburner F1 Rookie
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    Jun 20, 2008
    3,459
    Switzerland
    Full Name:
    Urs STEMMLER
    I think near to impossible without major engineering input - the t used a completely new set-up later largely carried over to the 348.
    I would check if your t's steering's variable assistance works as it should. I just recently drove a Valeo t and the steering was pretty nice - no desire to remove the assistance.
     
    sixcarbs likes this.

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