There is definitely less to go wrong with the manual rack but with
proper driving, (avoid full lock turns and turning the wheel with the
van stationary), the power steering racks should last >100,000 miles.
FUN BUS is now at 217K on the original using Mobil-1 ATF. The major
downside to manual steering is increased effort required for parking/low
speed maneuvers increased sensitivity to wheel balance causing steering
wheel shimmy due to the lack of hydraulic dampening. You should also
install the larger steering wheel and maybe the non PS spindles.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Michael Rule
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 9:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: looking for manual steering box linkage

Hi All,

Looking to purchase used linkage from between the steering box and the
steering rack on a manual-steering 83-85 (or trade for the
power-steering components I am thinking of removing)... this unit is
apparently different than that of the power-steering models. Unsure if
other years are compatible...  Please email if so (sale or info).

If anyone has an opinion on this sort of swap, I'm interested in
pro's/cons... the archives have some goodies, and there have been a few
posts proclaiming yea's and nay's for manual, but not so much about
swapping (or I'm keyword-search-clueless)... seems to me that manual is
one less problem/ leak-in-waiting.

Thanks,
Mike

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