For what its worth, our 86 has has a power steering-ectomy, including the
installation of a manual rack and a big steering wheel, and neither my wife
or myself find it difficult to drive. Our 84 drives and parks easily enough.
I can't imagine voluntarily giving up ANY horsepower to run the pump!
Seeya, Jake
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Sisler" <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 8:22 AM
Subject: Re: Steering rack leak....rebuild or trash? 85 GL

> Yeah, Im in the same situation. I took the ps belt off and have been using
> the van without ps for about 8 months( stole this idea off the list
without
> giving proper credit to the postee). I do have bigger bicepts(sp)but I
> still cant sjpell it.Actually this is not bad driving.Only parking.  The
> vanagon ps does not compare with other vehicles'ps when the engine dies.It
> actually,practically, can be used this way. As for replacement, I gotta
> wait still.Maybe forever.The rebuild kit is about $80, and is said to
> require no special tools.However, isnt it a good idea to do the inner tie
> rods at the same time($35 eachx2, and new boots $25, and the little flex
> plates(3 of them @ $15 each, and 4 mounting grommets $6 each X4), and por-
> 15 to make it look cool? My penny jar will still have to help out here,
but
> that $275 rack w/innerand outter tie rod ends and boots, and mounting
> grommets looks real good at BD.Maybe Bd will discount this for me for this
> advertisment-say $100-$200.How long will a ps steering rack last anyway?
> Anybody got any testimonies  for endurance out there? Did you flush the
> fluid at anytime during it's life?
>