From a performance point of view which is the best, the recirculating ball or the rack and pinion? The one that gives the best road feel and tells you what is happening.

Had some vague impression that the recirculating ball type had a quicker ratio. Or was that only compared with the manual r&p?

 

I believe the ball type does have fewer turns lock to lock. It offers no road feedback. it is a full power steering system.

The R&P power assist offers some nice feedback, and if your power steering pump goes out, it is not impossible to steer the car manually.

 

I've had 280ZX's with both types, and I think I prefer the Recirculating ball type. The rack just seemed sloppy even when new. Too many turns lock to lock... too much input required. The other is more "point and shoot". Now, maybe it's the suspension upgrades I've done, but I feel like it actually has pretty good road feel. It let's me know when the pavement is anything other than flat and smooth. I even somehow got my car to UNDERSTEER about a month ago, and while it scared the living crap out of me, I felt it push through the wheel. Still not sure how I managed to create an understeer scenario, but it was downright evil. A few little alignment tweaks and hopefully it won't happen again.


Rod.

 

I never drove my 81 hard. The shocks were blown and the ride was very sloppy jalopy.

 

I have the recirc. ball type and it's great. I pulled the powersteering when the pump started leaking and sealed the gearbox up with some really thick washers. I also had to prime the box with PS fluid to get all the slop out of it but now its great. The feed back is spectacular (I HATE powersteering) and since the Z isn't a 4000lbs car the force needed to turn the wheel at low speeds isn't that bad (as long as you got air in the tires ), especially since you don't have to turn it as far.

 

Thanks for the feedback

 

My car has a manual rack, are there provisions to mount the recirculating ball type box and idler arm and all that jazz?