1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Finally, Gen1 Power Steering Delete Kit Available Soon!!!!!

Page 8 of 9
  1. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

    May 15, 2012
    6,023
    5,310
    113
    11 years in the ARMY, 2 years of being a multitale
    North Denver CO.
    Ratings:
    +5,322 / 0 / -0
    #119 TheModFather, Aug 18, 2014
    So with 225/45/15 R-comps, the steering will really be a pain if you spend a lot of time parking... All I needed to know.
     
  2. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

    Sep 11, 2009
    581
    352
    63
    Ratings:
    +378 / 0 / -0
    #124 minsanity, Aug 22, 2014
    Just edited post77 instructions to include REMOVAL of FL4 100A PSP fuse in the engine bay fuse box. This was a Safety Measure courtesy of Da_Ghost.:Thumbsup:
     
  3. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

    Sep 11, 2009
    581
    352
    63
    Ratings:
    +378 / 0 / -0
    #125 minsanity, Aug 25, 2014
    Another review fr RDY4TKF:

    Sorry for taking so long to post my review. My power steering pump was making the most annoying, embarrassing whine so I disconnected it around May. I drove around like this trying to decide what I was going to do. I saw the posting about Condor making the ps delete so I thought I would wait and give it a shot. It is definitely an improvement over just disconnecting the pump. It is not night and day but enough to where I am happy to have installed it. Obviously I miss the quickness of my steering when the pump was fully operational. The power steering pump was kind of heavy so at least it's not dead weight now that it is off of the car. In the future I will probably buy a new pump but for now I'm happy. Only super tight spots is where the steering is a struggle.
     
  4. Whitebits

    Whitebits New Member

    Oct 6, 2014
    3
    1
    0
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    #128 Whitebits, Oct 6, 2014
    Thanks for that [emoji1] and welcoming me, would be great to get some feedback on the ps delete with combined weight loss too, as soon as my build gets to this stage I will add my review
     
  5. Whitebits

    Whitebits New Member

    Oct 6, 2014
    3
    1
    0
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    #129 Whitebits, Oct 17, 2014
    just got it from the mail office today should be installed soon
     
  6. Steve

    Steve Administrator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator

    Apr 23, 2009
    12,154
    3,164
    113
    Maryland, USA
    Ratings:
    +3,166 / 0 / -0
    #130 Steve, Dec 6, 2014
    Decided to take the plunge and give this thing a try. While I wait for delivery, here's a question.

    Can anyone explain why that's a safety measure? I know where it is, had to check it a couple years ago when my pump stopped working (the pump was the problem, not the fuse), but going back in there and taking it out is just another hassle I'd rather avoid if removal isn't necessary.
     
  7. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

    Sep 11, 2009
    581
    352
    63
    Ratings:
    +378 / 0 / -0
    #131 minsanity, Dec 6, 2014
    Some took the shorter route & installed their Condor w/o removing the pump. Therefore, the FL4 keeps it live. That's not safe.
     
  8. Steve

    Steve Administrator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator

    Apr 23, 2009
    12,154
    3,164
    113
    Maryland, USA
    Ratings:
    +3,166 / 0 / -0
    #132 Steve, Dec 13, 2014
    In case anyone would like a better idea of the size of this thing. My hand for scale.

    [​IMG]

    Also, instead of shipping with 5 narrow washers (see instructions post here) the kit now comes with just 3 narrow washers and 1 thicker washer to replace the doubled up pair on the larger banjo bolt.

    I'm still bothered slightly by the lack of a torque spec for the banjo bolts but mine is installed on the rack for now just tight enough so I can clean everything in the area without having to worry about accidentally getting anything inside the rack. I'll send an email to Condor asking about the lack of torque spec and hope to get an answer before I'm ready to put the subframe back on the car in a couple days.
     
  9. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    3,532
    2,896
    113
    Professional Facilitator and Alignment Consultant
    Holly Springs, NC
    Ratings:
    +2,896 / 0 / -0
    #137 BlimeyCabrio, Dec 14, 2015
    So haven't seen any updates on this in a lonnnnnnnng time. Wondering if Steve is still running it, and if anyone else is? If anyone actually used this on a track car?
     
  10. Steve

    Steve Administrator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator

    Apr 23, 2009
    12,154
    3,164
    113
    Maryland, USA
    Ratings:
    +3,166 / 0 / -0
    #138 Steve, Dec 14, 2015
    I'm still using mine. I'm still happy with it and have completely lost any desire go back.

    Have not used it on track but I'll say this. The faster you're moving, the less effort is required to make the wheels turn. You don't notice that with a good powered assist because the system insulates you from that reality.
     
  11. Zillon

    Zillon Well-Known Member

    Jul 12, 2014
    702
    632
    93
    Central NJ
    Ratings:
    +633 / 0 / -0
    #141 Zillon, Dec 17, 2015
    Honestly, I'm curious about this too.

    That being said, typically non-power racks use a higher ratio box to compensate for the lack of assist. Having driven cars with a broken PS belt in the past, I know how hard it is to turn a car with a broken/disabled pump, so I'm curious to see how it drives with a more proper delete kit.
     
  12. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,445
    10,057
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,698 / 2 / -0
    #142 Crashton, Dec 17, 2015
    I can't imagine liking a MINI with no power steering. If you go for this better hit the Gym & build up those biceps. Lots of race & rally cars now have power steering. Well most of them really.
     
  13. ColinGreene

    ColinGreene Well-Known Member
    Motoring Alliance Sponsor

    May 15, 2009
    438
    293
    63
    Male
    Orange county Ca
    Ratings:
    +293 / 0 / -0
    #145 ColinGreene, Dec 17, 2015
    I know someone whos driven their mini from some very low amount of miles to 150k on no PS, I cant say i would reccomend it.
    I also know someone else that tried to drive the car at the dragon with no ps and wound up working the wheel so hard it broke the steering wheel bolt loose. Chad wound up fixing it.
     
  14. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    3,532
    2,896
    113
    Professional Facilitator and Alignment Consultant
    Holly Springs, NC
    Ratings:
    +2,896 / 0 / -0
    #148 BlimeyCabrio, Dec 17, 2015
    Correct, that's the whole point. With the delete adapter, it's supposed to be very different than just working against a non-functional pump. But, by no means easy.
     
  15. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

    Sep 11, 2009
    581
    352
    63
    Ratings:
    +378 / 0 / -0
    #152 minsanity, Feb 24, 2016
    The kit's purpose was never to replace a working pump. More a temp fix for those tight budgeted...or a perma 1 for the muscled hobos.:)
    Again, no1 said steering will be as good as having power assist, but it won't be as hard as having a dead pump in.:)
     
  16. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 5, 2009
    3,378
    3,368
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,369 / 0 / -0
    #153 cct1, Feb 24, 2016
    Now that this has been installed a few times and the smoke has cleared, this is the single most useful post in this thread. The power steering delete has it's place; you just have to make sure it's right (or not right) for your situation.
     
  17. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

    May 5, 2009
    4,936
    534
    0
    Working at being retired.
    Somewhere in Sykesville. Md.
    Ratings:
    +534 / 0 / -0
    #154 Norm03s, Apr 24, 2016
    My PS pump was busking me this morning. Might be real interested later today.
     
  18. minsanity

    minsanity Well-Known Member

    Sep 11, 2009
    581
    352
    63
    Ratings:
    +378 / 0 / -0
    #155 minsanity, Jun 11, 2016
    So, have you installed?
     
  19. shoalsgary

    shoalsgary New Member

    Apr 12, 2017
    1
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    #156 shoalsgary, Apr 30, 2017
    All of these posts about driving cars with dead power steering miss the point. Dead power steering adds a tremendous effort to steering as it requires you to force fluid through the dead pump.. Power steering delete adds a small amount due to the quicker ratio of power as opposed to manual steering. There IS no fluid being forced through the dead pump, so there IS no basis for comparing this setup to dead power steering.
     
  20. Msfitoy

    Msfitoy Member

    May 16, 2009
    123
    19
    18
    Male
    Automotive/Industrial Designer
    NC
    Ratings:
    +22 / 0 / -0
    #157 Msfitoy, May 1, 2017
    Last edited: May 1, 2017
    :lol::lol::lol:...I read the whole thread and had the feeling what the outcome would be...try moving your Mini after a few beers...Seriously though, the reason I wouldn't do this is when you have to countersteer quickly when the back end breaks loose unexpectedly...not to mention the extra stress which is necessarily inputted through the steering UJ pre-rack which may not have been designed to take up this extra load continuiously.
     
Page 8 of 9