Can I just run without it? Is this possible? My buddy's mazda miata (early 90's) has no PS and its still easy to drive.

 

It can be done, but it's a real bit**! It's so hard to turn these with no power steering that it is too dangerous. I drove mine for about 10 miles with a dead pump and it was scary! Plus I'm not sure it's good for the rack.

 

I don't think its either that difficult or that dangerous. I drove mine when the PS pump went out.

 

i drove my mcs for about a month with no pump, good upper body exercise but after i put a new pump on, the rack makes a crunching noise

 

That sucks. Do the hardcore auto-x/track minis keep their power steering?

 

is it completely ridiculous to hope someone can figure a way to put the R56 system into an R53? ha... probably ....

 

i put an r53 tranny into an r50. i bet this could be done too.

 

No problem. I drove mine for about 2 weeks while the pump was being rebuilt. If you're talking 6 months, I don't know.

However, i think if you avoid hard turns while going 0 mph, you'll be OK

 

is the rack self lubricating? on most track cars, we loop the hoses so some fluid stays in the rack. never done it on a mini.