Driving the car with power steering 'off'

[mk1fan]

Afternoon,

What, if any, harm is possible when a 'T' car is driven with the electric power steering pump is inactive?

[ukkid35]

With no PS you are putting much more force through the steering wheel, column, UJs, all the way to the pinion on the rack. May not amount to enough to break something, but it is still significant and over time must increase wear and tear.

The most damage you can do is by hitting something because you're not as quick as power assisted steering.

[Hamish400]

Drove T350 to Le Mans and back without electric power steering. Once the wheels are turning there is very little difference in feel from the power assisted operation. When stationary the steering needs some effort, but this quickly eases as the wheels start to turn. Power steering was then repaired and there was no noticeable wear apparent.

Rgds Hamish

[shep1001]

Don't 'dead steer' it & it will be fine. Drove mine for a while whilst I diagnosed the fault & fixed. It was a pig at low speeds. Plenty of Chimps don't have PS and they don't bust their steering components every 5 minutes

[mk1fan]

Thanks peeps.