So it is obvious that rack and pinion steering is a major improvement over the stock setup in any classic mustang. I was wondering though, for my 69' would power rack and pinion be better than manual? I see a lot of builds online with ppl using manual, but it never really says why. Basically, I was wondering what the benefits/disadvantages of the two setups are. Thanks

 

Any ideas out there?

 

I like manual because you get more response from the road and it's more fun to drive IMO.

 

I'll probably be going to manual rack and pinion. I think manual gives you a better feel of the road, power tends to have more 'give' to it and doesn't seem as responsive to me. Plus you lose some power because of the power steering pump.

 

Alot depends on how heavy your engine/car is and how much you parallel park. The 69 was heavier than the 65 above, so it would be better with PS if you have a bigger v8.
Power steering mostly helps with low speed manouvers. The modern speed sensing PS is best of both worlds, which is why almost all new cars have it.
The older lighter cars with non-R&P were better if you had manual steering. Heavier cars are better with PS, rack or not.
I have PS in the 71 with a 351C and rebuilt vintage steering box and it's
good even on the highway. I guess it has some primitave speed sensing.
My old 66 Barracuda had PS with horribly light steering on the highway (by today's stantards), but parking was great. I also had a 73 with sm/block v8 and with manual st. It was much better on the hiway but you had to be rolling to turn it at low speed, a bear to park.
The 71 Mach would be better with R&P but no kit exists yet for a 71. I kind of like the vintage feel anyway.

 

One of the advantages of power assist is that it lets you get away with setting caster to a higher positive value. That's directly good for straightline directional stability (as long as you don't take it to some insane extreme), and indirectly it actually helps the outside front tire maintain grip while cornering. Fox-body owners who autocross their cars routinely set as much positive caster as they can get on the side that runs out of adjustment first.

Manual steering is usually associated with less positive or even slightly negative static caster specs in order to keep steering effort at a reasonable level. "Reasonable" in this case being with respect to people having less upper body strength than is typical for the membership here.

On another site I'm currently finding out that PS vs manual can even make a difference in the amount of understeer even if the steering ratios are identical (I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that one).

Your use of the car matters. I'd run a nonpower R&P on a 2300 lb car even for autocross, but not on a 3000+ lb car in that activity (I could probably live with it just fine in more normal daily driving, and I also know that my wife would flat-out refuse to drive such a car).


Norm

 

At least that is a plus!

 

Going to a 5-sp with a heavy duty clutch works too.

On topic: another advantage in favor of manual steering, it's easier to install.
That's probably the real reason why most kits go manual.

 

So even if I lightened up my '69 to... lets say 2700 -2900lbs the power rack and pinion would pretty much be the way to go? I DO want a good feeling of the road, in other words I don't want a feathery light steering wheel to isolate me from the road. Which one would give me the best overall setup? Oh, and do they make "speed sensing" power rack and pinion kits for classic stangs? Has anyone tried that PS pump from TCP that is supposed to give you a better feeling of the road? Thanks

 

The size of the block would make the decision for me. Small vs Big (battery up front?). To me, the manual is just fine with the lighter small block (and smaller tires) but with a big block, you will have a workout when stopped, and having to turn the wheel. The 125lb "wifie" is getting a power rack and power brakes for her 65 (along with a few other goodies).