Power steering-what you don't know won't hurt you

[Gomez]

I know that a VERY large percentage of Festiva owners on here don't have P/S. I am here to tell you guys that after driving my cousin's Festiva for a month now without p/s I miss it A LOT. My first and only Festiva was a 90L-Plus that did have it. Kinda wish I still had the car. Basically what I am saying is if your buddy has p/s don't drive it then you will never now what you are missing unless you know where to find a good p/s setup. Brian tried to get it from me on several occasions.

[Grey Vw]

No power steering is for REAL men

[Safety Guy]

Since I've never driven a PS equipped Festy, I can't argue with you.

However, I really really really don't mind missing an extra fluid reservoir to check and add fluid to. And to remove, work on, work around, worry about, stock fluid for...

I do like the feeling of "direct road connection" from an unpowered rack and pinion. Loved it on my Chevette, both my '81 and '85 Civics, and all my Festivas.

Had two K cars with PS. At over 2500 pounds, they did need it, but it was kinda numb for road feel and if I had begun working on them, I'd hate to have had to mess with all the extra parts. Fortunately, all I ever did was brake work and two radiator replacements so the PS was not an issue.

Now if I were dirtyfilthystinking rich, I'd probably want at least ONE Festy with PS. Why? Do I even have to explain to anyone here? I bet you all know why.

Just my opinion. YMMV, etc.

Karl

[Gforcefd]

When I drive my wife's 626 I notice the huge difference of with and without power steering, it is something I would love to have, but what I really love is it is one less thing to break on the festiva not having it.

[Evil D]

Eh...it's pretty useless on a car with 5 inch wide tires and a contact patch smaller than my hand. Try driving a Mustang with 245/50/17s in the front with no power steering. That'll give you the Popeye forearms after a week of driving it.

[oxbrain]

Never had power steering on a festiva, never really bothered me. Just get used to rolling slowly while turning, it's better for your tires anyway.

The festiva didn't even get a quicker ratio rack with the PS did it?

[TominMO]

Plus if you have PS in Missouri, it will fail the safety test if you have leaking PS fluid or a bad rack. This happened on my Outback and it cost me $700 or more, parts and labor. PS on Festivas seems pointless to me, unless the driver is very feeble.

[bhazard]

I'm with Karl here. One less fluid to stain the concrete.

[eurotiva]

Brian has a full PS setup with proper a/c lines and all. ....cough....cough.....

[sketchman]

I'm used to 2400lbs with a 14:1 rack. It was supposed to be power. I fixed that. I drive my Festiva with one hand and usually 2 fingers. Feels as limp as a wet noodle to me. My favorite is 18:1 manual. Good balance of feel, effort, and quickness IMO. It's all in what you like. If my Festiva had PS I'd probably be scrubbing sideways before I knew I'd turned the wheel.

[25Horseplay]

brian has a full ps setup with proper a/c lines and all. ....cough....cough.....

Yes I do!!

[bravekozak]

The Pride power steering will fit the Festiva too. But it's a little expensive to ocean freight.

You will need the power steering rack, power steering pump and the power steering reservoir.
I just realized that these are Mirko's items!
I have an extra Festiva power steering reservoir in case you can't find one.

The only other items that are required are the short steering column knuckle boot (which I got from an Aspire with power steering) and the extra crankshaft pulley for those without air conditioning.

I am guilty of having no tensioner pulley with my air.

[Gomez]

Yes I do!!

is that proper a/c stuff the a/c stuff you got off me.

[sasquatch]

turning 15's is like a workout, get jacked in no time :p

i dont find it that bad.... even with the heavy bp and G its fine....

[sketchman]

You guys are wusses. What's the Festy steering ratio?