Increasing steering resistance on Mk1

[Antracer]

I have a MK1 with pas. I dont like pas nor did i want it but it came with it so now i have to deal with it. Thought i could just take the belt off but apparently
it doesn't work like that. It's so light i could steer with one finger & gives no feel of whats happening at the front.

So how can i increase the resistance of turning the wheel (without letting the tyres down). Fitting a smaller diameter steering wheel is one idea.
What are your thoughts on thicker power steering fluid? Will that slow things down or just put more strain on the pump?

[Plasticspoon]

Smaller wheel should do the trick, just came from a large air bagged Momo to a very small Nardi and the difference is noticeable.

[Sad Weevil]

Just fit a manual rack. Cheap from a breakers.

[MikeOxlong]

I've got a mono corsa wheel on my car, it's much smaller and certainly made the steering stiffer, but now I can't see the dials properly.

[GravelBen]

Usually the PAS rack still has excellent feel - maybe get the suspension geo sorted out with a bit more caster+camber and see how that feels. What tyre pressures are you running?

Most people I've talked to who have owned/driven both PAS and non-PAS versions preferred the PAS, its what the car was designed with. The non-PAS rack is a slower ratio, and while it is heavier opinions seem to vary as to whether it really has much more feel.

[MX-5 Lazza]

As above, sounds like your car isn't set up right. When was the geometry last checked, what tyres do you have and what pressures?

The MX5 was designed from the outset to have PAS and its an excellently weighted system that gives bags of feedback. Pretty much every review you would have seen would have been in a car with PAS and I've never seen one where they say anything about the steering feedback other than to say how good it is.

A non-PAS option was offered but only on the most basic spec cars and the rack chosen is a cheap one that is relatively low quality. It was only added to give a cheap base model option, not for any driving/feedback reasons.

[skinny]

you can de-power the rack but it needs welding up.

mine with PAS is fine - a decent alignment and a 320mm wheel probably help tho.

[fatjon]

Removing PAS is easy and common on Exocet kit cars which use MX5 running gear but don't need PAS. The PAS rack has an in pipe and an out pipe, cut them and join then with a flexible pipe. Then remove the PAS pump and chuck it away.

[fatjon]