A scary thing happened to me (and a warning)

[welsummerchicks]

The other thing is that with the power steering not working, you just aren't used to driving your car with it off, whether you're strong or not so strong doesn't exactly mitigate that you just aren't used to the way it feels and handles with the PS off. You don't get the feeling that you KNOW as well how the car will react and the steering seems a lot less precise. Especially with a truck, driving it very accurately, when it's going dead, on a very busy expressway with bumper to bumper traffic, OR on a country road with a real big DITCH on your right...not the best experience.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

If you do actually have a hard time with manual steering then you might want to talk about this with your mechanic next time you need a alignment. The caster can be adjusted to tone down the wheels tendency to return to center. Doing that will make turning without power steering easier. Adjusting the toe can also make it easier an add mileage to your tires but it effects how the car drives slightly. My brother keeps both low on his large trucks. There are also steering gears that are made for people that still need more help than most an there is backup hydrolic pumps that can be added as well as pressure reserve tanks.

I'm disabled my self an only drive with my left foot an arm.

You do need to turn it off in a safe place an make sure you can still drive it. If you cant you need to change something somewhere.


There is a springy bar that twists in the steering system that opens valves. With the power off you feel that extra twist in the wheel so it does take more wheel input to move the wheels but the car handles the same. But to someone that has never did it it would feel funny. Of course the main thing to always remember is to never pump the breaks. Pumping the breaks is for if the peddle hits the floor or if you are sliding in a non ABS car. In an engine failure or other emergencys you should always stand on the peddle hard till you stop.