Not exactly an MB question but could apply. I was reading on bimmerfest.com about a guy who had replaced his 325 power steering rack with a manual. Another guy had been thinking about just leaving the belt off to be rid of leakage and power drain. The other dude said that steering a power unit w/o the belt is significantly harder than with a manual rack. I'm sure that's right.

My pump belt habitually squeals. It's a hard one to tighten and every time I do it, it starts squealing again in 4 or 5 months. The pump is showing age in other ways too. A new pump would be about $250 while the manual rack is $540. Any ideas on whether or not I'd notice the extra power?

If nothing else, all that cranking of the steering wheel will help me get in touch with my inner primitive man.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K