Swap from power to manual steering/brakes for racing

[team39763]

What up ya'll? I was wondering if there is any weight to be lost by switching to manual steering on my 82 C10. It's a race-only vehicle and currently I have the power steering lines disconnected. Am I doing any damage by not having fluid going to the steering box? I've been reading and it seems as if I'll only need the manual box and the pitman arm....right? *Yes, I did a search but didn't see a clear answer.*

I already have the manual brake setup. I haven't put it in yet because I'm still trying to understand what needs to be done. What does it mean to bench bleed a master cylinder? What's the easiest way to bleed the brakes on my truck? Do I need that rubber boot that goes over the pushrod?...the one I have is torn in the front towards the pedal. Is it just a dust cover?
Like I said, it's a race only truck and I'm looking to shed all the weight I can and cut down parasitic loss.

[old Rusty C10]

yes you are doing damage by not having the fluid going through the steering box..there are valves i n there that ned the fluid

the easiest way to bench bleed a master cylinder is to get the hose kit from the auto parts store for like $5 you fill the master with fluid and hold it down... you stick these hoses in the holesinto the fluid and push in the plunger a few times and making sure the fluid goes back into the master... once there are no air bubbles the master is bench bled

[team39763]

Thanks, I'll try that bleeding method.
What about the manual steering box, is it lighter than the power box?

[team39763]

How important is it to have clean fluid in the master cylinder? I live in a very dusty town and I got a little bit of dust blown into the new fluid as I was pouring. It's not a lot. The pedal feels fine and it seems to stop the truck when we pushed it around the yard.

[heavychevy79]

"Dust"? like off of your TV dust or spider poop from up under the hood dust?
Water would be the worst thing for your brake fluid.

Look in Custom Delux trucks at the junkyard for your steering box.
I'm sure there will be one at the Pate swap meet if you can make it there.

[team39763]

Dust as in a little bit of dirt in the wind. I made sure to keep moisture out.
I think there's a couple custom Deluxe trucks around my town, I'll ask and see what they got. I'm too far from Dallas to make it to that swap meet, I wish I could go. I'm planning to try to make it to one of those swap meets they have in Belton....oneday.

[454HO]

Originally Posted by team39763

How important is it to have clean fluid in the master cylinder? I live in a very dusty town and I got a little bit of dust blown into the new fluid as I was pouring. It's not a lot. The pedal feels fine and it seems to stop the truck when we pushed it around the yard.

Dust as in a little bit of dirt in the wind.

Ah... Dust in the Wind... great song.

There are pistons with rubber O-ring seals inside the master cylinder. Dirt will act as an abrassive. What kind of racing will you be doing? Does your life depend on whether or not the truck stops when you want it too?

I would suggest taking the master off and cleaning it out just to be sure. You should only need some snap ring pliers to pull the piston assembly out. Be extremely careful not to nick any of the rubber parts or score any metal part. Clean it with brake cleaner and reassemble using fresh clean brake fluid as a lubricant.

[team39763]

I'll be doing 1/4mile drag racing, so I'm sure I'll need good brakes on the big end. I'll go ahead and pull it off and clean it out.

[1978skeens]

I want to switch to the manual steering set up what do I need to do???

[team39763]

From what I've been reading, you just need the actual steering box and the pitman arm. Hopefully I can find a manual box setup here soon.