Pros and cons of manual steering rack on a NA

[slug_dub]

Our NA6 has no powered steering, the NA8 does. I'm happy with either, and I don't find there's much if any feel lost with powered steering at all.
Manual rack in an MX5 is not that heavy and with a 360mm steering wheel has never required much more turning of the wheel on twisties.
The only reason I can see to strictly stick with a manual steering rack is for the weight saving.

[gslender]

However, with my manual rack and tie rods being completely screwed, I needed to fix that. Some may have read of my debacle in trying to find manual steering components in Aus. I have some pretty good connections and even they couldn't help.

Ok, I'll bite, what problems did you have finding parts? Just the rack, or issues finding tie rods too?

[Pamex]

Finding parts was difficult, as the Japanese are buying back all the manual components. They go for a fortune over in Japan.

Essentially my problem was because it is a daily car, I needed to be time conscious, especially with having the next round of competition only a couple of weeks away. Getting to building sites can be a bit tricky without a car also...

I tried wreckers pretty much all over the East coast of Australia. Mazda is also no go as that's a 6 week wait from Japan.

There are also none available in NZ and apparently very few currently available in Japan.

There are some available in the US and MX5 parts UK has them. But that also involves waiting.

Tie Rods I did manage to track down. Ends are easy. The rack is more difficult. More to the point... to find one in good condition (as most of the places I resorted to I'd be trusting it's ok) without stripped threads is difficult. It can be difficult to return parts like that, depending on how dodgy the wrecker/ person is. 'You must have stripped them yourself when installing the rods' would be something that would be your word against theirs. Even if you took photos of damage when they arrive... they can say 'you must have taken them after...'.

An entire excellent condition PS set up (everything) can be had for $500 max. Tie Rods and ends are $100 for the lot. Then add in finding a good condition rack on top of that. Now add in dust boots (if yours are torn. These need to be no tears otherwise there's no point having them) which can go for a fortune on their own.

To me it made the most sense time-wise and financially. A set-up I know is good, ready to go right now, no waiting (and 15 mins by bus from work is a bonus!). As opposed to waiting for ages to find an ok manual rack. With power steering, components are a lot easier to get as well... which saves this hassle again... down the road.