Last night I changed the water pump belt on my Echo, it was time to change it because small cracks were forming on the ridges of the belt.
I also removed my power steering belt and was surprised to see how easily I could spin the power steering pully by hand, it would actually free spin for three or four rotations after I let it go.
I test drove the car this morning to see what impact lack of power steering would have on the driving characteristics and I felt very little difference while rolling. Only wide turns at slow speed were little harder to turn.
Then I had my friend turn the steering wheel while I spun the pully by hand, and I noticed no difference in spining resistance.
I was little disapointed that the power steering pump has so little resistance because disconnesting power steering would have very little impact on milage.
I decided to connect power steering system back, some mods don't make sense and I realized that this is one of them, at least on my car.
