[jcp123]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dude

I had the same question as you jcp123 about the ps components. I didn't really want to make any mods such as looping the lines in case I wanted to sell it down the road. I ran my car for a year without turning the ps pump and hooked it back up only briefly to run this test. I didn't notice any ill effects over this past year; power steering worked as well as the day I bought the car. The way I figure it if you leave the system untouched aside from removing the belt there's still the same amount of lubricating property from the ps fluid, just a lower pressure system. This is all providing the car is light enough to manage slow speed steering without looping the lines.

Great feedback, thanks. I ran my Mustang sans PS for a few weeks a while back and there were no ill effects from doing it. But had never done it really long-term before. Weight shouldn't be a problem, curb weight for the Echo is only 2065lbs and I'd say about 1200lbs over the front wheels. Between that and the skinny wheels, I'd guess it's still pretty low-effort without PS.

Does looping the lines protect componentry, or does it primarily lower effort by giving the fluid a path to travel? I'm trying to gauge how important it is to do it.