Manual Rack and Pinion
From 1979 to 1983, a manual rack and pinion steering gear was available. It offered a 19.6:1 steering ratio with a 3.5-turn lock-to-lock turning radius.
XenonZcar.com - S130 Steering Differences
Throughout its production, the Datsun 280ZX was offered with three different steering systems:
- Manual rack and pinion
- Power recirculating ball
- Power rack and pinion
Below you will find the differences between these systems and the specific years they were available.
280ZX Steering Options
Power Recirculating Ball
From 1979 to 1981, Datsun/Nissan offered a power recirculating ball steering system on non-turbo cars. It had a 16.3:1 steering ratio and a 2.7-turn lock-to-lock turning radius.
Power Rack and Pinion
Power rack and pinion arrived with the 280ZX Turbo, introduced partway through the 1981 model year. In 1982 it replaced the power recirculating ball system on all cars. This setup had a 17.8:1 steering ratio and a 3.2-turn lock-to-lock turning radius.