Dear Tom and Ray:

My girlfriend and I read your column all the time. Lately we've been trying to come up with an easy and convenient way to get more exercise. I started wondering: Is it safe to remove the power steering from a car? If so, how would a person do it? I'm thinking that this would be a good way to get better arm and shoulder strength. I tried it on an old Pinto some years ago by bypassing the power-steering pump with a shorter fan belt. I think it worked, although I did get a sore elbow once in a while. -- Rick

Ray: Don't do it, Rick. It's not a very safe thing to do. If you need to make a quick, evasive movement at a low speed, you might not be able to do it, and you might hit something -- or, even worse, somebody.

Tom: But more important, Rick, is this really the most clever way you and your girlfriend can think of to get more exercise?

Auto repairs can be costly! Save money by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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