rack and pinion conversion kit available ghia,beetle

[vwbao]

hi this is the kit for our ghias and beetle

http://cgi.ebay.de/Zahnstangenlenkungskit-passend-fuer-VW-Kaefer-Karmann_W0QQitemZ250107355232QQihZ015QQcategoryZ42 491QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


and this is their website, please contact them to join us here in this particular forum. I already emailed them, please do so.

http://www.classic-centrum.de/mitte.htm

[volkdent]

The Ebay link doesn't work, what was it?

Jason

[vwbao]

hi, sorry maybe the item has now removed from ebay. but heres is the picture of it...

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/383961.jpg

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/383962.jpg

[vwbao]

hi guys, try this again.

http://cgi.ebay.de/Zahnstangenlenkungskit-passend-fuer-VW-Kaefer-Karmann_W0QQitemZ250107355232QQihZ015QQcategoryZ42 491QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Steve C]

Hi

That looks nice, it gets rid of the uneven tie rod length.

Steve

[volkdent]

Looks pretty well designed, I wonder how the steering geometry is now.

Jason

[1303C2/3]

Well finally someone comes up with the r&P steering for the torsion beam front end. I wonder what the steering ratio is. It would be cool to use the original (size) classic bug steering wheel and have an ultra quick steering response. Btw. I was dreaming bout r&p for my type 3 squareback. Because the type 3 framehead being different than the type 1 bug I thought it would be much easier to graft in the r&p type steering box. (or for a Porsche 550 replica) ;)
Something else struck my attention.
http://www.classic-centrum.de/images/kaefer-motor-typ4-eigenentwicklung.jpg
That's a ''cool'' cooling system for the type 4 using orig. parts.:agree:

[vwbao]

here is the english version of the site...

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.classic-centrum.de%2Fmitte.htm&langpair=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

[GS guy]

I like that set-up too.
Please share the steering ratio!

The rack itself looks like pictures I've seen of the very unusual Passat rack.
Jeff

[vwbao]

I like that set-up too.
Please share the steering ratio!

The rack itself looks like pictures I've seen of the very unusual Passat rack.
Jeff

i dont know the ratio, but you can email,fax or call them for more details.

[vwbao]

hey! anyone contacted them? any updates? come on guys lets convince them to make more of this stuff so it will be available in the market.:angry:

[GS guy]

Bao,
You might try researching the Passat and New Beetle steering racks, I believe they use the same design rack as shown in the pictures above (though more likely a power version). You might look for a manual rack conversion for the New Beetle (or maybe even the newer Golf)?

I noticed my Acura RSX also utilizes a center take-off steering rack, though not quite like the above rack. It's also a power rack,

One problem I've found researching R&P adapting is the good old VW steering box, in combination with the stock VW steering geometry and spindles, actually has a pretty quick steering ratio already. Something like 14.5:1. The standard "quick" ratio seems to be what's referred to as the "Corvette" ratio at 16:1. Most modern cars with sporting intentions run around these ratio numbers - but usually with power steering (and most being FWD). I found it difficult to even find a manual rack that would provide a quicker than ~20:1 ratio (with the VW spindles), regardless of original application - that is unless you went with a dedicated race-car steering rack, or one of the off road (Baja bug/sandrail) style racks. The former usually runs in the $500 range (for bare rack), while the latter is difficult to adapt to a VW Beetle without lots of other modifications (like removal of the fuel tank). The elusive combination of inexpensive and easy to adapt may be covered with the rack in your original post.

You said youi tried to email them, ever get a response?

Jeff

[tumba]

Hi!

I'm pretty sure that the rack comes from an VW Polo 1/2/3 up to 86C model, ie. model years 86-94.
It is also used on the Audi 50 and VW Derby.

/Johan

[al_kaholik]

For anyone interested, they only make LHD. Looks like I'll be fabricating my own at some point I think. Seems pretty straight forward