Rack & Pinion for a link pin front end
 

To date my searches for info on this subject have only pulled up some
threads for off road cars. I am looking for info on how this might be done
for a street machine. Custom racks to spec are available from Maval Gear
so that is not a problem. The questions I have are in regard to tie rod
length (I suspect longer is better), location of the rack in relation to the
steering arm tie rod ends (vertical and longitudinal placement). If anyone
has come across such a thread in the past, I would appreciate a pointer
to it.

Thanks

I'm thinking of mounting a early Rabbit/Scirocco rack (keeping it VW ya know) in my Ghia. I just called the local yard and they've got some in stock so I'm going to go measure it to see if it would work out.

Kevin

I've never actually done it, but from the geometry or a torsion front end I would think is is best to position the rack quite far forwards, where the inner tie rod ends are on a stock car, using the longest tie rods you can. Use a rack with a centre take off if you can.

Rich

Bump steer will be an issue,as well the load in the rack will not be parallel with the rack, so I'd suspect there would be issues with wear on the rack.

Jason

any updates guys about rack and pinion?thanks

hi, can you tell us what happened to your converssion? pictures,pictures....please

I haven't taken pictures yet, but check out the rack and pinion retrofit thread that's currently running.

I doubt!:laugh:

???????????

A friend fitted an early Rabbit rack in his ball joint front end fiberglass buggy. From what he said the tie rod ends fit the T1 VW spindles, and the input spline matches the Superbeetle R&P steering shaft. He has yet to drive it, but the overall installation went relatively straightforward.

The biggest drawback, at least from my measurements and calculations (presuming you can get the bump-steer dialed out with mounting adjustments) is the steering rate. A stock VW box (and spindles) has a fairly quick steering rate of about 14:1. Most manual steer racks have much less movement per steering wheel rotation than the VW box. I noted when we were pushing my friends buggy onto a trailer it seemed like a "lot of wheel turning" was required to get it pointed in the right direction. Someone does (or did) make a quick-steer kit for the VW Rabbit rack - I think Quaife? Lots 'O $$$ for that kit, but also read that the power steering gears can be substituted in the manual rack for quicker steering? Only other options I've come across are expensive racing car racks with multiple options of steering rate.
He also had to modify the fuel tank for clearance - but that may or may not be required for a sedan installation?

Chalk all this up in the FWIW dept....
Jeff

hi this is the kit for our ghias and beetle

http://cgi.ebay.de/Zahnstangenlenkun...QQcmdZViewItem


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