Steering Racks Mk1 '78

[Bluerex]

What opinions do you lot have about "quick" stering racks (in particular for competition use). Is it worth looking at a Quaif or similar 3rd party unit?

I am a long way off needing the parts as the shell is still being striped, just curious.

C

[20v kit car]

what style of driving ..tarmac or gravel....i have found on tarmac the std mk1 rack works great although a bit hard on the arms after a few laps..i still use the stk steering wheel for better leverage. On gravel it becomes a different story,it also depends on driving style and more important chassis set up...pwr assist is really neccessary with greater hp and better traction it does become a struggle keeping a golf in a straight line with a tight diff with much more torque steer evident..what a great payoff when your entery speed is much faster into corners and the sound of the engine with left foot buried steering it out closer to the apex...cant wait to get that rush again..cheers steve

[Bluerex]

Mainly gravel, PS is not really an option, so I am looking for sugestions as to the "best" manual options. Found a post on the Sirocco forums to fit a 924 rack - any ideas here? I also understand that the 924 control arms are cast alloy and a direct replacement for the mk1 arms.

C

[finemk1]

gee that 924 rack arms sounds inviting.... ive swaped my stock 78 rack with beleived to be a 78 Gti rack which has about half a turn less lock to lock each side picked it up for $100 with a genuine golf manual, noticable difference as turning whilst moving but in a stand still its really hard to turn, somewhat harder to what it use to be with the stock rack...... i also used another adjustable steering arm for easier adjustment..

[20v kit car]

i have heard a camaria pwr str rack will fit a mk1..with out robbing hp you can use an electric pwr str pump out of a french car...my mk3 uses a quickstr rack with electric pump...only feels a bit strange at first but does the job....was'nt aware the 924 used a diff rack..thought it was golf...but if you can get the part number you can cross ref to the vw etka system and see what other vw product use this rack..this is easy for your local dealer to do..if you dont have any luck i can arrange it for you..cheers steve..ps another lost golf [ball] in the forest

[TassieGTi]

Dad says Porsche racks look the same but are LH drive ones turned upside down so don't buy one.
We don't have power steering on our Mirage Race Cars and they use the power steering rack with the PS disconnected and with huge amounts of camber etc they are almost impossible to steer at small speeds or to park but flat out which is what they are designed for they are great.Even Dad has no problems as his arms are puny compared to mine.
These cars are used for 24 hour races (not ours but others) and we haven't heard of any arm fatigue although Lee Peterson had power steering on his Rally Mirage as they tell me that they are always sideways and need more arm work.Horses for courses I suppose.
I guess I would build the car first and see if it needs it later.

[20v kit car]

were talking golfs here

[Bluerex]

:D Now Now boys play nice :D
Sharing the experience of rallying a fwd car far outweighs religious differences
C :lol:

[TassieGTi]

It's ok..Steve knows all!!

My number one love is the Golf, but many a lesson can be learnt from the setup of a racing Mirage Cup Car. Sadly, no Golf of similar capacity can go anywhere near close to matching it on our local tracks. I race against a 2L 16V Mk1 and am around 2 seconds a lap faster! The 16V may be close to standard, but so too is the Mirage 1600 MIVEC. That is why I went the change of brand for racing purposes. We are in the process of building a MK1 1.8T race car and much of its development will be based on our experience with the Mirages.

[GoLfMan]

stop bickering..... any experience drawn from any car and linked to golfs is fine with me. stop getting at each others throats and enjoy the wealth of knowledge we have here.

[Golf Loon]

Yeah there is a lot of knowledge on here. keep up the good work guys.

A camira steering rack eh? anyone got any more info, or is it to Pic and Payless for me?

[Golfwise]

Powersteering racks are sold in the UK can't remember who ,TSR I think.
If the Camira racks work one would have to keep that a secret as one couldn't admit to having a Camira part on ones Golf.I actually owned a Camira 20 odd years ago but I won't admit it even under torture.

[Golf Loon]

Yeah I reckon "specialised rebuilt rack" rather than camira.

Its really an Opel anyway and so has german heritage. I know the wheels are the same pattern and offset as camira and apparently the front brakes fit. So why not the rack?

They were a popular car back in the day in Blighty, but I know you Aussies`d rather have a commodore.

[rallye driver]

i heard the TSR rack is actually a late 80s fwd nissan bluebird rack.

[VanKronenburg]

Quaife deal the quick ratio rack, but I wouldn't run it for street use as the steering becomes even heavier. Golfwise is correct, TSR deal the power steering kit but I understand it's no longer available due to lack of interest. I run the Quiafe kit on my 1979 Mk1 but find it difficult to drive in traffic. Once rolling faster, the benefits are huge, however.

[Bluerex]

Many thanks to all, just as a reminder I am building a competition rally car, street handling (brakes, steering, noise - just wait for the barking webber thread) are secondary considerations.

Charles.

[GoLfMan]

im looking forward to the barking webber thread... those things will make the MK1 go like a cut cat with a rocket stuffed up the clacker :P

[roccodingo]

Mainly gravel, PS is not really an option, so I am looking for sugestions as to the "best" manual options. Found a post on the Sirocco forums to fit a 924 rack - any ideas here? I also understand that the 924 control arms are cast alloy and a direct replacement for the mk1 arms.

C

Control arms your thinking of are 944 turbo units, forged alloy... not a direct bolt on swap either, you have to cut the front pivot and extend it forwards on the chassis, and the rear one has a mod to it also. If you can find the arms they will cost you a bomb.

Dunno about the 924 racks tho....

[Bluerex]

You see? Thats what happens when you listen to your Sirocco obsessed brother 8)
Maybe I just go back to looking at plating the existing ones.

C

[roccodingo]

Any advice is always good to research more, the odds are you'll uncover something worthwhile..

[20v kit car]

bluerex just a hint but avoid fully plating your lower control arms...as you already know the first decent rock or off may compound the damage further up the tree..i suggest to only strengthen the leading edgewith a piece of angle....doesn't look as pretty but a little more functional and a weak link is built in incase of damage..build a couple there easy to replace and are fairly strong..the mk3 uses std gti/vr6 units and there's still a set of newies in the spares package.....always easier to replace instead of repairing the chassis..cheers steve

[Golfwise]

Leave them standard, they are plenty strong enough.Any plating is just adding unsprung weight.We have used them for years in rallying and circuit and neverhad a problem.Yankee Vw Golf hot up book I've got recomends you leave them alone as well. 8) 8) 8) .
Keep it simple.It works

[bitza]

Would any one know if the last of the MK 1 Cabrios where fitted with power steering, and if so does the rack bolt up to the same mounting points as early Mark 1 steering rack mounts?

Will early nineties Polo PS racks fit a Mark 1. I really would like to fit PS to my Mk 1?

[Golf Loon]

I think the Mk1 Cabrio late models did have power steer and would bolt up in the same way. Good luck finding one though.

Polo is different.

[Golfwise]

Lefthand drive only
Aus sold cabs no
Go to the gym or buy a late model :D

[Golf Loon]

I reckon late model uk spec cabs had p.s

[Golfwise]

Don't u believe me.No RHD power steering made for mk1 Golfs. :roll:

[Bluerex]

Don't u believe me.No RHD power steering made for mk1 Golfs. :roll:
Not strictly the case if you can believe 2000 printed "Haynes Restoration Manual for VW golf and Jetta" which states;

"Power steering was never fittd as standard to right-hand drive Golf mk1s <snip> As a result, TSR performance have set about producing a power steering kit for Golf Mk1s utilsing all original Volkswagen parts as far as pump , mountings and other ancillaries but with a power steering rack and fixing kit developed by themselves"

so why not drop sales@tsr-performance.com a line and see if the kit still exists ?

C

[Golfwise]

I was refering to VAG not making them.
Anyone could engineer one if they could be bothered ,but even TSR don't bother anymore.enuf said

go to the gym

[Bluerex]

The UK Golf owners had a few interesting comments on the subject
http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2103&highlight=power+steering

C

[Golfwise]

Interesting!
I found that cabs were dreadfully heavy in the steering compared to sedans.Its usually big caster that doesn't help.The average Aus made LS was lighter than the Kraut GLS.
Good front end and 155 by 13 tyres make them ok but go from that with big wheels,camber etc it just gets worse, but it wouldn't be a mk1 if it had ps.
My mk2 GTI has no ps and is a shocker to park but on the road I like it better than my later mk2 with ps.

Our Cyborg race cars are virtually impossible to park but thats not what they were built for and at high speed are still heavy but manageable and accurate. 8) 8) 8)

[Golf Loon]

You can still get the TSR kit in the Uk for 1000pounds. Wouldnt be many takers at that price. I`d be going to the gym!

[golfnutracing]

On my gravel mk1 rally car i have tightened up the preload on the rack (grub screw under rack) to overcome some of the torque steer (altho it will still torque steer in 4th on tarmac), its nice and tight and really good feel, at the end of a days racing im pretty rooted but makes the car so great for gravel. You can turn into a sweeping corner on tarmac and let go of the steering wheel, and it will track fine (accelrate and it will turn). I would love a quick rack but my driving style dosent warrent it at the moment.

Power steering wise, a bloke who races autocross down in benger wa has converted a mazda 929 system to fit, that is all i know (he is running locked diff).

Regarding A frames, if you plate them they still bend, it seems crazy but i am running a front sway bar (have made a HUGE different to turn in, even with rally suspension) the front sway bar seems to some how hold it together and i cant bend the standard control arms.

If you are still building the car i can send u a copy of my cage design, huge gain to be had by running tube down the inside of the struts and linking it to the cage.

-Jamie

[roccodingo]

Power steering wise, a bloke who races autocross down in benger wa has converted a mazda 929 system to fit, that is all i know (he is running locked diff).

-Jamie

Jim was using the P/S rack from a Mazda 323, the length is pretty close, the ball stud tapers match the steering knuckles saved him heaps of grunt with a locked diff...

Car is still for sale as far as I know..

.

[Chris Eyre]

I'm sure some will know that Quaife now do RHD quick racks for the Mk1, after a group buy which got put them into production during 2006.

For the power steering conversions, this FAQ page might help:

http://www.clubgti.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87167