bash

I have seen posts back from several years ago regarding close ratio steering racks, however it never seemed to actually happen.

I contacted Quaif engineering in the UK today, and i am prepared to send them a rack and pinion of mine, however I must commit to manufacturing and payment for 20 racks.

Either I fork out the money and sell at a small profit to cover me in case i dont sell all remaining 19, or i could take paypal deposits for 19 racks and I have them made and ship to you all. They can have the racks ready for distribution in 5-6 weeks from now. They would supply only the rack and pin, which would have to fitted to your existing steering rack assembly.

I can not find a close ratio rack anywhere available for Porsche 944, am i correct?

Why is there no demand for one?

I do not think that a close ratio 2.5 turn rack could be used with manual steering, as it would simply make the steering too heavy, however it could be used with a power rack. I believe the ratio on the power rack is in the range of 3.25 turns and this would drop to around 2.4-2.6 with the new rack and pin.

your thoughts? any takers?

V2Rocket

Believe the 944 power rack is 3.5:1 but is the "quickest" rack offered.

This has been brought up over the years but no one has been able to achieve sufficient interest to secure even the 20 piece minimum. Either the money isn't there, or everyone is pleased with the standard ratio...it really is quite excellent when the power-assist is working.

MAGK944

I attempted to do this a few years back, it was my thread you probably read. I even visited Quaife and took them a rack and pinion, they took measurements and wanted the same minimum order as you, but there was simply not enough interest here to continue. Maybe things have changed now.

V2Rocket

Have you looked into "steering rack quickeners"?
$200-300 for a miniature gearbox that installs in the steering column and effectively lowers (numerically) the steering ratio.

You could go lock to lock in a single turn of the steering wheel with the right one.

bash

As per the manual the ratio is 3.5 turns lock to lock, however I measured mine and it was actually less than 3.5 turns, just a shade over 3.25

I created this post to gauge really why these parts have not been sold in the market till now.

Quaif have informed me that the rack and pinion kit for the 911 74-89 is very popular, this car has a 3.1 turns lock to lock ratio.

As the 944 is very popular as a track day car, auto cross car etc...I cant imagine that it would not benefit from a reduced steering ratio, i can only assume that people are not prepared to pay 165 GBP plus shipping plus time/money to rebuild the original rack assembly...

If I go ahead and have one done for myself, I could, at a cost of around 1,000 GBP (verbal quote from Quaife earlier today). Obviously the more racks manufactured at one time, the price would reduce. Quaif are prepared to manufacture less than 20 racks, ie as little as a single rack, however the cost would obviously be more than their 911 rack which retails for 165 GBP, remember the pound is so weak now that thats only 200 USD.

I dont think we need 20 interested persons, perhaps only a few who are willing to pay more than 200 USD.
If there are a few interested parties, I will write to Quaife and get a quote from them to see if the cost/price per unit is favorable.

bash

I am not convinced with steering quickeners, unless perhaps you are building a pure race car.

It will add complication to the system.
needs to be mounted,
will require custom steering rods etc to connect the steering column to the steering rack.

Its not the slick way of doing it, its a work around not a slick engineering solution.

SloMo228

I like my manual rack but a quick-ratio power rack sounds interesting. I am potentially interested if the price does come in reasonably near $200USD.

odonnell

Another option would be to have a welder shorten the knuckle links for the tie rod ends. I have a buddy here in TX that could do the work for you if you were sufficiently interested. (Paging dr. ****** AK951)

FTW

Count me in. I'd love a 2.5 turn lock to lock ratio for $200. I imagine the feeling would be like my old Evo without the drag of driven front wheels = perfection. Dang, I forget but I think the evo 9 lock to lock was 2.1 turns

V2Rocket

will the quaife quick ratio R/P work in a LHD rack?

bash

unfortunately it will not be $200 plus shipping unless 20 orders are placed, thats a $4,000 order which i would need to commit to.

And commitment would have to be financial commitment, so the $200 would have to paid upfront, or wired to myself as Quaife would build the order of 20 for me. No-one would take the risk unless they have all of their costs covered and this is why it has never happened up till now, MAGK944 tried this years ago and there just not enough interest to cover the 20 orders, and i doubt that anyone is willing to pay $500-750 dollors for a rack and pinion (if we only make say 6-10 items).

I guess first things first, we see how many persons are actually interested, on the basis of that number, I will ask for a quotation from Quaife, and we will see how much they can build that QTY for. If everyone is ok with the cost (which will be greater than $200 if the order is less than 20) then we can sort out the transfer of deposits and arranging shipping, the racks can be shipped directly from Quaife to worldwide mailing addresses.

porscharu

I don't see how the price could be anywhere near $200. There was a company called q-rack which made quick racks for Subaru. They are out of business now but would weld in all of the grooves of the pinion and then machine. They charged $600 iirc. How would you get around the pinion being a part of the spool valve?

bash

please click on the link, this is what quaife supply for the porsche 911

https://shop.quaife.co.uk/porsche-91...pinion-kit-2-5

its only the threaded rack and pinion, which needs to be fitted to your existing steering rack assembly.

And it will only be 165 GBP plus shipping if an order of 20 is placed.


I think its obvious that there is not enough interest.

I will get one made for myself as a special order.

regards to all.

thingo

I have a quick rack in my street 968, had it in my 951 as well, about 2.5 turns. I didn't have to buy twenty. Sellholm tuning did it for me, I had to send my rack to them, they rebuilt it and made it quicker.

kev951

interested.. but also thinking of going the more modern route with EPAS