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…I guess I'm keen on the 991 rack idea. It's the right sort of rack, A LHD rack flipped over would provide the correct physical movement required for the 928 and I think it should still work and it would keep it Porsche…
Been looking into this, but not gonna work. The rack is normally angled so that the motor is ahead of the rack. By rotating a LHD rack so the input shaft points in the correct direction for the RHD column, the motor ends up hanging underneath the rack which would obviously be no good at all. I had been thinking it would end up above the rack, but got that wrong.
So back to looking for a RHD trailing rack, with suitable spec (ratio, travel etc). Suggestions welcome.
I've been down this path. I couldn't find an electric rack that would come close to fitting into the 928 without 'serious' cutting and shutting, if at all.
I ended up following a 944 manual rack conversion with stripping, lubing, remaking the oil lines to cycle the fluid, then filling and plugging the unused ports.
I bought an EPAS system by Ultimate Power Steering in the UK, which although quite a challenge to fit in there, does tuck in nicely. It can be switched off, switched to manual assist or switched to variomatic using speed pulse input from the diff.
Not cheap but totally silent and no belts, oil, hoses or reservoirs. As my project is not road ready I can't say what it's like driving but pushing it around the yard/shed with the bride at the helm. it's very pleasing.
Current draw measured well under 10 amps, closer to under 5 amps mostly
steering and about 20 amps when it hits the lock [full turn].
Sorry for any apparent cross-posting, but I needed to address this in both the relevant topics in which I have been participating:-
Originally Posted by UKenGB
…
The net result is at the moment, adding electric column assist to a re-worked manual 928 rack is looking like it may be the best option…
There is another factor supporting the above, that I had not previously considered and to be honest it's something that makes my blood boil.
The Vauxhall/Opel Insignia (and Astra, basically the same rack) that I thought may be a possibility, have to be specially coded to suit the VIN of the car to which it is fitted, before it will work. I don't know exactly where in the electronics this is stored, but presumably it's part of the control system. Which introduces a whole new level of complexity/difficulty trying to use one of these racks in a different car altogether and makes any attempt simply not worthwhile.
Maybe other manufacturers of such EPAS systems (e.g. Porsche) are the same, but I find this so annoying. Not because it might affect my plans, but the whole notion of the steering rack being programmed to only work in that car is simply hideous and a blatant attempt by the manufacturer to control what owners can and cannot do without having to pay extra to the dealer. Gone are the days when we could swap parts around to suit our specific requirements. All you had to be was a good mechanic. Now, however good you may be, you will not be 'allowed' to do this. Unless you pay them for nothing other than complying with the software controls, designed in purely to prevent you from being able to do it otherwise.
I simply hate this direction the motor industry to taking. In fact, it's not limited to just that facet of our society. It is commonplace these days for the end user to have less and less control over how they conduct their lives.
Ok, getting a bit off topic there, but this is a widespread problem that really angers me. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I think they're out to get me.
I'm also latching onto this thread as it mentions some points of interest to me.
I have to point out that many seem to be missing the fact that driving with a broken/disconnected PS pump is NOT the same as correctly de-powering the rack.
I know this isn't the direction you were going, but still wanted to emphasize your point; a de-powered rack is very definitely not the same as a broken PS pump. Nowhere near.
Correctly depowering a rack is detailed extensively here:
11-27-2020, 01:32 PM
