Question about the manual rack

So I have the whole geometry thing sorted, but now in the interest of space, and simply just getting the car set up asap I am toying with the idea of converting to a manual rack.
The thing is I have 18s, I haven't been able to figure out if ill need big beefy arms to parallel park. What do you guys think?

"Dylan!"

It's not the rim height, but the tire width. My wife could barely turn the wheel when not above 10km/h on 205/55r15's. I'm probably going to be challenged with my 235/45r17's.

I have a manual rack and 18's up front and its quite easy for me to turn the wheels at a stop. Try turning the wheels with a power rack with engine off and you may get a hemoroid! But the manual racks ratio is made for just that....manual steering.

I have no problems at all and in fact enjoy the feedback and simplicity of the setup. And yes, you will have toneage like the picture!

How is the Power Rack modded to get rid of the lines properly?
I have been looking for a manual rack but??????
Also what is the difference in ratios?

The PS rack with lines capped is just the same as if the engine was off. At speed, its not all bad, but not as nice as a MS rack.

Got mine from a rennlist member for 250 which included the manual rack steering shaft as well as inner and outer tie rods. Put a WTB thread on pelican parts and maybe someone has one.

I dont know what the ratio is exactly.

Just remember to get the intermediate shaft, too. It's different than the one used on cars with a power rack.

According to the factory manual, manual steering is 22.39:1 and power is 18.85:1.

I've wondered if a manual rack from another car has ever been swapped to the 944. Moreso one that possibly set the steering shaft more towards the driver's side for more header clearance maybe a 23 or 24/1 ratio could be modded?

You need to be sure that the inner tie rod ends are the correct distance apart. If they are than it is just mounting.

got it, thanks for the input, Ill start hunting around
(the mr2 pump is a great idea but its expensive and Im going to have trouble finding a spot for it in the 'bay)
I just hope I can get the massive arm veins in the picture... and fight a predator on a log bridge.... my tires are 225/40/18 up front.

Pinto style racks look like they could work.



but what peaks my interest is the chevette steering rack. Looks quite similar (top rack).
https://2img.net/h/i181.photobucket.com/albums/x311/chrisbark/Steering%20Rack/100_1561.jpg

Just think, Chevette steering rack and tubular cross member and no more oil pan problem

POPS....Can you guess?

What is the ratio of the Chevette, hey it's got "Vette" in it's name too.
I looked at the 2nd gen RX7 rack but the ratio is too low. We need to come up with an inexpensive alternative.

well, if youre looking into a different rack why not go fully electric power steering, the NSX has such a rack.. the size would be the only concern, they are far far less hp hungry than a power steering pump, though some require wheel sensors.

the tech specs on that Pinto rack are 24.5" end to end at the pivot points. That's one thing I didn't measure on my 944 Power rack, anybody have that handy?
Also the Pinto is 4 turns right/left for full out. One things for sure, If an inexpensive alternative is found where the end to end measurement is shorter than or longer than the 944's measurement, that is an easy fix too.
Sorry Tet, simplicity gets my vote, no power steering and no hydroboost gonna FOD-up my bay.

I read about two different power steering racks being swapped in, the 2.7 turn E30 BMW rack and the MKI GTI rack, both power steering, they require some modification but supposedly they are good for quick turning.

I missed my auction for a manual rack, I shall continue to hunt.

I will try out my Power Racked "looped" first. If I don't like, I will mod up a Nissan Sentra E rack with a 24:1 ratio

alrighty, supposedly the power rack is rather tight in the center, but once you get going its not so bad... Im going to keep hunting for a manual rack, they periodically pop up for decent prices.

Tetzuoe wrote:I read about two different power steering racks being swapped in, the 2.7 turn E30 BMW rack and the MKI GTI rack, both power steering, they require some modification but supposedly they are good for quick turning.

I missed my auction for a manual rack, I shall continue to hunt.

James, the VW steering rack is different. The pinion is on the front side of the rack whereas the 944 is on the rear side.......its a shame because they have the same mounting points.

ahhh ok, perhaps the folks in those threads were misinformed, quaife sells rebuild kits for the VW racks too.. back to square 1 then.
the manual rack from the 83 is on rock auto for around 350, Id consider it if they didnt pop up for a hundred less periodically.

How about a ZR1 power steering rack? It is a quick ratio rack and a little smaller than the chevette rack IIRC. I know one guy put it in his fiero but I think he felt it was too quick for that car. Here is a link to what he did, at the very least it may give someone some ideas. http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/069722.html

i have 7 944's to date . i have swapped out the power rack for a manual rack on 4 of the cars . just removing the power steering pump and linking the hose does not work all that well . its harder to turn than the manual rack . the racks are vw racks as are the steering columns . quaife does offer a quick ratio kit for the A2 cars and yes it will fit into the 944 manual rack with just one little mod . i installed one in one of my 944s but after 2 track days i took it out . i do have one in my 87 gti that i race in scca ITB and i love it but the 944 its no good . it makes the car real twitchy at speed . if you want to install a used rack look at car-parts.com . car-parts.com is a used parts source that checks all junk yards for the parts your looking for . i use it for my shop all the time . the last manual rack i got was 109 dollars with the steering gear and tie rods . the manual racks are a good long lasting part but the shaft from the column to the racks do were out .

When I build a track car I'm going to mod an 81 Tercel rack. I haven't thoroughly checked the dims, but it is front steer with a ratio between the 944 manual rack and the 944 power rack, a good compromise.

Went thru my original build notes and found this link. I cannot find the link to the exact same rebuilt rack at $80..... I'm going to try and locate a used one and bolt it to the spare X-member I have to see what it would take to swap over, from the pics it looks like the rack has the same driver's mount as the 944.
And I know of some Toyota tie riods that will bolt right up to the 944 outter tie rods.

http://www.partstrain.com/store/includes/secure/popup.php?type=more&image=L2ltYWdlcy9wcm9kdWN0X2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZXMvYTFfY2FyZG9uZS9BMTI0MjYxMC5qcGc=&title=QTEgQ2FyZG9uZSBTdGVlcmluZyBSYWNr&text=QTEgQ0FSRE9ORSBNQU5VQUwgUkFDSyBBTkQgUElOSU9OIEFTU0VNQkxZLCBSRU1BTlVGQUNUVVJFRCAtLSBJbmNsdWRlcyBpbm5lciB0aWUgcm9kczsgVGhpcyBpcyBhIGhpZ2ggcXVhbGl0eSwgZGlyZWN0IGZpdCBPRSByZXBsYWNlbWVudCByYWNrIGFuZCBwaW5pb24gYXNzZW1ibHk7IEZlYXR1cmVzIGFsbCBuZXcgTy1yaW5ncyBhbmQgbGlwIHNlYWxzIHRvIGVuc3VyZSBubyBsZWFraW5nIGFuZCBxdWFsaXR5IHBlcmZvcm1hbmNlOyBXaXRoIEExIENhcmRvbmUncyBsaW1pdGVkIDMteWVhciBvciAzNiwwMDAtbWlsZSB3YXJyYW50eS4=

what am i missing ? if you can use manual rack then why do and would you want a rack from an other car maker ? the 944 manual racks are dirt cheap and there are a crap load of them out there .