Need Advice On Buying New Steering Rack

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

My car is a 1992 1.6 GTi 205 with a GTi6 engine and 6speed box. After having the steering and suspension looked at I discovered I have a disabled PAS rack and the pipe holes were unfortunately left unblocked. Also during use the steering has a light zone circa 15 degrees from centre either way, continue turning the wheel beyond this zone leads to super heavy resistance. I don't mind heavy steering but it just feels lifeless as you turn the wheel into corners and provides little in the way of quality feedback.

Further compounding the issue is the rack droparms, they have dubiously been set in an offset manner resulting in asymmetrical lock from left to right resulting in excessive bumpsteer but will sort this once I've garnered a few bits n bobs to tighten up the suspension side of things.

 

I’d like to replace the buggered PAS rack with a new/reconditioned Manual Steering Rack but I’m unsure of the steering column compatibility in regards to my existing column. From what I've read here all 205 PAS cars from factory are spline but differ in length to the non-PAS spline? How will this impact me since my car is a 1992 with PAS? Can anyone clarify what I'll need to convert to a manual rack?

Also is there any recommended brands/online shops that supply reconditioned racks out there?

 

Apologies in advance as I'm very new to the 205 world and I want to minimise the risk of ordering the wrong stuff! Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

 

 

 

 

[bigalthenutter 8 2 Cars]

top and bottom of it is there are two types of rack manual and pas. Both types of rack are availible with either square or splined pinion. I would suggest yours originally would have been a square tapered manual rack. You can fit either type of manual rack as they fit exactly the same but you will need a manual uj. The pas rack pinion sits higher than manual versions and therefore the ujs are shorter. If you can get your hands on a splined uj for a manual rack i found the splined racks are cheaper they where 45 pound a square taper was 75 ! Hope this helps

[Anthony 1,002]

PAS and non-PAS lower columns are different lengths, and thus if you're changing from PAS to non-PAS (or vice-versa) you'll need to swap it.

 

There's three lower columns used on 205/309's:

 

Spline non-PAS (earlier cars)

Square non-PAS (later cars)

Spline PAS (all PAS models*)

 

There is talk of there being a square PAS lower column, but I've never seen one even on very late (1995 ish) 205's and servicebox doesn't list one either, and as such it can be fairly safely discounted as a realistic possibility.

 

To swap from PAS to non-PAS therefore, you're going to need a manual rack and a matching lower column to suit. I would strongly suggest fitting new track rod ends at the same time, and obviously if it's a used rack, check the condition of the track rods and the gaitors and replace as needed.

 

If you've got a GTi-6 gearbox, you're going to need to limit the steering lock somewhat to avoid the tyre hitting the gearbox which is an MOT failure. The correct way is to limit the movement of the rack in one direction - typically with a blob of weld on the rack teeth in the appropriate position - rather than fitting the rack uncentered and messing up the steering geometry as it sounds like you've got currently.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Thanks for the replies, very informative. So to make sure I've got this right I've to pick up a manual rack with it's associated splined lower column, the remaining upper column can remain in situ?

 

PS Ah balls, I just seen you sold the very parts I was after Anthony in the Wanted section I notice people seem to sell on recently reconditioned racks, is there a large discrepancy in the quality of the reconditioning?

[Anthony 1,002]

Could be either a spline or square manual rack - doesn't matter either way, just make sure that you get the appropriate lower column to suit.

 

I can't comment on the reasons for others selling on racks, but in my case, it's because I've moved to PAS and thus have no need for a manual rack. I'm sure the one I've provisionally sold is the only early (spline drive) one that I've got, but I'll double check later for you.

 

Do the quality of reconditioned racks vary? Quite possibly - no personal direct experience of "bad" recon racks, but certainly the quality of most other reconditioned parts on the market (eg driveshafts) varies tremendously and it stands to reasons that racks would be no different. I would thus personally be looking towards buying a known brand rather than the cheapest thing out there, although to be honest that's pretty good general advice in my experience.

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Ah right apologies I got a little mixed up doh. Could I ask what you considere a known/decent recon rack brand for 205's?

[welshpug 1,655]

Yes the quality does vary greatly, I fitted a complete recon rack on my 205 some 7 years ago, and always thought 1.9 205's were fairly heavy steering as standard so went with it.

 

It wasn't till earlier this year when I fitted my 2.4 turn rack and took that recon unit off, which has done around 25k miles, and realised how tight and notchy the damn thing is! so much so that the steering does not feel any heavier even with the 3.9-2.4 turn difference!

[Ams 23 1 Cars]

Ah I guess anything will feel better than how it is at the moment I've checked around and it seems Remy racks get a better write up than Q-Drive (these seem to be the main two available from most vendors). I might go see a main dealer and see what manufacturer they use. I've PM'd Miles to see if he supplies reconditioned racks as I read a thread with him replying he personally strips and rebuilds them as he does not like the variance in quality from off the shelf recon parts. Long shot though.