944 + Bump steer (continued)

Some of you may remember awhile back I was attempting to correct the suspension geometry on my 944. The original problem involves dropping the cross member about 1/4" to make room for the LS motor, this puts the steering rack rather out of whack with the A arm etc...

My original idea was to drill out a 1/2" heim joint, thread it for the porsche's 14mm tie rods, and then use a 1/2" bolt through the drilled spindle, as well as some lab metal to keep the assembly from rattling around.......

You guys then stepped in and smacked some sense into me, since then I have been talking it over with a member of our boards who is notorious for his nuke-proof solutions, and he came up with some pretty good stuff, we have a 5/8" heim joint with a custom made pin, the spindle is drilled and reamed to 5/8". the inner tie rod is a cheap toyota inner tie rod end which mates to the porsche rack nicely.

and installed:

Everything was going well and good until I decided that I didn't want to deal with the fluid fountain known as the 944 power steering rack. Instead I have opted for a manual steering rack, which should be nice and simple.... It is not, the manual rack has male threads and requires that the inner tie rod is female threads, anyone have any ideas of where to look for an inner tie rod similar to above toyota part (7 bucks) but can accommodate the male rack? I know that some folks just machined the rack to accept the male end, and I was considering this, but if its a matter of finding a generic part id rather go that route. Any ideas? I dont have the size/thread pitch yet but I can measure if need be.

I don't know of any bolt on part. You can how ever drill out the manual rack ends.

However you may want go back to power steering. I have power steering my street car and manual on my race car. Manual is really nice on the track, but a pain on the street. At speed you are fine, but when you slow to parking speeds it takes alot more effort than you would like.

Id have to go through a machinest to do the rack ends, my drilling skills arent nearly up to par

Im not too concerned about parallel parking though the car isnt going to be a daily, ill keep the power rack around just in case but I can use all the room in the engine bay I can get lol.

I don't squat about 944 racks, but could you just depower it a la FM's miata tutorial?

http://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/depower.php

I had a buddy in DC with a broken power rack, he haaated the non assisted ratio. Plus I think it takes some kind of vw special tool to get all the doodads out. Thats a good tutorial though Ill have to remember that

My Dad and I have been driving our shared 944 with a depowered rack for about two years. It's really heavy at low speeds, but it works okay. Dad took the belt off and drained all the fluid to prevent it from pissing all over the place at an autocross initially, but then never got around to fixing it.

I just wanted to come in here and say, the 944 doesn't use Power steering fluid in the rack, it uses Dexron II/II ATF fluid. Using power steering fluid will ruin the seals within short order. Good luck.