Mk4 Steering rack replacement

[InvalidUsername]

Hi all,

My steering rack has gone in my Mk4 so I’m taking the opportunity to replace with a Mk1 TT rack as I’ve heard this is a good upgrade.
I’m just enquiring as to what bits you’d recommend I actually change other then just the steering rack?
I’ve found someone local to me breaking a TT and got a good price on the rack but not sure what else I should be asking for and / or looking to replace?
Any advice would be appreciated.

Darren

 

[InvalidUsername]

Hi all,

My steering rack has gone in my Mk4 so I’m taking the opportunity to replace with a Mk1 TT rack as I’ve heard this is a good upgrade.
I’m just enquiring as to what bits you’d recommend I actually change other then just the steering rack?
I’ve found someone local to me breaking a TT and got a good price on the rack but not sure what else I should be asking for and / or looking to replace?
Any advice would be appreciated.

Darren

I should add, that’s a Golf Mk4 1.9 GT tdi if that makes any difference

 

[benmarks]

Do you have ASR or ESP traction control? From what I understand, this greatly complicates this upgrade.

 

[InvalidUsername]

I think I’ve got ESP but I’ll have to check…

 

[benmarks]

I don't have the threads in front of me, but if I remember correctly, you have to be very careful to make sure that you use the appropriate steering angle sensors. I don't think you can use the steering angle sensors that come out of the donor car. If you have the ASR/ESP button on your dashboard, I would recommend doing some extra research. I will try and find the threads that I saw. I looked into doing this in my car.

It can lead to steering and driving issues. I think there are two solutions too, but one of the basically undoes the increased turning radius you would've otherwise gained.

This is from memory, so I may have some of the details wrong, but Googling "MK4 TT steering rack ESP issue" should show you a bunch of results.

 

[braddies]

Could swap over the whole subframe with the rack, leave the control arms attached with spindles, sway bar, sway bar links and struts, you can use the brakes/calipers if your wheels are large enough to clear (maybe 16" probably 17")

Tdi calipers won't mount to the spindles but 1.8 calipers fit perfect

 

[jimmyfine]

Replaced my '02 jettas at the beginning of the year, I replaced lower control arm rear bushings (left the front ones alone, they looked ok), ball joints, outer tie rod ends, and subframe bushings. Steering feels SO much better, although I need to replace both front wheel bearings soon too, if you have any noise or play I recommend doing them at the same time.

Edit: I used a clean junkyard rack from another mklv jetta

 

[benmarks]

If the cars has ASR/ESP, all the electronic stuff has to match or else you may have really bad intermittent issues with understeer. This thread has more info:

Mk4 Golf - R32 Short Steering Rack With Esp, Problem Solved!

www.uk-mkivs.net