Steering rack differences?? Sourcing woes...
 

It seems my '89 G50 doesn't have the original steering rack...I'm being told by the shop it's apart at that it's an "early" one, which I can only assume means a short wheelbase car, 'cause I thought these racks were all the same...

Can anyone shed some light on this? I'm trying to get a Quaife quick ratio rack and pinion installed, and it doesn't look like it's gonna work. Worst case, I can rebuild the one that's in there, but while this thing is apart and I have QR rack I'd rather get the proper housing as well.

I'm not interested in buying an $1,800 Dansk unit, so I'm trying to do my research before buying the wrong used rack...According to the catalog, the number is 914 347 010 06, though I don't believe the Porsche number was ever stamped on the ZF housings. I see a lot of racks on eBay with a reported 901 part number...

Given a random rack on the Internet, how can I confirm that it was the originalish design for my car? Date codes?? Cross reference chart...?

Do you have an aluminum or steel cross member ?

Hey Dan! Good question. It looks like this:

https://ensaster.com/pics/vehicles/w...ring/pre/5.jpg

Aluminum, the crossmember went to AL 13, when Porsche switched over from coal to gasoline.
Used rack is about $150.00 or so. ARB bolt little long. Looks like mine in my ‘84.

Read my thread on the QR rack, it’s not quite plug and play, little filing/grinding necessary.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/790692-quick-ratio-911-rack.html

I read that thread, and I couldn't figure out if the grinding was necessary for all steering racks or what...I often read that the racks are "the same" for all years, as well as 914s, but then you read about someone who has some slightly different thing here or there and my doubts begin. Like...what was the Quaife unit originally designed for if the ubiquitous 911/914 steering rack requires grinding??

I can buy a rack, but I want to make sure I get the right rack. If I bought a 911 rack and it turned out to be a 930 rack (for example), I might not ever notice...

It's also possible the shop isn't 100% accurate on what I'm giving them—I'm in a situation where none of the parts involved have come from the horse's mouth and I'm asking them if they can make it work...I want to make sure I can speak from a place of certainty should it come down to me heading over there to check numbers/measurements.

Not sure what year car you have. But aluminum cross members are '74 and up?

Is the rack in your unit cylindrical or does it have flats? In '70 the racks started having flat sides. I am referring to the actual rack piece in the unit.

I was under the impression that all the '70 and newer 911 racks were interchangeable.

You won't be getting a 930 rack. Mucho clams. I am not sure your rack is anything but original. Did you read my post? There is some 914 stuff min there to help ID a potential issue.

its bs that they are all the same... dont ask how i know. i went through 3 rack before sourcing for the correct one for my quick ratio though the experts assured me they were the same.

actually im thinking a 911 rack would be an upgrade on a a lowered 930. you dont want a 930 rack on a 911 because of the shallower mounting boss heights

The PET lists 3 racks for the 86 911.
1 > 914 347 010 06 steering gear 1 CARRERA

(1)> 930 347 010 00 steering gear 1 TURBO

(1) 930 347 010 X steering gear 1 TURBO

Add the racks for the SWB and 914, there are a few out there. As far as ratios, I don’t have the tech books for all the above, but I will bet with the exception of the early 911, the rack and pinion ratios are the same. Excluding the remote possibility of getting an IROC , 911R or 930 347 010 X, series of parts. There is also the possibility of a special factory order delivery of a QR rack. But I would bet, the majority of racks at disassembles are the standard garden variety aluminum 911 as in # above. With few exceptions the people disassembling and categorizing parts are not enthusiasts, just guys working for an hourly wage. Even if they were to be disassembling a 930 and noting and storing said rack, warehouse movements as they are, it’s possible that the 930 rack could easily be mis-identified. Same for any other aluminum body Porsche rack.

Indeed. So, given a rack...how might you know what you had? I'm gonna try to get numbers off mine.

Sorry if this is a dump question but except for one instance on a 914 rack they should all be compatible. Except for the minor removal of alum for the larger pinion gear.

I dropped off my new QR rack & pinion, new bearings and the housing with my machine shop this morning.

David