Swap Golf R steering rack into an Alltrack?

[Rmcnelly]

I'd love to have the quicker steering ratio of a Golf R, but have not found any info on swapping the rack into an Alltrack. Mechanically it should bolt right in, but what else needs to be done to make this work?

Anyone have direct experience in doing this?

 

[paNX2K&SE-R]

There's a current thread in the facebook group where a guy just purchased an 'R' rack and is planning on doing the swap. A bunch of us asked him to document it so we'll see what happens.

 

[Rmcnelly]

There's a current thread in the facebook group where a guy just purchased an 'R' rack and is planning on doing the swap. A bunch of us asked him to document it so we'll see what happens.

Yep, I'm watching that thread. I just found another thread on FB from March 2023:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/294872564311245/permalink/1738572663274554/

The person who installed his reported it needed the G85 Steering Angle Sensor calibration as seen in this video I found:

He also installed the Mode switch by the shifter in his Sportwagen, but the Alltrack already has this.

I've ordered a 2016 Golf R steering rack from a parts vendor, and will report back once we get it installed.

 

[Rmcnelly]

@DerHase installed the 2016 Golf R dynamic steering rack in my 2017 Alltrack S. All it needed was the G85 Steering Angle Sensor basic setting relearned in the above video. Woot!

After the G85 Steering Angle Sensor basic settings relearn procedure, we still had a Module 44 Fault “Databus missing message”. Had the same fault when scanning with OBD11.

Checked Steering Assist long coding with OBD11 which showed both “Counter steer support” and “Lane assistant” active (should not be active as my car doesn’t have Lane Assist, but I don't know what Counter steer support does). DerHase suggested trying to change each to “Not active”. I tried this first on Lane assistant and then Counter steer support but the fault still wouldn’t clear.

Drove around the block, relaunched OBD11, scanned the same fault, then re-enabled “Counter steer support”, and was able to clear the Steering Assist fault. Weird, but it worked.

A friend said databus missing message just means something is expecting a response from the module or the module didn’t see a response from another module. If you don’t have lane assist, decode it from 44 using Vagcom. Lane assist is 00A5.

 

[Rmcnelly]

Golf R rack was $299 shipped from Redline Auto Parts, had over 80,000 miles on it, but inner tie rods and rubber boots looked almost new. I got new tie rod ends for it. Posted a pic of the part number.

Went from 2.8 (linear) to just less than 2 turns (variable) lock to lock. My turning radius is larger than before but doesn’t bother me.

Got a chance to drive it hard and am super happy with this! Normal mode is much heavier than Sport mode used to be, which is also noticeable when unwinding the steering wheel during a u-turn. Sport mode is slightly heavier, it’s very subtle. Steering ratio ramps up dramatically as you approach 1/4 turn of the wheel. Will take some adjusting to at Autocross! Woot!

 

[Rmcnelly]

More info on steering racks to be found here. I’m sure a GTI rack would do just as well.

https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?threads/mk-vii-dynamic-steering-retrofit.513098/

 

[Rmcnelly]

@DerHase wrote up how he did the install:

https://www.datadrivenmqb.com/suspension/steeringrackretrofit


And made this short video showing the less than 2 turns lock to lock.

 

[Rmcnelly]

Steering is much heavier in Normal Mode, much heavier than the stock rack in Sport mode. I think the rack swap would be a huge upgrade for a Sportwagen without the need for the Mode switch. Putting it in Sport mode does firm it up some more, but it’s more subtle.

Steering is now 1.8 or 1.9 turns lock to lock, just like a Golf R, but my turning radius is now larger than before (just like a Golf R). I bet a GTI rack (my friend’s is about 2.1 turns lock to lock) would have a smaller turning radius. I believe the GTI and Golf R racks have the same mechanical variable ratio (VW Press Kit info lists them both at 2.1 turns), but for some reason (AWD maybe) the Golf R rack limits how far it will turn by a small amount.

 

[Rmcnelly]

Another person on FB has successfully installed a GTI rack in a Sportwagen 4 Motion. Just did the G85 Steering Angle Sensor calibration, and had no other faults. Got 2.1 turns lock to lock with the GTI rack.

 

[paNX2K&SE-R]

Thanks Rick for posting up this info about the rack swap. I picked up a Golf R rack from a local recycler and recently installed it along with a Golf R transmission and front sway bar. I was pleasantly surprised to see how easy the access is inside the car to disconnect the steering linkage.

I couldn't find the G85 setting in obd11 but I did find this thread and the process worked for me to clear the errors:

https://forum.obdeleven.com/thread/12419/steering-angle-sensor-calibration-success

 

[Rmcnelly]

Thanks Rick for posting up this info about the rack swap. I picked up a Golf R rack from a local recycler and recently installed it along with a Golf R transmission and front sway bar. I was pleasantly surprised to see of easy the access is inside the car to disconnect the steering linkage.

I couldn't find the G85 setting in obd11 but I did find this thread and the process worked for me to clear the errors:

https://forum.obdeleven.com/thread/12419/steering-angle-sensor-calibration-success

Hope you enjoy it!