Help needed with power steering conversion

[centralpages]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here, after some time reading.

I was unable to find the information I need to make some upgrades to my GTi, so hope somebody can give me help with that.
I want to perform some upgrades to my '90 big bumpered, but I am a bit loss. First and more important is the power steering, because my arms are being so tired of the hard wheel, and I want to do by myself, but cannot find all the instructions related. I want to buy the kit on ebay or something, and I though this is only few pieces, but don't know exactly which ones. Can you, please, if know about that, let me know the list of pieces I need to make this conversion? This will be a good starting point to learn. I am trying to get the Bentley manual too, anybody who have this book know if this upgrade can be do it following the manual instructions? Any other tutorial of guidelines you can refer me too, will be great.
Also, my car is EURO spec, left handled steering. There is any difference in the pieces of the power steering kit? Can I buy it in UK or should check in germany?
Any information and help will be really appreciate!
Many thanks in advance, cheers.

[clipperjay]

So your 90's spec did not come with PAS?
A bit surprised unless someone converted it to manual already?
Post up some pictures on what you already have?
Left handed rack will, not work on your right hander by the way!
GSF or Euro carparts would sell a PAS correct right hand drive for you if you already have a manual rack installed.

[rubjonny]

PAS was never std in 90. mine didnt have it either.

its not an easy task to fit it as subframe needs to be dropped or engine out to change the rack over, you also need to find all the pipes, brackets etc. what i would do is use the pipes and brackets + the alternator setup froma MK3 Golf, loads of them in the scrappies now and much newer.  the rack from a MK3 can be used too, you just swap the track rods for MK2 PAS items.  The UJ spline on the MK3 is bigger too, but you can just fit the MK3 one. you need to change the UJ even if you get a MK2 rack, so bear that in mind. also the rubber boot over the UJ differs, and the MK3 one doesn't fit.

The reservoir bottle sits in a different spot on a MK3 so some fiddling needs to be done to get it mounted. MK2 bottle would fit but you'll need to fiddle with the rubber pipe to the pump as its a bit shorter on the mk3. I used a later corrado reservoir bottle that sits behind the washer bottle, much neater. again a little fiddling with the pipes is required but the bottle pipes are all low pressure so can be extended quite easily if required

[clipperjay]

PAS was never std in 90. mine didnt have it either.

Really Jonny?
I thought by 1990 they would have them as standard I know 89's didn't, but was sure 90's did? unless 89's got registered late into the 90's?
You learn something new every day?

[rubjonny]

nope wasnt std on 90specs, mine is definitly a 90spec
It's been said the very last MK2s god PAS as std, but I've not seen any proof that this is the case

[centralpages]

Sure, you can believe me!!! Otherwise you can take a ride and try to park in a tiny space 
Unfortunately my '90 model is missing a lot of extras that I want to upgrade with some time and knowledge, and looking to your replies, this seems the perfect place to learn. Thanks to both of your contribution!

Well, I am a bit loss with the language and things, more or less I know how it works and some of the elements I need, but rubjonny, can I ask you for a list with the things I have to look for and information, like compatibility with MKIII as you say. Why do you recomend to use this model pieces? Of course they're newer, but will be easy to fit in or what's the goal?
Also, sorry, I don't understand some of the acronyms you use, like UJ.

Thanks!!

[rubjonny]

UJ = universal joint, its the bit that fits between the steering column and the rack.

I recomend MK3 bits because they're easier to find in scrappies in good nick, are newer and also the alternator/pas pump tensioning  setup on the block is much better, and lighter as well!  its a win all round really.

you need the following from 1.8-2.0 8v or 16v:
alternator + bracket
pas pump + brackets
all fixings for the above
waterpump pulley (must be from non-a/c model)
crank pulley (must be 1.8-2.0 8v, this is specific to the engine)

rack can be had from MK3, Corrado, Passat or several SEAT Ibiza models.  The Ibiza up to 2001 has a rack that will fit. My girlfriends 00 reg 1.4 feels a bit light on the steering, so I'd go for an older model.

Then its a case of changing track rods if required, MK3 & Passat are wide track, Corrado is narrow track like MK2 except the VR6 model. Most SEAT models are narrowtrack.

If you get a widetrack rack, you need to change the entire track rods both sides for MK2 items. Also you'll need to change the UJ, you'll either need a MK3 Golf one if its a later rack with large spline, or MK2 PAS if narrower spline. In both cases the manual steering UJ will not work. and no matter what rack you get, you need a MK2 PAS UJ boot as well.

[centralpages]

Thanks, now I start to figure properly in my head. Still need a diagram or something, but though it will be difficult unless I buy a guide or something. I have checked internet and cannot find nothing.

Why the water pump pulley cannot be from A/C models? My car isn't A/C, but is one of the upgrades I intend to perform. That's my another question of the day, and maybe you're the right person to reply, and hope don't bother you with all this questions.
What pieces I need to upgrade to A/C? I though must be easier than the PAS, and probably I'll do both upgrades at time (if I can figure how to do it, I must look a mess asking everything... I know I need to learn more before take my hands on the wrenches!)

Thanks!

[rubjonny]

If you strip the pas setup off yourself that will be a big help to figuring out the layout, and if you get stuck you could always post up on here

if you want A/C too then I'd definitely recommend converting to a MK3 setup, way easier to find the ac engine brackets from a MK3 or other similar VAG car than locating MK2 ones thats for sure! the waterpump pulley is different for a/c and non-a/c models this is the reason you need to get the right one for your application.  Also since you want A/C you need to make sure you get the later alt setup as it wont fit the early type. its dead easy to I/D though, you need the setup with a separate tensioner wheel mounted near the alternator. the early setup the alternator is sat on top of a massive spring.

This is the type you want, this is a non-ac waterpump pulley which runs off the ribbed belt. on the a/c setup everything is the same except the waterpump pulley is a dished v-belt type which runs off the pas pump belt, and the a/c pump runs off the vbelt.:


as for the rest of it its tricky as you need a different glovebox and dash under-tray from an a/c mk2, as they're much shallower due to the huge size of the a/c box. then there are the pipes, MK3/SEAT ones should be fine as bay is pretty much same shape and they bend easily.  the air distribution box will be tricky to get, MK2 ones are rare. MK3/SEAT ones are close and can probably be modded easily, if you're lucky the middle air part from your old airbox will bolt onto the end of the MK3 box, then the fittings for all the dash vent pipes will be easy. if not you'll have to fabricate joiny pieces to connect it all up.  last problem is the a/c control head, you need an a/c on switch and recirc.  the factory mk2 a/c head has the switches built into it, but the aftermarket ones used modded mk2 dash switches.

the loom you'll need to match to the box you have, again mk3 or SEAT stuff should do the trick with some head scratching to adapt the wiring.  if you did a mk3 dash conversion this would all be much easier, but then where is the challenge?

[Ben Lessani]

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=49436.msg624991#msg624991