ok,so my mate has just fitted a steering rack from a mk1 audi tt to his mk4 golf,it gives him 2 1/2 turns lock to lock,does anyone know if there is something like this available for the octavia?maybe from an s3 or something,it makes the car so much more responsive.

It's the same rack.

Oh you mean mk2 octy. Try a mk5 platform replacement.

yea sorry mk2 octavia,il ask on the ukmk5 forum

TT rack mk 2 but you need hubs etc to get it to fit (apparently)

Was a hot topic a few months ago on the ukmk5 forum, but as far as I remember, no one could get it to work properly on a CANBUS equiped car.

I have the Superpro version of WALK and a good alignment worked beyond my expectations.. The improvement in turn in is such that you don't need to pile on anything like the same amount of lock to negotiate a corner.

Obviously does nothing to change the rack ratio at all, but feels so much more responsive. On my car, a lardy L&K estate, reduced tyre wear, improved fuel consumption. I can't really say how improved the level of grip is as I don't hoon about like I once did, but pressing on across alpine road when suddenly the blind corner is MUCH tighter than it seemed, add a little extra lock and round without drama rather than an understeering mess. Oh, and I do have a Whiteline RARB on middle setting.

hmmm seems like too much hassle to change the rack.

the bushes on mine will be replaced soon so il look into the anti lift kit,do you recommend change the arb aswell?

nah pointless you wont notice anything.

I found the transformation (note choice of word) to be VERY noticeable. Of course YMMY. The three items changed on my 59 reg L&K estate were the Superpro bushes - WALK are apparently very similar. Whiteline RARB, other may be as good or even better, don't know. Finally an alignment. I also had 312 brakes fitted as I'd had bad experiences with the wimpy originals, but this would not more than marginally affect the dynamics of the car due to the greater weight.

The car as bought, second hand, was a wollowing pig. It really was terrible. After my mk1, its was impossible to press on and make smooth progress. The RARB was first in line. To be honest it solved the problem more or less. The rear started to behave itself, you could drive through corners, slow in fast out sort of thing, with out feeling you would flounce to the opposite side of the road. £160

The bushes were to try and improve the turn in and front end stability in longer bends, which I think they did, but their effect is more subtle than the RARB. I didn't use the car enough like this to really determine the extent of the improvement. Good rather than excellent? SuperPro about 1/2 cost of WALK BTW but a little more work to fit. £80

Fitting: I was charged about 1/2hr labour for the two.

4 wheel alighment. Fantastic. turn in, streeiing precision and straightline stability much improved. After about 10,000 miles no evidence of feathering on rears as the guys at Fowlkes re set the rear camber too. £70

If my car had been correcly set up when I bought it then maybe I would not have had to spend about £350 to put it right. It was an ex co. car, spent its life blatting up and down motorways I suppose as the gear change was horrendous stiff. I suppose Grizzle's car is correct and if he can't feel or tell if anything needs improving then I'm envious. If you feel things could be improved, then maybe some changes could do the same for you.

One thing to bear in mind with a quicker rack is that it stuffs up your turning circle - multi storey carparks in my alfa gta used to get a bit embarrassing.... 1.7 lock to lock!

the turning circle remains the same,the only difference is that you can get to full lock with less turns of the steering wheel

A set of shopping trolley wheels will work perfectly!

the turning circle remains the same,the only difference is that you can get to full lock with less turns of the steering wheel

You might on an electric one but good ok'd fashioned geared rack and pinion it does (on an alfa anyhow... Maybe because it's such a silly high ratio though?)

You might on an electric one but good ok'd fashioned geared rack and pinion it does (on an alfa anyhow... Maybe because it's such a silly high ratio though?)

Been thinking about this one... Only thing I can think is the quicker rack on a gta alfa is shorter - hence less travel and reliance on longer ties... ?

Been thinking about this one... Only thing I can think is the quicker rack on a gta alfa is shorter - hence less travel and reliance on longer ties... ?

technically you were correct,as the quick rack has 1 less tooth on either end,but doesnt make any significant difference.

not sure about the alfa rack though :think: