Author Topic: Steering Rack internal plumbing--94 Mk3 Jetta TD (Read 6190 times)

Kneale Brownson · « **on:** August 05, 2007, 10:18:56 am »

Since the power steering pump pumps all the time the engine is running, but the steering rack doesn't necessarily have to be moving fluid to or away from the piston ends, I presume there's a bypass plumbed into the point the hoses from the pump and to the reservoir are attached. I assume the shift of the fluid toward one end of the piston or the other is variable and never to the point there is no bypassing of fluid occurring, except possibly when the engine is at idle.

Anyway, what I want to know is can I safely plug off the rack plumbing marked in yellow with bolts of the proper thread for the bungs and still run the pump? I understand I won't have "power" steering, but can I do that and avoid blowing up the pump?

Should I also remove the longer pipe and plug those points too?

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2007, 02:04:06 pm »

you're better off just removing the PS pump. it shouldn't really affect anything. 1/2 hp more too! :lol:

Kneale Brownson · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2007, 03:18:35 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

you're better off just removing the PS pump. it shouldn't really affect anything. 1/2 hp more too! :lol:

I'd just pull the belt, but it runs some other pulley too. The PS pump pulley is the tensioner for this belt. What is this other thing? I figured it was the alternator, but the Bentley says the alternator runs off the polyribbed belt. I haven't had the car long enough to become familiar with the layout in that cramped space.

jtanguay · « **Reply #3 on:** August 05, 2007, 04:41:49 pm »

well i meant to say the belt. the belt for the ps pump does not run anything else. just cut it off and rid yourself of it. get some upper arm strength in parking lots though! :lol:

Kneale Brownson · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2007, 06:05:19 pm »

So what is the third pulley here?

This is the front of the TD engine in my 1994 Mk3 Jetta.

nkb · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2007, 08:33:17 pm »

water pump. im making a pulley for mine to rid my car of that stupid pump and vbelt right now

Kneale Brownson · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2007, 04:52:11 am »

You're going to mount the PS pulley on a shaft with a bearing in the PS adjuster bracket so you can eliminate the pump but keep the belt for the water pump? Is this something you can do with off-the-shelf parts or does it require a bunch of fabricating?

Kneale Brownson · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2007, 01:11:50 pm »

I'd still like to know about the rack's internal plumbing, but I got a replacement pipe (and the rest of a used rack) from Chris Semple, so I won't need to plug off the holes: They'll have proper plumbing instead.

jtanguay · « **Reply #8 on:** August 06, 2007, 04:39:43 pm »

hmmm well looks like it isnt as simple as i thought. you could always hollow out the pump and just use its bearing and tensioning system...

nkb · « **Reply #9 on:** August 19, 2007, 04:00:49 pm »

i just used a idler pulley that had the offset to run off my serpentine belt, much cleaner