Pondering the Zen of Audi Hydraulic Steering

[urq]

I doubt that a higher capacity pump would do anything to help ... 

Since you are talking about a T44, the option I would suggest is to fit a
Servotronic rack from a '91-on V8Q to your car.  A lot of people complain
about the lack of "feel" ... but if you are looking for more assist at low
speeds Servotronic will provide.  Perhaps you can even swap your rack with
someone who has a V8Q who is looking for a non-Servotronic rack.  There is a
wiring harness and the assist controller which you will need to fit to your
car ... my recollection is that there aren't too many wires ... the rack
control and speed input are the main ones.  

I've got Servotronic on both my V8Qs and am convinced it is the better
choice.  A fixed assist rack needs to balance the feel at high speeds
against the need for more assist at low speed, whereas the Servotronic can
give higher assist than a fixed rack at low speed AND lower assist at high
speed to give better feel.  I did spend a little time seeing how difficult
it would be to "chip" the controller ... to make it so that the amount of
assist could be changed from the original settings ... it may be possible,
but it isn't as "simple" as disassembling the contents of an EPROM.

The V8 rack has a steering damper installed as well ... I've got to say that
I truly enjoy driving the V8 in all situations.  In fact, I realized that
would be a good addition for my 5kCSQA ... so it is now on the To Do list
... 

Steve Buchholz

-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of Marc Boucher
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 5:46 PM
To: quattro at audifans.com
Subject: Pondering the Zen of Audi Hydraulic Steering

Is it possible to replace the original hydraulic pump used for the steering
and braking, with a more powerful pump that would require less effort to
turn the steering wheel at slow speeds?

When I was 16 and taking driver's lessons I learnt from my instructor that
the car I was learning on, a Volkswagen Rabbit, didn't have "power brakes
and power steering" like my dad's big old Oldsmobile.  Instead it had "power
assist".  It was well explained to me that this gave a better 'feel' for the
road than the typical North American design.

My 1990 Audi 100's steering isn't as stiff as the Rabbit was, but its always
taken effort in turning the wheel at low speeds, and I've simply accepted it
as the German design.  So I was a bit surprised 2 years ago when I rented a
sweet 2009 A6 while on vacation in Germany.  At low, parking type speeds,
you could turn the steering wheel almost with one finger if memory serves
correctly.

Since my Audi's still in great shape, I'm considering the possibility of
giving it to my mother, (and I'll have the fun of finding a newer Audi toy).
She loves driving it, except when it comes to parking, hence the question of
whether its possible to give it more power assist, with a larger pump or
otherwise.

But even on a purely theoretical level, I look at the size of the current
pump and considering that its driven at a good rpm, and knowing just how
high the hydraulic pressure is in those lines, I'm just surprised that it
doesn't give more assist.

Just pondering...

MC



 

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