I am going to change my S bug 3 bolt front struts to the later L bug 2 bolt struts.

Can anyone tell me any traps to look out for when I do this? Also, can you change to rack and pinion at the same time or is it not worth the hassle.

I will be adding Porsche 944 4 pot brembos on to them if that makes any difference.

Yogie

Talk to Steve Carter
He did it all on the S bug he had
A bit of panel beating is required but worth the effort for R&P

You will have to keep the upper strut bearings from the 3 bolt struts and swap them over, the 2 bolt ones dont fit the 3 bolt bodies as the center hole is smaller.

I've gone the opposite way to you, 2 bolt to 3 bolt.


The rack and pinion can turn into a big job.
Some supers need the frame head clearanced, Steves 72 super did, which if you don't want to cut the wheel well out is a body off job, but some don't, mine seems to clear ok just need to get the mounts in.

But like Barry said R&P is well worth the swap if you can get all the gear.
As well as the rack they use there own steering shaft and universals and tierods.

My two bolt super is currently residing at V-Force, and I asked about converting to R&P because it's either that or a new steering box (plenty of play previously). The advice I got was that I'd be better off with a good steering box than the expense of converting to R&P.

So I think the truth is that R&P is better, but at what cost/effort?

Exactly

A good condition steering box makes for very nice steering.
It's abit like comparing drums to discs, drums work well when all is in check but discs are just more modern updated technology with better feel and performance.

I had a reconditioned box and new tierods and damper in my 71 Sbug and it was the best steering bug I've ever driven that wasn't R&P, I was more than happy with it.

Problem is very few have good boxes in them after 4 decades and good boxes are big $$

R&P is just more precise, less play and less effort needed to turn, and slighly less turns lock to lock but not enough to notice.
If ever you have the chance drive a 75Lbug, it's like driving with powersteering after a driving with a steering box bug.

Trouble is finding a R&P setup is tricky, they were only sold in Aus for 7 months and not in very high numbers either, and the only other car that used the same rack was Mk1 Passat and nearly all of those have gone to VW heaven now.

a couple of times I have seen NEW boxes come up
Once on ebay and once at Georges
They were around $500

When i restored our S bug cabrio, I actually got a new box from George. The problem is, it is too heavy for my wife so she doesn't drive it at all. I am not sure if that is normal though as I haven't driven another S bug to compare (or L bug R&P either). We are using a standard steering wheel and tyres so it should feel as it came from the factory but it is much heavier than our 68 torsion beam beetle that also runs standard wheels/steering wheel.

I was hoping the R&P might make it lighter, especially as I will end up running 17" x 7" Porsche rims to go with the Brembos.

Yogie

It's interesting you should say that.
When I was working as a courier about 12 years ago being out on the road delivering stuff all the time I was always coming across VWs.

I found a 71 superbug convertible sitting unloved in a back yard
It had a carrera kit with 7" wide jelly bean mags with huge 225 tyres on the front and a tiny little steering wheel about 12", the indicator arm stuck out further than the wheel thats how small it was.

Woulda been a bitch to steer but the driver was a skinny little 17 year old girl who never had a problem with it.

Mine with 18" 225 tyres and a small steering wheel wasn't too bad to steer, you get used to it.

Hi

My sons bug has 17x215 tyres on it, they are hard to turn when the car is at rest, once you move the car a little bit it becomes much lighter.

The often overlooked advantage with a rack is lack of free play when off centre, turn the wheel on any steering box car and you get lots of free play, this doesn't happen with rack cars.

Undulations in the road and bumps can feed back through the steering, your holding the steering straight but wheels have mind of their own.

Steve

I was lucky enough to buy a good secondhand box from Volksfactory at a reasonable price (thanks Paul !) so my problems were solved.
Prior to that I was getting desperate and considered buying one from the states and swapping the pitman arm from my old one onto it.
Has anyone tried this?

As for steering wheel effort, it's all about technique, not strength. Iv'e seen big guys complain about cars that small people had no trouble with.

I think the worm goes the other way???
ie the LHD box isnt interchangeable with RHD

Yeah, LHD super boxes are a mirror of the RHD versions.

RHD do have a bung in the bottom where a LHD input shaft would come out so it may be possible to disassemble a LHD box and convert to RHD.