M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: e30Andym42 on January 01, 2010, 12:55:53 PM

Title: The e30 collinder
Post by: e30Andym42 on January 01, 2010, 12:55:53 PM

My car leaked oil since before I bought it.  I still have no idea where it is coming from.  Then it starts leaking coolant so I replace the waterpump, and then replace the radiator bleeder screw because it was all torn up, and now that leaks.  

But the most annoying leak is the power steering.  It is an absolutely immense leak.  If I fill the resevoir, it is empty in about 5 minutes or so.  I replaced the hoses from the resevoir to the steering rack, and I came across the real problem.  The thread on the steering rack is broken for what I believe is the high pressure connection.  The metal it self is split.

Here is a rather poor drawing of what I am talking about:

(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm26/e30Andym42/IMG00060-20100101-1326.jpg)

I bought a piece of rubber hose and a circular clamp and put the hose over the two holes for the power steering connections and clamped it as tight as I could to try to keep the broken piece from falling off, as well as attempting to minimize the leak.  I took the power steering belt off.  

Here is what that looks like:

(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm26/e30Andym42/IMG00058-20091231-1449.jpg)

But here is the problem.  I need it connected and leak free to pass NY state inspection.  I have a very small amount of money, and I need the cheapest solution.  I did research to find I could get an e36 rack for around $150, but there is metalwork involved with the relatively easy install, and I am afraid of metalwork.  Is it possible to take the rack off and have the broken piece welded??  

Thanks for reading!

Title: The e30 collinder
Post by: waldo on January 01, 2010, 08:36:10 PM

I just swapped an E36 rack out out a 93 325i into my M42 E30 with an airbag.  The only metal work I had to do was the steering shaft rubbed oh-so-slightly onto the plate that connects to firewall; I used a dremel to file it down.  I have seen others simply removed the plate.  I cut a 20-30 degree notch out of the rubber boot that covers the firewall hole.  The high pressure hose  is retained, but I opened it up about 90 degrees to fit.  Everything else was gravy.

Title: The e30 collinder
Post by: e30Andym42 on January 04, 2010, 11:52:06 PM

Thanks for the reply.  I will be picking up an e36 rack out of a 98 328i from a local shop for $100.  Should have it ready for inspection soon :)