M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: bacdoc on July 27, 2011, 08:48:36 AM
-
Looking to upgrade to something quicker, for autoX specially. What's the the box of choice and what's the ease of the swap? I see the E36 come up...is that what I should go for?
-
yes, e36 or z3. I just replaced my stock one with the 95 m3 one, which is 3.0 ltl vs. 3.2 ltl for all othe e36s. Mine is linear not progressive but thats fine with me. Transforms car. One of best upgrades for the e30 after doing it. Just took some finese due to air bag steering column.
-
Difficulty level? Is there much in the way of modifications to do the swap?
-
From what I've seen (haven't done it myself yet)..you'll need some washers or spacers (e36 rack mounts are skinnier), and the lower cover on the firewall usually needs modified. If you still have the P/S lines they need tweaked a bit.
Other than that it's a straight swap.
-
You need to modify the PS lines, and disassemble and modify the steering knuckle. There are some shims that are required to mount the rack to the subframe, but as I recall that's about it. Zionsville makes an instructional CD/DVD that gives clear instructions, great pictures, and a list of the materials and where to get them. It's worth the $25.
-
There is a write up over at R3V. I did the conversion my self and the only thing I had to do was use some pre-made spacers under the rack (I think they are also for sale over at R3V) , dremel out the firewall a bit and "bend the PS hose to align properly. Did not have to modify my steering knuckle. I used a Z3 rack.
Dan
-
The steering knuckle will need to be modded if it's not an airbag car. The airbag column has a shorter knuckle that matches the later e36/Z3 rack. I'd bet an e46 rack would do the trick too.
-
Correction..The write up is on http://www.e30tech.com along with the spacers needed for the swap. And Dave is correct..Tells us what car you have.
Dan
-
I just went through this on my 91 318is (airbag car) and will write about it with some pics in my profile thread. I have a 95 e36 m3 rack, but should be physically the same as all the other e36 ones. First, you can use the e30 tie rods or use e36 ones. I used e36 ones as they are beefier. Second, you will need spacers when you bolt rack to the subframe. You can use washers or buy a set pre-made. I bought mine from AKG. Someone on e30tech sells them cheaper. Next comes to the firewall plate. In my case, the steering sharft that goes from the knuckle into the steering wheel came out with my rack and knucle. I guess the 32mm nut under the steering wheel was not tight. This made the install more dificult as with the e36 rack the orientation of where the spindle connects is off and make the shaft move over and hit the firewall. Will installing I noticed it would tought the plate that touches the firewall from inside the car. This plate is part of the pedal assembly. In the end, I had to remove knuckle from behind steering wheel and using a dremel was not necessary but the extra room will make sure I won't hear squeaking of the shaft touching the plate. Only issue is the rubber boot to protect water and debris entering the car. I just had to modify it to seal the hole. Regarding the PS lines, you just have to bend the one from the PS pump to the rack, the one with the 19mm banjo bolt. Not hard but just make sure it does not hit the steering knuckle. So in conclusion, not hard, you need spacers and you might have to dremel a little of the opening you have to modify the rubber boot or seal it with something else.
If you have questions, I can help. Going tomorrow for alignment but sure feels nice with a quicker turning ratio.
-
E46 have better ratio 3 turns from lock to lock.
-
e36 95 m3 - 3.0 (the one I got)
all other e36s - 3.2
z3 - 2.7
-
Thanks for the follow up guys. I have an air bag car. So are we talking the entire rack or the box?
-
You swap out the whole rack, our cars do not have a steering gear box.
-
You swap out the whole rack, our cars do not have a steering gear box.
This explains a lot. :lol:
Thanks! I've had little time work on my car or actually see it. It's parked at my dad's. I only get it out to autoX now.
-
E46 have better ratio 3 turns from lock to lock.
+1 what I'm fitting:
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac61/VisionRacingDevelopments/E30%20Ph2/IMG_8653Large.jpg)
-
I stuffed in a rack from a 1997 Z3 1.9L. This is the one you want...2.7 turns L2L. Originally I was looking at M3 ones, but Jordan (Stuck) informed me that the Z3 one is the best option.
- I had an airbag-equipped car, and no knuckle modification was necessary.
- You do need to stack a bunch of washers in the mount tabs since the corresponding part on the Z3 rack is thinner (and you don't want to bend the hell out of the crossmember tabs).
- The PS hose with the metal hardline also needed some tweaking. I just bent the part (that goes near the motor mount arm) on my knee so that it wasn't touching anything.
- I did need to take a half-round file to the hole in the firewall on the lower-right corner (looking at it from inside the car) to make the proper clearance.
-
+1 what I'm fitting:
(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac61/VisionRacingDevelopments/E30%20Ph2/IMG_8653Large.jpg)
Hey, you got that in there backwards! :p
-
I cleared my mind of everything I knew, or thought I knew about E36 steering racks and studied the thread http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1370008&highlight=steering+rack. I then edited and condensed what I thought was the best information devoid of rumor or subjectiveness (If anyone has any specs for the E46 racks I'd like that info). It's not really as confusing as the internet makes it out to be.:p
Non-M Z3
mm/rev on center: 53.5mm
rack type:
on-center ratio:
ratio @ lock:
mean ratio:
rack length: 144.5mm
turns lock to lock: 2.7
1996+M3/E36
mm/rev on center: 45.5mm
rack type: progressive
on-center ratio:
ratio @ lock: 15.4:1
mean ratio: 15.6:1
rack length: 145.6mm
turns lock to lock: 3.2
1995 M3:
mm/rev on center: 39.0mm
rack type: progressive
on-center ratio: 19.8:1
ratio @ lock: 15.4:1
mean ratio: 17.6:1
rack length: 117mm
turns lock to lock: 3.0
Rack Ratio is a calculation of how many degrees the front wheels turn per (1) 360 degree turn of the steering wheel. Steering Rack Ratios are application-specific, and dependent upon the geometry of the spindle they are attached to. Since the interface between the spindle pivot point and tie rod attachment point create the geometry of a lever, two identical racks installed into two differing chassis may result in differing ratios, as the lever geometry resulting from the spindles in each chassis may be different. The most accurate way to compare rack performance is the on-center mm/rev spec. Simply put, this is the linear translation in millimeters per (1) 360 degree rotation of the pinion gear from center (defines initial rack quickness). Overall rack gear length determines the lock to lock range and comparative turning radius potential.
Basically there is a simple rule that ALL E36 racks (including Z3 and ti) are the same with only TWO exceptions.
1-1995 M3 is slower (less mm per pinion revolution)
2-Any Z3 (besides M models) is faster (more mm per revolution)
-
I stuffed in a rack from a 1997 Z3 1.9L. This is the one you want...2.7 turns L2L.
Where did you source your rack from, parts yard, or online?
-
Just ordered the 2.7turn kit from Zionsville, should be getting installed next week.
-
I got my rack (used) from http://www.car-part.com for around $220 shipped. I think it had 80k miles on it or something.