I need the nitty gritty on the Steering Rack swap!

[16vcoffin]

I'm in dire need of replacing my steering rack for my 91 318is w/airbag. Not only does it LEAK and make a mess but I feel like im driving a bus with the current ratio. I have found some write ups here and there but are mostly for non airbag cars (apparently the spline size is diffrent and the knuckle can be adjusted? is this BS?) all the write ups hint at something or another that needs to be done diffrently for AB cars or something that can be done to eleminate some steps under such and such circumstance. Im sure there are diffrent means to an end, that in mind my question is this.

 Who here has actually done it- what exactally were the parts that were needed? What required fabbing, benting, cutting, looping, extending for use with an 91 m42 w airbag? part numbers/ pics would be a huge help. I have read ALL the info on the net. (trust me its all I do at work) I have a good idea of whats involved but dont want to get stuck with parts that wont work because I read hearsay somewhere.

What are the options as far as PS delete? does it make it easier?

**I just called zionsville and they said their kit will work but I had to fab a high pressure line? I had never even READ about that needing to be done.

Thanks for the help.

[D. Clay]

This is what I've heard and I'll be doing it in the next few days. LOL -the E36 rack is presently installed in my trunk!
The E30 lower coupler will fit right on the E36 rack. The only problem is that the E36 has the pinion spline to the right of the E30 location. This requires that the steering shaft make a sharper angle from where it enters the engine compartment to the rack. The fix is to move the opening in the firewall about 1" or less to the right and down to decrease the angle the u-joint has to handle. Somepeople get by without having to do this or by only cutting the opening a little bit. I've heard also of using a Dremel tool or small ginder and removing material from the u-joints for clearance. One person on another forum made a piece that looks like the one with the dotted line on it to move the boot. I think I'll first try grinding a little on the u-joints. A pic:

[dude8383]

i've got a 98 M3 rack on its way...i can't wait to install it.

[dino245]

I have the Z3 rack with the power steering piston inside the rack removed. I installed a non Airbag column at the same time also, it made the alignment of the ccolumn better and supported correctly.

[nickmpower]

I wish i would have removed the piston in mine befor i put it in. I may just use a little 0wt oil

[2002maniac]

I wish i would have removed the piston in mine befor i put it in. I may just use a little 0wt oil

yeah, I didnt do that either.  I've been driving it for ~6 months as is.  Any problems with this?

[nickmpower]

well the pinion and rack just have a coat of grease on them, they are not in the fluid. I was just thinking it may become sticky with out some oil on the seals or something. probably not

[dino245]

I saw this "mod" on a miata sight and figured that it would not be that hard to do on amy king of power steering rack. The Z3 rack was not hard to disassemble and I cut the piston of with an cutting wheel. After that I cleaned the whole thing up and smeared grease all over the parts and reasembled it. I also removed all of the outer breather lines that go from one side of the rack to the other and filled all of holes with silicone so no water or salt could get in it. It works fine.

[romkasponka]

All what I knowabout this swapping is there:

http://wp1016621.wp027.webpack.hosteurope.de/fotost/f00388/f00388.htm

http://e30m3performance.com/installs/installs-3/e36rack/index.htm

[2002maniac]

I saw this "mod" on a miata sight and figured that it would not be that hard to do on amy king of power steering rack. The Z3 rack was not hard to disassemble and I cut the piston of with an cutting wheel. After that I cleaned the whole thing up and smeared grease all over the parts and reasembled it. I also removed all of the outer breather lines that go from one side of the rack to the other and filled all of holes with silicone so no water or salt could get in it. It works fine.

does this just reduce effort?  I really dont think the effort is too bad on mine.