Steering Rack /control arm question

[Colo318IS]

I'm gearing up to doing some work on the front end, new CA bushings, CA's, tie rod ends, etc....I also have the dreaded leaky E30 rack and have been researching the swap to the E36 rack.

Due to the fact that my warm weather days are coming to an end here & being super busy with work, I'm just a little tight on time and wanted to throw a question out there...

Hypothetically, if you're replacing a rack do you need to remove the control in the process?

Here's my dilemma...

Priority-wise, the control arm bushings are shot and need replacing badly so I'd like to change them out and I might as well replace the arms, tie rod ends, etc so I've been plannin on that.  The rack I want to replace, but due to time, feel it can wait and I'd like to get the 95 M3 rack so I want to allow some time to find the right one (cost-wise etc)...so ideally I'd like to just replace the CA and bushings etc now and then do the rack next spring.  My thought though is if I have to take the CA off, then I might as well do it all at the same time and if that's the case, I'll just garage the car and wait until the spring.  I've got an SUV for the winter to drive.

Thanks for any insight you can provide...my apologies on the dumb question, I just haven't even had time to get under the car this week to inspect it and had been trying to find pics in other threads with little luck.

[monko141]

You don't need to have the control arm off to do the swap.  Buy e36 inner and outer tie rods and two sets of locking plates for when you do do the swap.  Personally I would save up for a set of motor mounts and replace those since you need to jack the engine up remove and replace the steering rack.

[Colo318IS]

Ok great, thank you!  That's a good point on the motor mounts, I'll definitely consider that when I go to replacing the rack.