Steering Rack Questions

[Noel Higa]

I've searched this site pretty thoroughly to try to find the answers to my questions, but haven't been able to come up with anything.  If I missed something, someone please direct me to the info.  

I have a '91 318is with a badly leaking steering rack.  I've seen all the stuff about changing to an e36 oor z3 rack.  But, I just want to do a straight forward swap.  Can I use any e30 rack?  I have an '86 325 with what appears to be a good rack.  Will that work or are there ratio or fitment issues?

Any info will be appreciated.  Thanks, Noel

[e9nine]

I am in the same position as you are.

Our cars have an airbag steering rack u-joint piece which appears to be the only hurdle when converting.

You can take a look at zionsville's website. They have the parts needed as a complete kit but don't support our cars because we have airbags.

I helped a friend convert to a manual rack on my old 318iS and we ended up using a manual steering column to save the hassle of fiddling with u-joints.

Some on here have done the swap and can chime in with more detailed info.

If you want a more explicit parts list - this post is helpful >>http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=66247

[dude8383]

an e36 rack will bolt right up.

i have a 98 m3 rack that installed in my car not too long ago.

it took maybe 3-4 hours to install. you can find an e36 rack for under $150, i paid $145 shipped for mine. the guy even included brand new tie-rod ends!

[D. Clay]

This is how I did it recently on my own car. An E36 rack is a complete bolt in  for air bag E30's with two exceptions. No need for any special couplers or u-joints. First, (in pic above - E36 is the lower one) the hose inlets on E36 racks are on the top right and the E30 ones are on the left. The lines can be easily bent and re-oriented. Second, the angle of the E36 pinion snout moves the steering shaft toward the center of the car and down a little bit. You have to cut out the firewall for clearance.  Easy with a dremel tool with a rotary grinder or cutter from the inside. Forget the lower coupler - it's an error. This is a lot less complicated than it looks or sounds. Here's pics of the whole deal except forget all the stuff about the coupler if you have an air bag.

[Noel Higa]

Thanks everyone.  I just found a used '91 318is rack.  Only problem is that he doesn't know the condition, as his pump went out and the rack was disconnected when he bought it.  But the price is very right, so I guess, I'll find out when I pick it up and check it out.  Noel

[sheepdog]

You can buy a fresh rebuilt one on the net for about $250 shipped if you look around.

Very easy to install, but expect an alignment when you are done. Also, I would not hold my breath on that used on being any good.

[dude8383]

can you justify spending $250 on a rack that has no improvement over stock?

like i said above $150 for a rack that works teh same way a rebuilt one will.

dlcay explained it pretty well...not much modification needs to be done..

[e9nine]

Thanks D.Clay and dude83 - I am on the look out for a rack. Where's the best source? Classifieds or ebay. I am very eager to get this done as I have messed up my driveway concrete with spots

D.Clay - which rack is pictured above? Which one did you end up using for your car? The above updated info pertains to all e36 racks including e36m3 and z3 racks as well?

[m42 fan]

Guys,
       I'm in the reasearch phase of this one myself, as my rack has developed some looseness that I want to take care of eventually.  The steps that D. Clay put out apply to any e36/z3 rack.  As far as which rack to go with, they are all an improvement over our stock racks, but there are some differences.  

The regular e36 rack is ~3.2 turns lock to lock iirc, while the e36 M3 rack is 3 turns ltl.  If you want to go with the M3 rack, a 1995 model is better, because it is a constant ratio model, rather than the variable ratio which was installed beginning in 1996.  The Z3 rack is only 2.8 turns ltl, but it does not travel as far, so you will experience an increase in your turning radius if you go with this route.

hope some of that info helps.

Brian

[dude8383]

Thanks D.Clay and dude83 - I am on the look out for a rack. Where's the best source? Classifieds or ebay. I am very eager to get this done as I have messed up my driveway concrete with spots

D.Clay - which rack is pictured above? Which one did you end up using for your car? The above updated info pertains to all e36 racks including e36m3 and z3 racks as well?

http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/teyvjazzy/

check out that guys stuff. he sells a bunch of e36 parts so i'd take a look.


anything on the classifieds is gonna be over-priced.

[D. Clay]

1996 Steering Rack/Box BMW 318 ti1.8L    064085 $150 J and V Auto Parts USA-NY(Brooklyn) E-mail 1-718-241-7809
I paid $100 for a 1996 325i rack. The rack in the picture is an M3. They are all the same except for the actual steering ratio. The 318-325's are 3.2 turn lock to lock and the Z3's go as fast as 2.75 turns. Mine is 3.2 and it's about right for the street.
Listing above is for car-part.com, a nationwide database of salvage.

[e9nine]

Thanks for all the input guys. Really appreciate the added info on turning radius as no one actually mentioned that prior.

[sheepdog]

can you justify spending $250 on a rack that has no improvement over stock?

like i said above $150 for a rack that works teh same way a rebuilt one will.

dlcay explained it pretty well...not much modification needs to be done..

I can justify it because I needed one I know will not leak and I needed it fast. That price also included 2 day shipping. Used racks can leak, meaning all the work you just did may be for nothing. Here a leaking rack will fail a safety inspection.

Not to mention I see nothing wrong with the stock rack and I spend most of my time on the highway where a faster rate would do nothing for me.