steering rack

[quinn11m20]

Hey can anyone tell me how to fix the play in my rack.

[tjts1]

Inspect inner and outer tie rods and control arm bushings. Easy test is to lift one wheel off the ground and try to shake it by grabbing it at 3 and 9 o'clock positions. Go from there. good luck

[quinn11m20]

well i think the play is in the rack itself not my control arm bushings. I have inspected them and replaced the control arms on or about 3 years ago. this play is definatly in the rack. what I need to know is there a way to tighten the gears in the rack itself. anyone?

[tjts1]

Might be a good time to upgrade to an E36 rack. I would still remove the rubber boots off the rack and inspect the inner tie rods. You might be surprised. Did you replace the lollipop bushings with the controls arms?

[dude8383]

Might be a good time to upgrade to an E36 rack. I would still remove the rubber boots off the rack and inspect the inner tie rods. You might be surprised. Did you replace the lollipop bushings with the controls arms?

x2

An E36 rack will cost ya around $145 shipped and will have a much better ratio.

My rack has ZERO play in it.

Also, you mentioned that you replaced them 3 years ago...depending on how much you travel, that may actually add up to a lot mileage!

Who knows, maybe the things you replaced 3 years ago are due for replacement.

[hoevesruperd]

Might be a good time to upgrade to an E36 rack.

i'm looking for a better ratio as well;
does any e36 rack will fit bolt on?
i have to part out a 318i 1992 4 doors

do i just use the e36 rack with e30 or 36 tie rods? is it all the same?
for the record, i will run it without powersteering

[tjts1]

i'm looking for a better ratio as well;
does any e36 rack will fit bolt on?
i have to part out a 318i 1992 4 doors

do i just use the e36 rack with e30 or 36 tie rods? is it all the same?
for the record, i will run it without powersteering

Yup. Heres a good writeup on the subject.
http://www.rmeuropean.com/bmw-steering-rack.html
And another one but most of the info about the knuckles does not apply to our cars.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=66247

There is some complication with angle of the steering shaft at the firewall (see first link) but otherwise its a direct swap in our airbag cars. The E36 tie rods look different but you can use them on the E30 no problem. All E36 cars have 3.2 turns end to end, 95 E36 M3 has 3 turns and Z3 has 2.7 turns. But all three racks use the same steering ratio (15.6:1) with slightly different bump stops. Even a basic E36 rack will be a vast improvement over the stock E30 rack with 4.1 turns (20.5:1 steering ratio).
I just picked up an E36 rack off a 94 318i for $40 at the JY. Can't wait to install it. I'm also running no PS.

[twism]

If I was any of you guys I was gonna keep my eye on THIS rack. This is the second listing for this rack and last time no one bought it for the same price. Too bad my car is so far away...if it wasn't this was gonna be my rack for sure!

[quinn11m20]

Thanks guys the info is great. I think I am gonna purchase a new rack and go from there. I thought maybe downgrading to a manual for a more sportier feel. Any thoughts?

[hoevesruperd]

Thanks guys the info is great. I think I am gonna purchase a new rack and go from there. I thought maybe downgrading to a manual for a more sportier feel. Any thoughts?

if by manual you're saying no powersteering, i say oh yeah!
i've been driving without powersteering for about 2 months, and would not want to put it back, no PS makes you more involved in the driving experience

i just removed the belt to get the feel and cause my pump was leaking. i will seal the PS rails on the e36 rack with screws when i install it

[hoevesruperd]

Yup. Heres a good writeup on the subject.
http://www.rmeuropean.com/bmw-steering-rack.html
And another one but most of the info about the knuckles does not apply to our cars.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=66247

I just picked up an E36 rack off a 94 318i for $40 at the JY. Can't wait to install it. I'm also running no PS.

thanks tjts1 for your info! i have a non-airbag e30 so i guess i wont have to mess with the firewall. although it seems a little sketchy to shorten the knuckle. i will study the case, and please, if you swap yours first, could you do a write-up for us?
cheers!

[eric16v]

anybody now of any local shops in the bay area (south bay) that rebuild steering racks? or has anybody ever bought the seal kit and rebuilt? or is it a better idea to do the e36 upgrade? my car is a 91 318is.

[gearheadE30]

I'd just do the e36 upgrade. I picked up a (leaky) rack for $60 and put new tie rods on it. It was fairly easy to do, and since I am not running power steering, it doesn't leak much anymore. As far as a seal kit, BMP design has one for the e36, but I havn't ever seen one for the e30.

[P. Kennedy]

If I was any of you guys I was gonna keep my eye on THIS rack. This is the second listing for this rack and last time no one bought it for the same price. Too bad my car is so far away...if it wasn't this was gonna be my rack for sure!

I pounced on this rack immediately.  Added it to my list of Spring projects.

[tjts1]

I'd just do the e36 upgrade. I picked up a (leaky) rack for $60 and put new tie rods on it. It was fairly easy to do, and since I am not running power steering, it doesn't leak much anymore. As far as a seal kit, BMP design has one for the e36, but I havn't ever seen one for the e30.

How long did the swap take you? Did you run into any surprises? I'm about to take on this project this weekend
thanks