E36 steering rack conversion

[M42boy]

Has anyone here done the E36 sterring rack conversion on thier 318is?

Is it much improvement?? I know the turning circle is greatly reduced (turns lock to lock), and it's quicker, and should have better feel (I hope).

I think I'm about to do it. I've got to change out the steering pump, and I think the rack isn't holding up so well either. I figure it's time to replace it, and why not get an E36 rack, as I hear it's not difficult to convert.

I had looked at a really good (detailed) write up on how to do the convesion, but can't remember which site and where. I've tried searching, but can't seem to find it.

If anyone has the link... It would be greatly appreciated. :D

[D. Clay]

Search r3v for threads started by "Ritalin Kid". I've put one in my car and you can get by with just rounding up some shims. The mount flanges on the E36 rack are about a quarter inch shorter. There's pics on r3v. I bent the high pressure line around to fit the E36 rack. You can buy the E36 line if you want but it's pricey. The inlet is on the side of the E30 rack and on top of the E36 - about 90 degrees different.
To change the firewall opening an air driven rotary file is perfect or a dremel.
I really like the change. The E36 rack is 3 turns. The E30 is 4. It's really noticable but you get used to it real quick as it makes the E30 like an E36. A Honda Civic is 2.75. My wife's econo-box has quicker steering than my BMW!

[Shocker]

How about a rack out of E30 M3?

[dude8383]

How about a rack out of E30 M3?

if it came out of an airbag m3 (some 89's, 90 and up) then it should bolt right up.

honestly you're better of finding an e36 rack because you can score one much cheaper! i bought my 98 m3 rack for $145 shipped and absolutely love it!

[nickmpower]

z3 rack for 110 FTW

[romkasponka]

I fitted E36 rack few days ago, without any special mods. I dont use power steering. Damper was replaced with solid peace of metal. I will do few pics later..

[2002maniac]

z3 rack for 110 FTW

Got mine for 65 shipped! :p

[asubimmer]

Got mine for 65 shipped! :p
they didn't have two did they?? :cool:

[dino245]

I installed a Z3 rack which I bought for 50 shipped eliminated the hydro piston in it, siliconed the hose passages and installed it with an early non airbag column and love the solid feel. forget power steering this car doesnt need it.

[BrandC]

Relevant hijack:

There is a used/junker website that lists the prices/sellers of available OEM parts. I'm having trouble remembering what it is. I saw Z3 racks as cheap as $90 on there. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

[2002maniac]

Relevant hijack:

There is a used/junker website that lists the prices/sellers of available OEM parts. I'm having trouble remembering what it is. I saw Z3 racks as cheap as $90 on there. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

car-part.com?

[dude8383]

depends on which Z3 rack you guys picked up... the ratio's were different for the trim's

[BrandC]

car-part.com?

YESSSSSSSSSSS thanks Maniac.

[BrandC]

depends on which Z3 rack you guys picked up... the ratio's were different for the trim's

Anything's better than the steering ratio of a bus on E30's.

[dude8383]

Anything's better than the steering ratio of a bus on E30's.

haha yes, that is true.

[2002maniac]

depends on which Z3 rack you guys picked up... the ratio's were different for the trim's

Mine was from a 2.8 if it matters. I thought they were all the same though..

[Wizard]

Search r3v for threads started by "Ritalin Kid".


Link for the lazy:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=66247

[dude8383]

92-98 E36 3.2 Turn to Lock Ratio Rack - Ebay - Tom's FAP - $125.00

92-98 E36 3.2 Turn to Lock Ratio Rack - Maval Rebuilt - $270.13

95 E36 M3 3.0 Turn to Lock Ratio Rack - Maval Rebuilt - $270.13

95-97 E36 Z3 1.9L 2.7 Turn to Lock Ratio Rack - Maval Rebuilt - $317.59


from what i understand the Z3 rack from the 2.8 is the same as any other e36 rack.

[2002maniac]

from what i understand the Z3 rack from the 2.8 is the same as any other e36 rack.

mine is 2.7 turns and from a Z3 2.8

[dude8383]

mine is 2.7 turns and from a Z3 2.8

damn i wish i could have known that before i bought a 98 m3 rack.

[StreetSpec_iS]

did anyone ever confirm the Z3 rack turning radius? i recall there was confusion as to wether it was a true 2.7 turn lock, or wether it had steering stops in it.

[mikko]

i bought mine E36 rack 26$, i got no power steering because of weight.

E30 got two installing point for rack ,i put it to rear position.

im bit drift style driver and rear position of rack gives more turning for wheels

[BrandC]

im bit drift style driver and rear position of rack gives more turning for wheels

Unless you have lengthened the effective travel of both of the tie rods, I call bullshit. The position of the rack will only affect the placement of the tie rods and thus toe settings, it won't make your front wheels turn out at a sharper angle.

Look at www.battleversion.com and read how tie rods spacers work with a rack & pinion before you claim "drift style".

[mikko]

@LOL

when rack was front position front tires didnt hit inner plastics, on rear position they´ll hit it... grinding noise and marks... so i thought front tires turns more, steering wheel "touch" is much harder on last quarter of lock-to-lock.

try it and you´ll see

:) drift style because our weather is so slippery that its so easy to put it sideways all the time, and im doing it so :)

very good pages. battleversion. tnx

[xsjado]

rhd e30 like mine...i had to cut my headers just to get the m42 in...now i fear the guibo steering coupling is going to melt when i drive it.....maybe i should change to solid linkage???

[Noel Higa]

What does lock to lock difference have to do with turning radius? Aren't these totally separate issues? How tight the car will turn has nothing to do with how fast it'll get there.

[D. Clay]

What does lock to lock difference have to do with turning radius? Aren't these totally separate issues? How tight the car will turn has nothing to do with how fast it'll get there.
Turning radius depends on maximum steering wheel angle (road wheels-not the steering wheel inside the car) and wheelbase, but for practical purposes these are constant on an E30. Therefore turns lock to lock is a quick and dirty indication of steering quickness. Rack manufacturers sometimes use rack travel per degree of pinion rotation as a measurement that applies to the rack itself. The degree the wheels are turned in relation to this can still vary according to the length of the steering arms on the spindle or strut. Again, these are constant on an E30 except maybe the ix. There is a steering stop on an E30 that works by contact between the spindle/strut and control arm. A stock E30 takes 4 turns of the wheel from bump stop to bump stop (a city bus comes to mind.) E36 and Z3 rack's are 3.2 to 2.7 turns lock to lock on an E30. 3.2 is like an average late model sedan. 3.0 and 2.7 are quick.

[silverblades181]

What kind of work does it take to make a Z3 1.9 rack fit?

[D. Clay]

Unless you have lengthened the effective travel of both of the tie rods, I call bullshit. The position of the rack will only affect the placement of the tie rods and thus toe settings, it won't make your front wheels turn out at a sharper angle.
Look at www.battleversion.com (http://www.battleversion.com) and read how tie rods spacers work with a rack & pinion before you claim "drift style".
You can't exceed the physical stops on an E30 w/o surgery. However most racing happens at less than full lock. Engineers go to great pains in placing control arms, tie rod inner, and outer points, and design of the spindle to get some kind of dynamic stability in a suspension. Generally, moving the just the rack forward and backward changes the Ackerman effect (the toe change with steering input) and up and down movement of rack mounting changes toe setting in bump and rebound.
All is well and good until stuff starts moving. The car rolls around a roll center that is constantly changing as the car rolls. In addition, one side is in bump and the other in rebound.
If you're still not confused, throw in drift under opposite lock. The chassis rolls as if it's turning one way and the steering input says another. Then ask yourself what do I want to happen and why do I want it. Just a thought, but if I was drifting I'd pick the brains of some dirt track racers. They spend almost half the time in an opposite lock drift and run comparable lap times to asphalt cars on pavement.
That's why chassis engineers and designers make big bucks.

[nickmpower]

the tie rods stop the rack. if you put a washer between the tie rods and rack that has a small enough diameter so that it will clear what the tie rods hit on the rack then yes the tie rods will be shorter but there will be more travel in the rack

[Nascar318is]

Those seem like some pretty good prices for a rack! When my rack let go 2 years ago on my E36, the dealer wanted $1100CDN not installed, I finally found a place and got it for $550CDN installed with lifetime on it:( Now I know where to get one if she lets go.

[Frankie]

mine is 2.7 turns and from a Z3 2.8

Is there any instructions how to instaall z3 steering rack to a 318is?

[romkasponka]

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4795/img0283ss9.jpg

[D. Clay]

Link to good pictures of the firewall modification for the E36 rack swap in an air bag car:
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=66247
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