Hello everyone!
As you might have seen in a recent discussion over in the IX technical forum, i am going to begin producing a kit to quicken the steering ratio in the IX (awd) model of the E30 chassis.
If you have ever rally-x'ed, auto-x'ed, or just plain driven your IX on a tight-turning slippery road, i'm sure that one of your first frustrations was how you were flailing your hands in circles trying to keep the front wheels pointed where you wanted them. This was because of the vastly different front suspension geometry that the IX has compared to the rwd models. Some of the reasons for this include packaging constraints with the front differential, countering torque steer since your front wheels are now driven, and also the slippery terrain that the IX was designed to be driven on.
Most E30 owners have probably discovered that a couple of later model E36, E46, and Z3 racks will fit directly into their cars with their stock tie rods and 2 spacers to correct for a different stack height (or correct for bump-steer for the track guys). Unlike the standard E30 chassis, there are no later model BMW steering racks that will retrofit onto the front subframe of the IX. Some have proposed figuring out how to use a late model E46 XI rack, but this would require extensive modification to the steering shaft, subframe, and also boring out seats in your strut towers for the E46's larger tie rod ends.
The stock ratio of the IX is just over 3.9 turns of the wheel from lock to lock. I plan on producing this kit with a ratio of 3.2 turns from lock to lock.
Unlike alot of later model BMW's, i plan on keeping this rack a linear rate (Same ratio in the middle as the ends).
For those Porsche 911 guys out there, Quaife produces a kit which includes a new rack and pinion gear. You use your original rack housing, bushings, seals, bearings, tie rods, etc.
Here is that kit for reference: https://shop.quaife.co.uk/porsche-91...pinion-kit-2-5
A local R3v user (thank you zcenterb) has supplied me with a core IX rack assembly. I will be disassembling it and getting measurements to my friend this week. My friend owns a machine shop and doesn't think that this will be too expensive.
I obviously don't have the resources that Quaife has, so i will be starting this group buy with the prospective price of $400.
The plan is to offer a kit that includes a custom made pinion gear and rack. In addition, it will include instructions as well as all the needed o-rings, teflon rings, and seals to fully rebuild your rack. (Tie rods will be optional)
Once i'm 100% sure that there is enough of a demand for this and that costs are covered, i would like to also offer completely rebuilt racks with this kit pre-installed for those who don't have the time/will/energy/desire to rebuild their rack themselves. This would be done by a professional company and come with a lifetime warranty.
I plan to have an update within the next 2 weeks with a time frame as well as a more accurate price for this project.
I'd like to see who is interested at this price point. I already have a few vendors onboard.
Can we get a list going?
Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As you might have seen in a recent discussion over in the IX technical forum, i am going to begin producing a kit to quicken the steering ratio in the IX (awd) model of the E30 chassis.
If you have ever rally-x'ed, auto-x'ed, or just plain driven your IX on a tight-turning slippery road, i'm sure that one of your first frustrations was how you were flailing your hands in circles trying to keep the front wheels pointed where you wanted them. This was because of the vastly different front suspension geometry that the IX has compared to the rwd models. Some of the reasons for this include packaging constraints with the front differential, countering torque steer since your front wheels are now driven, and also the slippery terrain that the IX was designed to be driven on.
Most E30 owners have probably discovered that a couple of later model E36, E46, and Z3 racks will fit directly into their cars with their stock tie rods and 2 spacers to correct for a different stack height (or correct for bump-steer for the track guys). Unlike the standard E30 chassis, there are no later model BMW steering racks that will retrofit onto the front subframe of the IX. Some have proposed figuring out how to use a late model E46 XI rack, but this would require extensive modification to the steering shaft, subframe, and also boring out seats in your strut towers for the E46's larger tie rod ends.
The stock ratio of the IX is just over 3.9 turns of the wheel from lock to lock. I plan on producing this kit with a ratio of 3.2 turns from lock to lock.
Unlike alot of later model BMW's, i plan on keeping this rack a linear rate (Same ratio in the middle as the ends).
For those Porsche 911 guys out there, Quaife produces a kit which includes a new rack and pinion gear. You use your original rack housing, bushings, seals, bearings, tie rods, etc.
Here is that kit for reference: https://shop.quaife.co.uk/porsche-91...pinion-kit-2-5
A local R3v user (thank you zcenterb) has supplied me with a core IX rack assembly. I will be disassembling it and getting measurements to my friend this week. My friend owns a machine shop and doesn't think that this will be too expensive.
I obviously don't have the resources that Quaife has, so i will be starting this group buy with the prospective price of $400.
The plan is to offer a kit that includes a custom made pinion gear and rack. In addition, it will include instructions as well as all the needed o-rings, teflon rings, and seals to fully rebuild your rack. (Tie rods will be optional)
Once i'm 100% sure that there is enough of a demand for this and that costs are covered, i would like to also offer completely rebuilt racks with this kit pre-installed for those who don't have the time/will/energy/desire to rebuild their rack themselves. This would be done by a professional company and come with a lifetime warranty.
I plan to have an update within the next 2 weeks with a time frame as well as a more accurate price for this project.
I'd like to see who is interested at this price point. I already have a few vendors onboard.
Can we get a list going?
Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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