Steering Rack swap?

[Nisse Järnet]

Nice info! Im 99% sure that E36 uses the same "pin-size" as E30.

[nando]

yeah, but it's never going to be simple.

- the subframe needs to be modified (drilled, welded, etc).
- the tie rods need modified or pieced together
- the steering linkage needs pieced together or modified

luckily used ix subframes are cheap on ebay..

[D-rock]

^ good info!!

[nando]

got the ix tie rods

so, the good news - the total length of the E30 ix and E46 xi racks (tie rod end to tie rod end) is basically the same, about 55".

the E30 tie rods will mount to the E46 rack. however, they are too long. it may be possible to shorten them but I don't know if it will be enough. also, I don't think the lock plates for the E30 will work, and I don't know how the E46 tie rods lock to the steering rack (there's no locking pin or plate that I can see).

the E46 tie rods would work but the pin that fits into the strut housing is too large. Possible solutions? turn it down? drill out the hole in the E30 strut? swap ball joints? find a similar tie rod end with the smaller ball joint? Maybe from the E36?

I also checked the steering ratios and total travel, approximately. the E30 rack moves 1.5" for each revolution and has 5.5" of total travel. the E46 rack moves 2" for each revolution (from center), and has 7" of total travel. I don't know if the E46 rack is progressive or not, but it's definitely a step up.

[stonea]

As an aside, i ordered some inexpensive E30 ix tie rods, to figure out if i can use them in the E46 xi rack.

I may have the subframe modified to bolt the E46 rack directly to it, rather than an adapter bracket. I need all the space i can get..

Sounds great, keep us updated.

[nando]

As an aside, i ordered some inexpensive E30 ix tie rods, to figure out if i can use them in the E46 xi rack.

I may have the subframe modified to bolt the E46 rack directly to it, rather than an adapter bracket. I need all the space i can get..

[nando]

No

[stonea]

Any e36 or Z3 should work on any RWD e30.

Since this thread got brought back up. I had a question, could you swap the actually rack and innards from a e36 rack and put it into a 325ix housing?

[kkamakasi]

What rack(s) are swap-able into a 1991 318i ?

[stonea]

the e36 rack is shorter end to end;
the e36 pinion/input shaft are a different F/R and L/R, and length is wrong
the e36 mounts are on the opposite side

Some brackets could be fabbed up to mount it, but some custom spacers would be needed to be added to the ends of the rack in order to use the stock iX tierods, where the length of these rods (and the pivot of the inner joint) is important for proper ackerman under suspension compression.

the e46 xi rack has a nicer ratio with the mounts on the right side, but is longer than the stock ix rack. Also, the mounts are spaced differently and the actual body of the rack is larger and has a small protrusion on the underside that interferes with the subframe.

I made a bracket that fits an e46 xi rack to my subframe and allows for these clearances, but I haven't got around to measuring the affect of the longer rack and placement (relative to the original rack centreline) has on the geometry. A combination of different flex joints and discs are needed to connect the pinion shaft to the steering column as well. That's not quite sorted yet.

I've been trying to get around to modelling all the components but too busy.

There is likely a way to get it to work, but will it fuck up your steering if its not done right...? probably.

Thanks for all the info, it cleared things up for me. Let me know how you rack turns out.

[supernaughtIX]

the e36 rack is shorter end to end;
the e36 pinion/input shaft are a different F/R and L/R, and length is wrong
the e36 mounts are on the opposite side

Some brackets could be fabbed up to mount it, but some custom spacers would be needed to be added to the ends of the rack in order to use the stock iX tierods, where the length of these rods (and the pivot of the inner joint) is important for proper ackerman under suspension compression.

the e46 xi rack has a nicer ratio with the mounts on the right side, but is longer than the stock ix rack. Also, the mounts are spaced differently and the actual body of the rack is larger and has a small protrusion on the underside that interferes with the subframe.

I made a bracket that fits an e46 xi rack to my subframe and allows for these clearances, but I haven't got around to measuring the affect of the longer rack and placement (relative to the original rack centreline) has on the geometry. A combination of different flex joints and discs are needed to connect the pinion shaft to the steering column as well. That's not quite sorted yet.

I've been trying to get around to modelling all the components but too busy.

There is likely a way to get it to work, but will it fuck up your steering if its not done right...? probably.

[1E30iX2NV]

i rec rack doctor ....look it up online

[1E30iX2NV]

its a 3 piece steering rack .

[1E30iX2NV]

welcome to the ix world ...the steering rack is completely different ....so is the cross member ....swap for a reman....and get ready to spend $$$ if your not a mechanic

[stonea]

Just out of curiosity, why wont it work? Is it the way it mounts to the car? Sorry if I'm sounding ignorant, I'm relatively new to working on cars.