How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[tamtom]

E46 rack with modified guibo rubbing on manifold 318is

Hi guys, I've done the same install lines are all perfect install went really well.
As I went to bolt the rack up I could see the exhaust manifold touching the guibo.
I've tried using the rack spacers above rack, below. Front rack mounts rear.
No combination clears the exhaust.

Using an 067 purple tag e46 rack.
Works fine with an m52 conversion but on 318is's it seems to hit the manifold.
In need of some desperate help.
Starting to lose hope now ;(

[fred.g]

Hi, i bought a Z3 steering rack for my 318I and i was wondering, for thoses that have a M42b18, how did you connected the high pressure line from the rack to the pump ? i need a new line, and i am about to get a custom one!

[FLG]

this one? http://www.gutenparts.com/search-res...%20Rack&type=1


A little out of my price range...

No, call him up. Think it was about the same price if not cheaper then the eBay unit. And your supporting a guy that's a big help to the community.

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[Gary Horneck]

I have the eBay unit. Been using it for 3 race seasons now. Works great, especially for under $250

[ELVA164]

I finally got this done a few days ago. It's so nice not to leave streams of fluid on the ground when turning to the left.

One thing I would add to the original how-to is instead of jacking the corner of the suspension up and hitting the top of the tie rod with a wood block and a hammer, I just smacked the side of the upright where the tie rod slides through and it fell right out. No jack necessary.

[dillon7]

Got mine from Levent at guten.

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this one? http://www.gutenparts.com/search-res...%20Rack&type=1


A little out of my price range...

[FLG]

anybody used this rack and have any feedback on it?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-3-SERIES...-/290530259899

Got mine from Levent at guten.

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[dillon7]

anybody used this rack and have any feedback on it?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-3-SERIES-E36-POWER-STEERING-RACK-AND-PINION-GEAR-/290530259899

[KVF]

where specifically and how would I find it ?

In the nuts, bolts, & washers section... They have an assortment of spacers of various sizes. Somewhere in the first couple posts the size is listed.

[FLG]

Above for me, no bump steer

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[JinormusJ]

How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

I ended up having little to almost no bump-steer having them mounted up top.

The fat lazy guy in me just left it since it doesn't seem to be harming anything

[ELVA164]

I mounted my spacers above the rack, but I am hearing people mounting them below to combat bump steer; I will be swapping them shortly after my little bugs are troubleshooted

I don't have any personal experience with it, but this sounds like a good argument for putting spacers on top:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=253178&highlight=spacers+location

[joncrz]

You can pick up correctly sized spacers at Home Depot on the cheap.

where specifically and how would I find it ?

[JinormusJ]

How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

Have the Z3 rack; a little annoyed it doesn't have lock-plates, but eh..

I ended up just using red Loctite on my knuckle; wanted to make sure that junk doesn't come off

My only thing I'm scared about is that I ended up using the same red Loctite on my inner-tie rod. Hopefully I never have to remove it haha


Ended up doing on a non-airbag car
To further add; since there is much less info on the Z3 rack:

I HAD to buy spacers to be safe; using AKG's knuckle spacers ensure that you can use the knuckle lining notch on the rack spline to insert the locking-bolt. If you want to grind down your bolt, you don't have to buy the spacers. I am getting binding, so I suggest grinding down an rounding off the squared off U-joint parts; what I will be planning on doing once my car is back on the lift.

BOTH e30 power steering hose fit easy; all I had to do was give it a 45* bend in the HP line so that it was a perfect 90* so it would actually mount. Once I mounted it, I again bent it up, out of the way of the knuckle. The second e30 hose fit fine. Both hoses fit snuggly over the engine mount, like it does with the e30 rack, not in front of it

Ended up using e36 (actually z3, but they are essentially the same) tie rods. Fit the struts no problem

I mounted my spacers above the rack, but I am hearing people mounting them below to combat bump steer; I will be swapping them shortly after my little bugs are troubleshooted

[RobertK]

I've not install a Z3 1.9l rack yet but I would at least use a little blue locktite.