How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[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.

[dsphil]

I'm in the process of doing the z3 rack swap. I got a hold of the oe bmw z3 rack, part #1 092 031. not the zf. I notice that this z3 rack doesn't have the notch for the locking plate for the tie rod assembly. Is this suppose to be torqued down or use some other locking plates that I am not aware of?

[FLG]

Hmm not doubting the shop but is it possible they simply were lazy and didn't Wana keep playing with it? It took us just a bit to dial it in perfectly.

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[mccor023]

New outer tie rods?

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New inner/ outer. Rebuilt maval, new m3 offset cabs, new st sway w new end links. I could go on, but.

[FLG]

Thats what I asked for, and shop said they couldnt get it any closer.

New outer tie rods?

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[mccor023]

I just had my bud zero the toe.

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Thats what I asked for, and shop said they couldnt get it any closer.

[FLG]

I just had my bud zero the toe.

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[Northern]

Should have whatever toe it was aligned to?

[mccor023]

Just curious to see what toe others have gotten post swap and alignment.

After mine yesterday I am at LF-.14; RF-.15 for total toe .29

I'm still trying to figure out the math behind my rear toe getting worse from .11 (b/f) and now .14 total toe.

[KVF]

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

[e30fromroyalston]

trying to get set up for a swap. Went to bma.com to try and find the spacers you got and it said they were unavailable. I guess i can just make something up but it would be cool to have them in hand especially at the price you got them for. I plan on using my e30 inner and outer tie rods on the e36 rack as they are in better shape. Great thread by the way!

[FLG]

The knuckle needs to be in the right spot for the bolts to be able to pass thru to tighten the half's in the splines.

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[KVF]

What would be the negative to having the knuckle to far down on the rack spline?

So long as the spline isn't hitting the u-joint, nothing. Some people use that method to avoid having to space the knuckle. My only caution to you would be to leave the knuckle ends loose, until you fully torque the knuckle halves together.

[mccor023]

It sure looks like you slide the lower knuckle too far onto the spline... There is a little groove that you should line up with the bolt hole. Did you push it on past the groove to the point of going past the splines on the shaft??

There is no such groove up top, but be sure you didn't slide up so far that the firewall and upper knuckle ever come in contact.

What would be the negative to having the knuckle to far down on the rack spline?