How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[iwantspeed]

few questions:
the car in questions is a 1989 325I no airbag standard m20b25 motor
planning on installing a regular e36 96-99 steering rack.
I have started to modified a spare knuckle with extra clearance on the knuckle closest to the firewall, and I have drilled out the rivets and added a Ireland engineering poly guibo steering knuckle bushing.
currently trying to decide on what bolts and spacers to get to attach the lower part.


1)
My car is lowered on coilovers and i would like to know if its possible to place the steering rack spacers on the bottom
of the rack to assist in having less bump steer.
Is there enough room underneath the m20 oil pan to accomplish this?

2)
Should i place the rack on the inner holes or the outer holes on the subframe
3)
For an autocross/track/daily driver car what toe adjustments should i request at the alignment shop
4)
Is the stock e30 rack linear or progressive?

[mtlbloodshot]

Anyone know the torque spec for the M10X50 bolts that pass through the rack for the crossmember?

[R3Z3N]

^^^Should be. Call them, they are VERY knowledgeable, especially with BMW rack swaps, and as they state, they want you to call anyway as you will not be giving them the correct core.

Here's some great info from the owner of Rack Doctor

I just installed a Z3 rack (13.9:1 ratio, 2.7 lock to lock, linear) and while I feel it is a great upgrade, I think the torsion bar is quite different also compared to the standard E36 rack that I had in my E30. It is quite a bit stiffer, giving more road feel, but would IMO be tiring if doing endurace, or even sprint racing. Take what I have as coming from an "internet armchair engineer." I found this stuff on the interwebs, but can not as a matter of fact with my own measured specs say this is absolute truth here, because I myself have not disassembled the racks to confirm this info.


Here's more info on PS in general, and some great info on the torsion bars in power steering.

I know some others from even newer BMWs will swap in as well...but I don't remember what I have read about that. For example IIRC, the Z4MC rack is 12.x:1 ratio...but as many have said, Lock to lock and ratio don't tell the whole story of how it feels, because you are changing the mechanical advantage, maybe the rack is progressive, and the torsion bars may be different.

[DetailAddict]

would this be the one?

http://shop.rackdoctor.net/2002-2005-BMW-330i-330ci-ZHP-UNIT-Rack-And-Pinion-19495-25892-712ZHP.htm

The E46 rack to get is the 330 zhp rack. 13.7:1 ratio, 2.6 turns lock to lock, HOWEVER I have been unable to find if it is linear or progressive.

[lylefk]

How is this job (difficulty and time) if you're doing a straight swap for the e30 rebuilt from Maval, here: blunttech

Thanks!

[R3Z3N]

The E46 rack to get is the 330 zhp rack. 13.7:1 ratio, 2.6 turns lock to lock, HOWEVER I have been unable to find if it is linear or progressive.

[flying_violin]

Dang. Did this last weekend, and this would have been really helpful to see BEFORE I did the swap! Next time I'll use a screwdriver to open up the splines on the universal joint before trying to fit it on the rack. I just ended up hammering on it for an hour or so and it finally worked its way on. Got the old rack out by supporting the engine from above, and lowering the subframe out a bit.

[cormier]

Anyone using e46 racks now?

Yep! Easy peasy

[Dirtboy]

I did the same setup than chrisnxl185.

You think I can do the same with my steering knuckle?




How much does the steering knuckle have to be shortened?

[Todd Black 88]

Anyone using e46 racks now?

[Cabriolet]

LBV, you have an air bag car. the column can be shortened w/o cutting.

[Vivek]

Not sure if this was answered, but I have a feeling it wasn't since it's an odd question. The amount that you shorten the steering knuckle looks to be pretty similar to the thickness of the steering guibo. If I wanted to delete my steering guibo, could i just do that and bolt the two halves together, and not worry about spacers?

[blackhawkimpact]

97 Z3 2.8 auto has the 2.7 rack? Found one for cheaps.

[Broom Broom]

hi, im looking at buying a RHD Z3 1.9 steering rack

to put in my 325e e30

what i wanted to know is what sort of high pressure power steering hose i need to get (the one that goes from the pump to the rack)

will a z3 hose fit? or is an e36 or stock e30 hose better?

[AlphaE]

SEARCH! yes it has been asked. sorry to link to another lamer forum but this is a great PS rack thread

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1370008&highlight=steering+rack