How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[jeffnhiscars]

you can use either tie rod setup (e30 or e36) but the inners and outers have to match whichever ones you choose

this...plus the e36 tie rods are heftier and IME less money so its sort of a no brainer if you are buying new assemblies. Keep in mind the e36's have a left & right.

[smooth]

you use the same tie rods off the e30 rack for the e36 rack?

you can use either tie rod setup (e30 or e36) but the inners and outers have to match whichever ones you choose

[DooDanE30]

you use the same tie rods off the e30 rack for the e36 rack?

[millsamus]

yes. i use a pipe wrench to take them off (im weak and need leverage of a longer tool) and a 30/32mm bicycle combo wrench to put em back on.

crap and i already bought an adjustable crescent wrench for the job......figured that would be better then a pie wrench.

Thing i will try the vise grips again.....

Thx for replying

[davem]

Great write up! Question.... the inner-tie rod. To take it off are both sides taken off counter-clock wise motion? Meaning do both sides follow the righty tighty, lefty loosy rule?

yes. i use a pipe wrench to take them off (im weak and need leverage of a longer tool) and a 30/32mm bicycle combo wrench to put em back on.

[millsamus]

Great write up! Question.... the inner-tie rod. To take it off are both sides taken off counter-clock wise motion? Meaning do both sides follow the righty tighty, lefty loosy rule?

[TinyT]

Here you go! Spread the word!

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=261286

[gkurey]

I would also be interested in a GB

[VinniE30]

Hey guys, I have a slip steering shaft available.

Includes everything to replace your stock shaft and uses chromoly universal joints.

$310 shipped in the US

Are you absolutely sure this would work with an e36 or z3 steering rack in an e30?
Vorschlag offers what looks like the same thing here:

http://www.vorshlag.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_17_159&products_id=459

They have an option when you add to cart for either the e30 rack or e36 rack... implying that something would be different.
I was actually going to get theirs but then I was this post and yours is slightly cheaper. I want to buy yours now but want to be sure it will work without modification to the e36 rack or your product.
Would you consider offering a group buy for a discount? I bet a lot of people on here would get this if the price weren't so high.

[TinyT]

Hey guys, I have a slip steering shaft available.

Includes everything to replace your stock shaft and uses chromoly universal joints.

$310 shipped in the US

[36brua]

I'm about to do this. So the 95 m3 rack is the way to go??

there is soo much this is best that is best etc.
I installed a plain E36 rack and it is noticeably better. E36 tie rods.E30 hoses massaged
+ make sure you know your part #'s for the more scarce racks 95 M / Z3.
like others have said this is a great upgrade GL
info Ive collected...
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=172261 wh33lhop
Z3 non-M racks are all the same.
- LINEAR ratio (same rack travel per input turn across the entire rack length)
- 53.5 mm of linear rack travel per 1 360 degree rotation input.
- 144.5 mm of total rack travel (translates to 2.7 turns L2L)
- installed 13.9:1 ratio

Z3 M racks and '96+ E36 M3 racks are the same.
- PROGRESSIVE ratio (rack is slower on-center, quicker towards L&R rack locks)
- 45.5 mm of linear rack travel on-center per 1 360 degree rotation input.
- 145.6 mm of total rack travel(translates to 3.2 turns L2L)
- installed 15.6:1 mean ratio
- Same p/n rack as E36 non-M, but locks were modified to shorten gear travel from 154.7 to 145.6mm

'95 M3 racks are the slowest and shortest of all US-spec E36 racks, until 200 deg of rotation from on-center.
- PROGRESSIVE ratio
- 39.0 mm of linear rack travel on-center per 1 360 degree rotation input.
- 117mm of total rack travel (translates to 3.0 turns L2L)
- installed 17.6:1 mean ratio

And btw, regular z3 rack > z3M rack = regular e36 rack
So the regular z3 rack would be the best



OR

95M3 - uses 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
96+M3 - use 3.25 turns lock-to-lock
Non-M E36 - uses 3.5 turns lock-to-lock
Z3 1.9, 2.5, 2.8, 3.0 - use 2.7 turns lock-to-lock
MZ3 use - 3.25 turns lock-to-lock

the only one that does not share the same rack is the Z3/M version. they use the 96-99 M3 racks.
32131095575 is the same part # for all the z3's:

r3v

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=66247

e30tech
http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21391

[blackhawkimpact]

I'm about to do this. So the 95 m3 rack is the way to go??

[Djplatinum50]

Cool thanks

[jeffnhiscars]

Sorry for the resurrection, but im doing this swap myself now on my e30. My e36 has that "cooling loop" as well. Are we suppose to figure out a way to hook that up? Or just fun the low pressure line straight from the reservoir as described by the OP. I am using the e30 lines?
Thanks

Done this twice recently on non-airbag cars, both times using the e30 hoses and no cooling loop. Neither car has blown up..yet.

[Djplatinum50]

Does anyone know much about adjustment of the large bolt on the bottom of the rack (22mm) and the bolt under the cover (2 bolts)? I have some slop in the center of my rack as well as the steering feels too light. I run an s52 with an plain jane e36 rack so all e36 steering but using the e30 lines. Aside from rack adjustments, I'm wondering what could cause the light feeling...generally my steering feels over assisted.

Also, it has come to my attention that the e36 return hose has some sort of restrictor in it. I didn't use the e36 line as it has that crazy cooling loop in it and it doesn't fit. Maybe my woes are related to a non-restricted return line? Let me know what you all think...if anything!

Thanks guys...great thread BTW. Props OP!

Edit: Forgot to mention that I have a current alignment on good tires and all of that is in spec.

Sorry for the resurrection, but im doing this swap myself now on my e30. My e36 has that "cooling loop" as well. Are we suppose to figure out a way to hook that up? Or just fun the low pressure line straight from the reservoir as described by the OP. I am using the e30 lines?
Thanks