How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[wworm]

Thanks for the info. Just to be clear, I already have a Z3 rack, but I'm trying to figure out if there's something wrong with it, or if it's just not what I expected it to be. Sometimes it seems lighter but with good response and feel (which is what I expected), but most of the time it feels heavier than I would expect for a power assisted rack - like something isn't right. It's pretty easy to turn on center, and then quickly becomes fairly heavy. Personally I think the transition between light and heavy makes it feel kind of sketchy. I've got 9 degrees of caster, so I'm thinking this has something to do with it. I don't find it sketchy at all on the highway, mostly it seems to want to go straight, but I have 1/8" toe in. I've considered that maybe my pump is bad and is giving inconsistent pressure/flow, but I'm not really sure about that.

Also worth mentioning, when I first got my car, stock save for M3 CABs, the steering was really light, and became somewhat heavy (with stock rack) when I lowered it.

I don't have another E30 to compare to, except my own with the stock rack. I'm debating swapping this one out for a 330i rack since they're pretty cheap, just to see what it does.

your caster and toe measurements seem pretty normal for a setup iwth offset CABs. My steering definitely got heavier when I swapped racks and also a bit when i lowered it (tiny amount..just felt like it loaded up better) the z3 rack definitely loads up quite a bit. Thats kind of the point. Extreme corners require more extreme steering input I guess. These cars certainly arent known for their light steering (except with the stock rack compared to swapped ones). If you don't like it then I'd swap it out. Keep the z3 rack in case you hate the 330i one.

[rturbo 930]

Thanks for the info. Just to be clear, I already have a Z3 rack, but I'm trying to figure out if there's something wrong with it, or if it's just not what I expected it to be. Sometimes it seems lighter but with good response and feel (which is what I expected), but most of the time it feels heavier than I would expect for a power assisted rack - like something isn't right. It's pretty easy to turn on center, and then quickly becomes fairly heavy. Personally I think the transition between light and heavy makes it feel kind of sketchy. I've got 9 degrees of caster, so I'm thinking this has something to do with it. I don't find it sketchy at all on the highway, mostly it seems to want to go straight, but I have 1/8" toe in. I've considered that maybe my pump is bad and is giving inconsistent pressure/flow, but I'm not really sure about that.

Also worth mentioning, when I first got my car, stock save for M3 CABs, the steering was really light, and became somewhat heavy (with stock rack) when I lowered it.

I don't have another E30 to compare to, except my own with the stock rack. I'm debating swapping this one out for a 330i rack since they're pretty cheap, just to see what it does.

[wworm]

So, for those of you who have Z3 racks, what's your steering feel like? Heavy? Light? Somewhere in the middle? How is it on center vs when turning?

Ive driven an e36m3 with a z3 rack and a 330mm wheel and its certainly far more responsive on center. I havent driven it past 80 for extended periods of time but the owner says it isnt too bad for highway driving. Its heavy for sure but not too bad in parking lots and stuff.

Compared to my e30 with an e36m3 rack and a 350mm wheel

[rturbo 930]

So, for those of you who have Z3 racks, what's your steering feel like? Heavy? Light? Somewhere in the middle? How is it on center vs when turning?

[redearedslider5]

are the photos from the first post available anywhere?

[redearedslider5]

thank you!

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I have a 1986 euro market 318i with no airbag left hand drive and an s50 swap. I've read through the first 35 pages and there's a few references to the euro steering knuckle being incompatible with the z3 rack, can anyone verify this?



If this is the case, can the knuckle in this kit be used?

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/bmw-e30-quick-ratio-steering-kit-st-3/

Thanks!

Euro knuckles are plug and play with the rack swap. Just space out the subframe.

[redearedslider5]

I have a 1986 euro market 318i with no airbag left hand drive and an s50 swap. I've read through the first 35 pages and there's a few references to the euro steering knuckle being incompatible with the z3 rack, can anyone verify this?

If this is the case, can the knuckle in this kit be used?

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/bmw-e30-quick-ratio-steering-kit-st-3/

Thanks!

[Powling]

FYI - Garagistic has 50% off their e30 steering rack spacer kits right now.

[piwko98]

For me? I had to do the rack on my 85...

Subframe Reinforcement
Steering Guibo (you'll have to do that anyway)
Motor Mounts
Control Arms
Sway Bars and bushings




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Goood call, thanks!


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[Haystack]

What else would you recommend to replace while doing this work? Control arms? Tie rods? Sway bars? Anything else?

For me? I had to do the rack on my 85...

Subframe Reinforcement
Steering Guibo (you'll have to do that anyway)
Motor Mounts
Control Arms
Sway Bars and bushings




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[piwko98]

Looking to do the swap on non air bag convertible. From what I have read on the different models z3 is the closest to a bolt on you can go with. I was thinking of grabbing the kit from garagistic, which should give me the bolts and spacers but it looks like I will also need the below:

7/16 Bolt 2 Inches Long - - xxxxxxxxxxxx - - - - -x2 - - -$???
Bolt M10x50 - - - - - - - - - 26111226737 - - - - x2 - - -$2.70
Self Locking Nuts - - - - - - 07129964672 - - - - x2 - - -$0.60
Copper Seals 14x20 - - - - -32411093596 - - - - -x4 - - -$0.68
Copper Seals 16x22 - - - - -32411093597 - - - - -x4 - - -$1.04
Self Locking Nuts - - - - - - 07129922716 - - - - -x4 - - $1.20
Power Steering Res. - - - - -32411097164 - - - - x1 - - -$19.50
High Pres. PS Hose - - - - - 32411141953 - - - - -x1 - - -$74.00
Spacer - - - - - - - - - - - -72118119268 - - - - -x1 - - -$2.05
Spacer - - - - - - - - - - - -72111847480 - - - - -x2 - - -$1.92
Nut - - - - - - - - - - - - - -72111977925 - - - - -x2 - - -$1.10
LP PS Return Hoses - - - - - xxxxxxxxxxx - - - - - x2 - - -$14.50
Bottle of ATF - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x1 - - -$2.50

Which part numbers does the kit eliminate (https://store.garagistic.com/bmw-per...n-z3-e36-e46)? What else would you recommend to replace while doing this work? Control arms? Tie rods? Sway bars? Anything else?

[Powling]

If thats how your stock one was then I would leave it like that, now I feel like checking mine...haha.

Now that I checked the steps on page one it looks like he installed the rack on the inner holes not the outer ones

[z28]

Assuming that I was suppose to use the inner mounting holes not the outer ones? To be honest, I just mounted it in the same holes the stock rack was installed on.

If thats how your stock one was then I would leave it like that, now I feel like checking mine...haha.

[jeffnhiscars]

Not sure about the m42 but i bought bulk hose to replace my LPs