How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[Todd Black 88]

Nevermind, realoem says e36 cars and z3 uses the same tierods.

Woot Woot!

[Todd Black 88]

anyone have any pics of how they routed the PSPump-to-Rack hose?

Sounds nice, but not an option for me. I have a perfectly good hose that will work when flipped 180*, based on what everyone has said, but I need a verification photo to show how it's routed/attached.

Anyone have a pic? Last piece of my puzzle, and cannot seem to find the right location for the stock e30 line routing and orientation.

[Jalves619]

Possibly a stupid question, but has anyone used an airbag steering knuckle in a non airbag car instead of modifying the non airbag knuckle?

[bmwcalvin]

Just a heads up, issue that I have been dealing with since I got my car back on the road. I went on vacation right after I completed the swap and only had a chance to drive it around the block before I left. I did an e46 p/s swap and used the outer tie rods from fcp on ebay. They said that they were meyle or equivalent. Hopped in the car for the first time today, I thought everything was fine but they had been grinding on the inside of my wheels for a couple of miles. Parts store had 1 meyle in stock, I put it on and it fixed the problem for the driver's side 2-3mm of clearance, just waiting on my passenger one to show up tomorrow...

[bmwcalvin]

Installed! Works great!!!

[julian_409]

So the fittings on the low pressure lines can be removed to replace the hose? Seems like mine are leaking a lil bit at the crimps on the line, and just want to make sure before I raise the car and start takin it apart again.

[DatUtahGuy]

Very good info on this thread, my rack is leaking like a mofo, seriously, it leaves a trail of ps fluid everytime I turn, lol

But as my car sits right now, I can only do one turn of my steering wheel before my tires hit my fenders, so I think I'll try to find the cheapest rack since 2.7 or 3.0 turns is irrelevant in my case :)

[Mullet Bullet]

question for the airbag owners. im about to do a regular E36 rack since my stock one is toast.

when you moved the steering shaft in the firewall did it change the angle of the steering wheel or is there a u-joint somewhere in the column as well?

[davem]

The PS hose from pump to rack on my car is leaking anyway and I'm going to do the e36 rack swap in the future... what hose should I order? e36 or e30?

[SoEm0]

I used a e30 one. Just flipped the sides from stock. Make sure you order new crush washers when you do it. I didn't and I have a leak, I have to take the lines back off at the rack and put new crush washers in.

[davem]

I used a e30 one. Just flipped the sides from stock. Make sure you order new crush washers when you do it. I didn't and I have a leak, I have to take the lines back off at the rack and put new crush washers in.

I see, I have an airbag car and that line looks different than an e30 or e36 one, it has a "swirly" bend at the rack.

[SoEm0]

Yeah not sure if there is a different one for airbag cars, mine doesn't have em. Just cross reference them on realoem

[chrisnxl185]

Shorten steering joint by removing steering guibo

i'm in the middle of swapping in a regular e36 rack and had a new idea of a way to shorten the steering joint.

Could you remove the steering guibo to shorten the joint. might need some small spacers in there to get the length just right. see pictures



Has anyone tried this before? This method retains the joint's ability to compress and removes any flexibility from the rubber part hence improving steering feel.

My only concerns are:
-can i shorten the joint enough?
-do the u-joints need to be offset 90 degrees from each other?

Any thoughts?

[ScHpAnKy]

Very good info on this thread, my rack is leaking like a mofo, seriously, it leaves a trail of ps fluid everytime I turn, lol

But as my car sits right now, I can only do one turn of my steering wheel before my tires hit my fenders, so I think I'll try to find the cheapest rack since 2.7 or 3.0 turns is irrelevant in my case :)

get the 2.7, the reason it's 2.7 instead of the M3 rack's 3.0 is because it's the same rack but with less wheel travel, not a quicker rack

[chrisnxl185]

Shorten the Joint by removing the guibo

You can shorten the joint by removing the steering guibo.
Reasons to shorten this way:
-Steering joint can still collapse
-removes slop due to do rubber coupler

Sorry i didn't take pictures of all the steps.

Hardware Required:
- 2x 3/8" x 1.25" grade 8 bolts
- 2x 3/8" grade 8 lock nuts
- 2x ~.1" thick washers

** Remember to trim the u-joints to avoid binding **

1. Grind off rivets and hammer out steering guibo
2. Remove the plastic tube/bushing thing from the center pin
3. Cut a 0.2 inch section of the bushing
3. Cut the center pin to ~1 inch
4. Drill out the holes with a 3/8 inch drill bit, you will have to open up one hole a little so you can slide the bolt in. I opened up the hole by first drilling through straight, then wiggling the drill side to side.
5. Slide the 0.2 inch bushing back on the center pin
6. Place the washer between the two sections and bolt it together.




Installed:


Post Test Drive:
Just took the bimmer out for a test ride. the e36 rack is noticeably quicker and makes "spirited" driving a lot more fun.

As for eliminating the rubber steering guibo, I felt no vibration through the wheel, even at highway speeds.

Summary great Mod!