Originally posted by not_a_kiwi
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How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap
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Originally posted by ascendotuum View PostI went with the E46 zhp rack. I just bought new E30 tie rods about three months ago that I plan to reuse. That should work right?
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Originally posted by efficient View Posthttp://shop.rackdoctor.net/2001-BMW-...25667-330i.htm
Was thinking of getting this. Is this the e46 rack that everyone is getting?
You want this one: http://shop.rackdoctor.net/2002-2005...892-712ZHP.htm
My 1989 e30 s52 Touring... this is Betty
My 1989 325i vert (sold)...this is Nina
My 1991 M5 (sold)... this is Veronica
Photo comparison: OEM vs aftermarket windscreen for a convertible
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Originally posted by MC Hammered View PostNo. That is the non-ZHP rack.
You want this one: http://shop.rackdoctor.net/2002-2005...892-712ZHP.htm
Will this one be alright?
It's just a daily. But I want a little better turning
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Anybody have a part number for the 95 M3 rack? BMA told me theres more than one on their listOriginally posted by e30lovsweet a mk4 jetta, haven't seen one of them for about 14 seconds
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Originally posted by aerospace_welder View PostHello everyone I just pulled a rack from an e36 car at my local junkyard for $46 I am about to do this swap. But the e36 was a convertible 1/99 is this a different rack than a 98 e36?Si vis pacem, para bellum.
New Hawtness: 1995 540i/6 Claptrap
Defunct too: Cirrusblau m30 Project
Defunct (sold): Alta Vista
79 Bronco SHTF Build
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Originally posted by MC Hammered View PostNo. That is the non-ZHP rack.
You want this one: http://shop.rackdoctor.net/2002-2005...892-712ZHP.htm
Rich from rack doctor confirmed this. Both racks are 3.0 turns LTL.
Originally posted by TrentW View PostAre the E46 ZHP racks 3.2 lock-to-lock?
I personally don't think the ZHP rack is worth it. You're paying an extra $200 for a tiny difference in steering feel.
Especially if you are running no power steering, there will be no difference between the standard e46 rack and the ZHP rack
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Just to add some more noise to this ongoing and really valuable thread - Our stock rack seals are failing, so it's time to do the E36 swap now. Good reference here to counter the heresay about which rack is which…
I have a serious question about the collapsibility that was designed in to the stock steering linkage. I've posted some questions before in the steering section about our odd-looking hardware, which I've found was because of an earlier recall for safety. As the linkage shears off the rivets in a front end crash, these steel plates keep the ends of the shaft aligned so you still have some steering.
The newer (replacement?) linkage has those long studs on it, which I assume does the same thing - the pieces slide down those studs, but are still aligned so you can steer.
A guy WAY back in this thread mentioned trying to use plastic nuts or some solution on the linkage spacers so they'd shear off in an accident. I don't know the result of his experiment.
All the aftermarket linkage kits are pretty clear that they're "track only" pieces for liability reasons, and say you should be wearing a harness so you don't hit the wheel. For a street-only car, that doesn't seem like a decent solution. My kids will be driving this car.
In post # 865, a guy mentions it:
2) Safety Loss--The mod that everyone does takes away the column collapse safety feature. I am interested in the method shown in post #856. I didn't do this one, but wonder if it would be the safer route. Watch the column come at the dummies head in this video on the old chevy at 49 seconds. Sorry to be a Buzz Killington, but it is worth mentioning.
These guys have a telescoping center sleeve, but they say the same - track only.
chrisnxl185's solution of taking out the giubo and bolting the two halves together with a heavy washer leaves the shear hardware intact, but is a more rigid connection. Others have said that rubber giubo is just for noise isolation and not to worry about it.
I'd like to use the Dungeon spacer kit.
The later cars had a solid shaft with no collapsing hardware, but of course they have an airbag to break your fall.
So..any other ideas on leaving this safety feature intact while shortening the steering shaft?
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My question is this: How well do these cars crash anyway? If the crash is bad enough to send a steering column through the dash, what does the rest of the car look like?Si vis pacem, para bellum.
New Hawtness: 1995 540i/6 Claptrap
Defunct too: Cirrusblau m30 Project
Defunct (sold): Alta Vista
79 Bronco SHTF Build
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