How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[Powling]

I have the same pump you have since we both have m42s, and yes, that line was a pain in the ass to get aligned properly. But it looks like the you mounted the rack on the wrong holes on the cross-member.

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.

[z28]

Well I was able to get the PS line with the coil fitted last night after EXTENSIVE bending and persuading. I think the reason why I was having such trouble with this line is because my steering pump seems to be quite different when compared to the one from OP's original guideline.

And here is my steering pump with the hoses bent to fit.


My next challenge is getting the PS line that connects from the reservoir to the rack to fit. I tried bending it it as well but it got pinched in the vice by accident. It definitely isn't an easy one to bend.

I see that OP made their own line for this part (I think) but given that I need to bend the banjo in order to make it line up to the rack, is there any point in making my own or should I just order a new one? I can't even find any where to order just the banjo fitting as it is anyways.

I have the same pump you have since we both have m42s, and yes, that line was a pain in the ass to get aligned properly. But it looks like the you mounted the rack on the wrong holes on the cross-member.

[Powling]

Well I was able to get the PS line with the coil fitted last night after EXTENSIVE bending and persuading. I think the reason why I was having such trouble with this line is because my steering pump seems to be quite different when compared to the one from OP's original guideline.

OP's original image of the steering pump line hoses.


And here is my steering pump with the hoses bent to fit.


My next challenge is getting the PS line that connects from the reservoir to the rack to fit. I tried bending it it as well but it got pinched in the vice by accident. It definitely isn't an easy one to bend.

I see that OP made their own line for this part (I think) but given that I need to bend the banjo in order to make it line up to the rack, is there any point in making my own or should I just order a new one? I can't even find any where to order just the banjo fitting as it is anyways.

[Powling]

On my m42 I left the line with the coil alone, I only disconnected the power steering lines from the rack and connected them back to the new rack. I did not disconnect the lines from the pump or reservoir. Only thing I had to do was bend the banjo bolts a little bit on the rack side. It was a pain in the ass to get one of the banjo bolt back in because I couldn't get the alignment right, but I eventually got it all in without any problems.

Thats great, thanks for the info. I'll keep at it with the coil hose and see where the banjo needs to be bent and make it work.

[z28]

On my m42 I left the line with the coil alone, I only disconnected the power steering lines from the rack and connected them back to the new rack. I did not disconnect the lines from the pump or reservoir. Only thing I had to do was bend the banjo bolts a little bit on the rack side. It was a pain in the ass to get one of the banjo bolt back in because I couldn't get the alignment right, but I eventually got it all in without any problems.

[Haystack]

There's no "supposed to be run". It's almost however you can get it to fit. But with the coil, it may be your best bet to have that end on the pump side, then bend and shape the other end however you've got to do it to fit in the rack.





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[Powling]

Is the line you've got coiled? Mine wasn't. I flipped it and bent it. It comes off the rack, under the motor mount arm, behind the steering knuckle, back over the motor mount arm and into the pump. It's a nightmare. I'll end up getting the chase bays AN line next time I'm under and digging through the bay.


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I do have the coiled line. That is the one I am having troubles figuring out how its suppose to be run.

[Haystack]

Is the line you've got coiled? Mine wasn't. I flipped it and bent it. It comes off the rack, under the motor mount arm, behind the steering knuckle, back over the motor mount arm and into the pump. It's a nightmare. I'll end up getting the chase bays AN line next time I'm under and digging through the bay.


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[ThatOneEuroE30]

Can always delete powersteering. Thats what i have done for my 318 and even with bigger whees and tires and a smaller steering wheel. It still isn't that bad. Just no one handed driving in parking lots haha

[mtech325]

For the high pressure line, I believe I just used an m20 high pressure line and bent it to fit. Granted I was doing a 24v swap at the time, so perhaps the coiled line can work better with the m42 space confines.

[Powling]

I've run into another snag here...

...for an airbag car, I am reusing the e30 PS lines rather than getting the e36 resivour and his pressure PS line...but I can't figure out how the 'coiled' PS line is to be run? The line I am talking about is highlighted yellow in this diagram.

[Powling]

I removed the steering wheel column boot with some pliers and a screwdriver, I thought the boot was going to rip because it was stuck on there good, but it survived.

Good to know, thanks for the input.

I was worried pulling on it that it would tear. I'll give it another shot with more muscle.

[z28]

I removed the steering wheel column boot with some pliers and a screwdriver, I thought the boot was going to rip because it was stuck on there good, but it survived.

[Powling]

Sorry to resurrect this thread again - but how in the hell did everyone get the rubber boot off the steering shaft in order to dremel the firewall? I'm doing the swap with the car on jack stands and I can't get enough leverage / figure out a way to get the rubber boot off to expose the firewall.

Thoughts?

Bump - anyone?

[Powling]

Sorry to resurrect this thread again - but how in the hell did everyone get the rubber boot off the steering shaft in order to dremel the firewall? I'm doing the swap with the car on jack stands and I can't get enough leverage / figure out a way to get the rubber boot off to expose the firewall.

Thoughts?