How To Guide - E36 Steering Rack Swap

[arabalarca]

Absolutely solid write-up 👌
This is hands-down one of the most detailed and real-world E30 → E36 / Z3 steering rack swap guides out there. The step-by-step approach, honest notes about what works (and what doesn’t), and the long-term reflections really show genuine hands-on experience—not just theory.

The emphasis on fresh seals, new hardware, and a new power steering reservoir (acting as the system filter) is especially important and often overlooked. The steering knuckle modification, hose routing, and binding checks are explained in a way that can save people from serious mistakes and safety issues.

Guides like this are invaluable for anyone building or maintaining a classic BMW, especially E30 owners looking for improved steering feel with proven OEM solutions.

For anyone interested in additional BMW technical guides, steering systems, OBD diagnostics, and automotive how-to content, this site also has useful resources:
👉

Thanks for keeping this thread alive and updated over the years—this is the kind of content that continues to help the BMW community long after it’s posted. 💪🚗

[chomowitz]

I can't find the photos for the step by step DIY procedure. Can you tell me where they are?
Thank you

[efficient]

Found my problem. When I rebuilt the pump, I took out the drain plug from the ps pump and messed it up. So I plugged it with a bolt and used jb weld to make sure it didn't leak. I happened to block a passage with the new bolt. The original drain plug for the ps pump doesn't stick out as much. Now that I got a new back half, I installed it and everything works. Feels weird to have powersteering after so long

[efficient]

Well I've added fluid then put the power steering delete on. So it had some. I just find it weird that the fluid doesnt move when in the reservoir when it's on.

[Panici]

I've bought a reman regular e36 rack from the rack doctor years ago and been running it with no power steering until like 2 weeks ago.

You ran a power steering rack for years with no fluid inside? Usually the guys who delete PS but keep the PS rack loop the lines.
I'm not an expert but I thought the PS fluid was used to lubricate the rack internals and seals.

It's possibly running it dry has damaged the rack internally, but let us wait for someone more familiar with the system to chime in.

[efficient]

Going to bump this as I recently added powersteering to my e30 since I've owned it.

I've bought a reman regular e36 rack from the rack doctor years ago and been running it with no power steering until like 2 weeks ago.

I've added fluid , let it sit without it turning on the car because I ran out of time.

So I came back a week later and turned on the car and turned the wheel with the front raised.

I turned the wheel from lock to lock with the car off and some bubbles came out then I turned on the car and I looked in the reservoir and don't see the fluid moving with the car on.

Is it supposed to be making bubbles with the car on?

And also I don't feel the wheel turn easily like if it has powersteering.

I don't know how a e30 with powersteering feels but the wheel doesn't turn easily.

I'm not too sure if my style 5 wheels affect how easily the wheel turns.

Any input?

[Eurospec]

Super helpful thread.

I'm prepping for a e36 rack swap and having trouble finding details on the hardware required to replace the steering shaft flex joint. Prefer to stick to stock and not upgrade to delrin/ PU/ or Al. Those aftermarket kits come with the required hardware.

[corvettemaniak]

I do not see a picture'

[agisthos]

I plan to do the E36 rack conversion for a pre facelift RHD.

Is there anything unusual about doing this for RHD that I would need to know?
Apart from spacers, and bending the power steering pipes?

Sikky make a custom steering shaft for this conversion (LHD, LHD airbag, and RHD versions available).

https://www.sikky.com/product/bmw-e30-e36-rhd-steering-shaft-assembly/

[Jokester]

Which rack? yellow label?

Purple

[TeXJ]

Which rack? yellow label?

[Jokester]

I have an unused rack doctor e46 rack for sale if anyone is interested. It’s brand new.

[the_eskimo_wonder]

I have a Rack Doctor E46 yellow tag in my car and it's fantastic. Seriously, 10/10. Quality of the rebuild is top notch as well. Not a drip

[bellerto]

Weird, on my e36 rack there’s an o-ring in there, it’s not a flare. Check if it’s stuck inside.

I have a rack from rack doctor and it was leaking from one of those fittings as soon as I got it, so I’m not confident they are as good as people make them out to be.

This does have an o-ring in there as well just not shown in the picture. So the fitting goes through the o-ring and the flare sits on top of the ring.

I figure I would just cut the line sorter and re-flare it but then I was surprised with this. I believe this type of flare is called "GM fuel line" flare. It couldn't be something easy to deal with like double or bubble, of course.

[TeXJ]

e46 yellow tag is where it's at.