steering rack rebuild

[Bigdutch]

I am pretty much sold on a 90 325i, but the owner says it needs a steering rack, or for it to be rebuilt... I am looking through the diy's on this forum, but cant find anything.. has anyone out here rebuilt, or replaced their rack? any help would be appreciated.. i'm a bimmer noob here..

thanks.

[SpecM]

Rebuilding these ZF racks is kinda intensive, but not impossable by any means. The rebuild/reseal kit runs about $50-70

that being said, why does it need to be rebuilt? If its leaky, that's the most common problem by far...

[Bigdutch]

apparently its pissing fluid, so seals are gone? would'nt that need to be replaced, or rebuilt?

[yberther]

just replace it with an e36 one :)

[Bigdutch]

That's a direct swap is it?

[nando]

almost, but E36 racks are cheap and plentiful and there are kits out there to adapt the steering couplers. It's a pretty straight forward swap and definitely worth doing vs rebuilding an E30 rack.

also for the $50 kit you are really talking about a reseal. You aren't replacing worn parts or anything for $50.

[SpecM]

also for the $50 kit you are really talking about a reseal. You aren't replacing worn parts or anything for $50.

this is true. soem e30 racks have worn to the point that new seals wouldn't fix the leak

that being said, I have heard of VERY few real mechanical issues with these racks. There are very tough, they just leak a lot ;)

[Bigdutch]

cool.. thanks for in info guys...