Mod Power Steering

[elemental]

http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=articles&report=view&ID=00002&Section=03

Cheep n Easy Manual steering or a bad idea? Seems good but mine leaks so I would have to have some kina resurvor to keep it filled. Is the rack under presure even if there were no pump assisting it>. havnt taken one apart yet.

[george graves]

My pump is cracked - s omy can't can't hold fluid well at all. Parallel parking is a bitch. I've worked up a nice sweat getting into a tight spot(wow - not sure that came out right)

But for me - e30 power racks have WAY too much assist - that much assiat is great on a caddy - bad on a small sports sedan.

Take off your belt and see if you like it.(that again came out weird)

George Graves

[Super Eta]

I've worked up a nice sweat getting into a tight spot(wow - not sure that came out right)

Take off your belt and see if you like it.(that again came out weird)

George Graves

something you want to tell us. ;)

[rs4pro3]

I pulled the pump on mhy 85 318i and it's fine, now on my 88 325is the pump died and it was very hard to drive in a parking lot of course turning 16 wheels with no power steering on a lowered car added to the effort.

[E30godz]

too much? i feel that it has less than any other powersteer'ed car ive ever driven.

[bimmerlover]

But for me - e30 power racks have WAY too much assist - that much assist is great on a caddy - bad on a small sports sedan.
Take off your belt and see if you like it.(that again came out weird)
George Graves

Yup. I agree.. it's too much. Perhaps it varies some from E30 to E30.. dunno.
My 318s powersteering is overkill though.

[Brew]

too much? i feel that it has less than any other powersteer'ed car ive ever driven.

I agree. I think as far as steering effort goes, e30's are pretty much spot on from the factory. Steering effort definitely does go up when you lower the car and slap on some 225's, though. :twisted:

Anyone who thinks e30 have too much power assist, drive a Jeep Wrangler. No wonder people roll those things all the time. :roll:

[MattM20]

is the power steering fluid also used to lubricate the steering rack without power assist? ive got my first track day comming up in a week and i'm worried that i wont be let on the track with a leaking steering rack, so i was considering draining the fluid and disabling the power assist. i'm not too worried about hurting my steering rack since i'm getting it replaced very shortly, i just dont want my steering rack gears to lock up on me at any time

[Matto]

After driving any other power stearing car its hard to tell that my e30 has it, a friend drove my car a while back and had to ask if it did or not.

[E30godz]

yea our Cherokee has crazy power assist, i almost fling the wheel to opposite lock while driving it after being in my car

[Charlie]

is the power steering fluid also used to lubricate the steering rack without power assist? ive got my first track day comming up in a week and i'm worried that i wont be let on the track with a leaking steering rack, so i was considering draining the fluid and disabling the power assist. i'm not too worried about hurting my steering rack since i'm getting it replaced very shortly, i just dont want my steering rack gears to lock up on me at any time

Haven't you had the car teched yet?

They'll tell you whether or not it would pass. Is it actually leaking, or just oozing out of older hoses? An actual leak (one that requires regular refills) would be an issue, the normal seeping and oozing of old hoses won't get you flagged usually, mine aren't in the best of shape, but I haven't been called on it yet. No big deal, I'm replacing them this summer anyway.

-Charlie

[Rob]

i agree, e30 power steering is some of the best I've driven. For a mainly track car, I'd ditch the PS for the power/weight savings. for a street/autocross car, I'm keeping it for the time being

[Beej '86 325es]

too much? i feel that it has less than any other powersteer'ed car ive ever driven.

I agree. I think as far as steering effort goes, e30's are pretty much spot on from the factory. Steering effort definitely does go up when you lower the car and slap on some 225's, though. :twisted:

Exactly. With my snow tires on bottlecaps, it's easy to steer. But with my 18's, or even my old 16's with stickier tires it requires a lot more effort.

I hate the steering in the E46, it's too easy and you can't feel the road nearly as well. I like how in the E30 a bump will pull the steering wheel a little. It gives a very connected to the road feel.

[M-technik-3]

Screw that dump the PS rack for a simple manual rack. Then you won't have any worries about it.

[Rob]

how much does the stock PS pump weigh.....anyone?