E36 racks: let's settle it once and for all.

[hurttech]

So my question is unlike any of yours.

My problem with my 95 M3 rack is that it hangs too low. It started out a good 1/2"-3/4" lower than the subframe, but now I've scraped all of that off and have worn through into the actual worm screw. So I'm getting a new rack and I need one that sits as high as the stock e30 rack but still has a quicker ratio. Does anyone have a comparison of all the possible racks? I really don't want to have to swap back to a stock rack.

Pic for reference. This is the part I'm talking about.

I had a 96 m3 rack in my previous E30 and it wasnt the best fit, much like yours. On my current E30 I have a Z3 rack and it fits much better, ill see if I can snap a picture for you.

[E30SPDFRK]

Meh it's not that bad lol. I know I never had this problem before with the stock rack and I haven't hear of any other slammed guys complaining about it so there must be a difference between those at least.


Edit: Found a pic from when I was still M42, look how high up the stock rack was

[dude8383]

So my question is unlike any of yours.

My problem with my 95 M3 rack is that it hangs too low. It started out a good 1/2"-3/4" lower than the subframe, but now I've scraped all of that off and have worn through into the actual worm screw. So I'm getting a new rack and I need one that sits as high as the stock e30 rack but still has a quicker ratio. Does anyone have a comparison of all the possible racks? I really don't want to have to swap back to a stock rack.

Pic for reference. This is the part I'm talking about.

I don't know if there's any difference between the racks size wise but holy fuck you have balls riding that low.

[E30SPDFRK]

So my question is unlike any of yours.

My problem with my 95 M3 rack is that it hangs too low. It started out a good 1/2"-3/4" lower than the subframe, but now I've scraped all of that off and have worn through into the actual worm screw. So I'm getting a new rack and I need one that sits as high as the stock e30 rack but still has a quicker ratio. Does anyone have a comparison of all the possible racks? I really don't want to have to swap back to a stock rack.

Pic for reference. This is the part I'm talking about.

[MoparJ]

Any takers? Or am I going to have to be the first to try this potential suicide?

I would like to know as well, since I've dumped the PS on my car and have no intention of ever hooking it back up. I've had several people tell me the Z3 rack is a tad twitchy, but I'm assuming that those people are running them with power steering....

[Holland]

Now I have a question. Who has a standard Z3 rack without power steering? How much is the overall turning radius effected compared to the standard E30 rack?

Any takers? Or am I going to have to be the first to try this potential suicide?

[BrooklynMW]

I think it just needs time to break in. The rack was completely rebuilt. If after a few weeks I still have a problem I'll have it looked at

[Hellabad]

Good to know. On my way back to my mechanic today anyway. I'll have him take a look

A bent rack will usually be tight going one way, and not the other , because usually only one side of the rack is bent if nobody notices.

If it is very tight in the center, make sure that nobody got crazy and overtightened the preload on the rack bushing.

[BrooklynMW]

Good to know. On my way back to my mechanic today anyway. I'll have him take a look

[Hellabad]

The wheel doesn't completely straighten out on it's own after a 90 degree turn, so you have to do it manually.

Something else is wrong. This would not be the fault of the rack, unless you have a bent one.

[BrooklynMW]

I just replalced my soon-to-fall-off-the-car stock e30 rack with one from a '98 M3. While I love the improved performance, it definitely takes some getting used to. The progressive steering is REAL tight in the middle. The wheel doesn't completely straighten out on it's own after a 90 degree turn, so you have to do it manually. Which is fine, but my brain hasn't let that new piece of information sink in quite yet, so I often NEARLY crash into parked cars.

[Holland]

Now I have a question. Who has a standard Z3 rack without power steering? How much is the overall turning radius effected compared to the standard E30 rack?

[frag]

thanks for the info Wh33lhop! just saw this now and i was about to buy a Z3 rack for myself, but i was second-guessing the call. this really helped me along with my decision!

[Roque]

Bump! Also interested to know pricing and where to get it.

I'm in need of a new steering rack, and definitely wanted to take this opportunity to upgrade. So what are some typical costs of different racks as compared to buying another oem e30 rack?

non-M Z3 rack = $???
96-99 M3 rack = $???
stock e30 rack = $???
non-M E36 rack = $???
95 M3 rack = $???

[flamesone]

I'm in need of a new steering rack, and definitely wanted to take this opportunity to upgrade. So what are some typical costs of different racks as compared to buying another oem e30 rack?

non-M Z3 rack = $???
96-99 M3 rack = $???
stock e30 rack = $???
non-M E36 rack = $???
95 M3 rack = $???