Z3/e36 rack info I am working on....

[JeffRR]

Thanks for the tips, How did you attack the column mounting bolts. Did you grid flats or use a chisel?

[JasonH]

Thanks for the tips, How did you attack the column mounting bolts. Did you grid flats or use a chisel?

I tried D) All of the above. In total, I removed six of them, so I tried some different methods to see what would work the best. I used a chisel, drilled a couple out, slotted one, and squared some off (I assume we are talking about the same thing when you said "grid flats"). By far the easiest method was to grind down two sides (dremel worked fine) so you have enough surface area and then grab it with locking pliers. With a little umph it will pop and start turning.

[Bryson]

Jason pretty much covered everything.
If I were to do it again (which I have to when I swap it to another car) I would completely eliminate the guibo, it's accounting for almost all of the minimal slop that I have and with it removed, the two u-joints can be bolted directly together without spacers. This allows you to mount the steering rack higher to reduce bump steer, makes steering feel better, and will possibly line the pinch bolt up with the groove on the steering rack.
All in all, zoinsville is a bunch of crap. I feel I'm entitled to my claim after performing both 24v swaps and a steering rack swap without their "necessary" custom parts

the steering feel is greatly improved, and compliments the lowered column and smaller diameter steering wheel very well

[JasonH]

All in all, zoinsville is a bunch of crap. I feel I'm entitled to my claim after performing both 24v swaps and a steering rack swap without their "necessary" custom parts

In Zionsville defense, their parts are prettier than ours. ;)

[vr4boy]

e36 rack (some info that may help on this "old" thread)

i installed an e36 steering rack last weekend on my 92ic mtech pkg with an airbag and it was a direct bolt on-no need to modify the original coupler,i did use spacers on the subframe to rack but ,never modified the steering link,all i did was loosened the big nut on the bottom of the steering column(airbag car),pulled the splined shaft towards the rack and it mated straight up.

[vr4boy]

e36 rack (some info that may help on this "old" thread)

i installed an e36 steering rack last weekend on my 92ic mtech pkg with an airbag and it was a direct bolt on-no need to modify the original coupler,i did use spacers on the subframe to rack but ,never modified the steering link,all i did was loosened the big nut on the bottom of the steering column(airbag car),pulled the splined shaft towards the rack and it mated straight up.

[george graves]

What are you all using as a spacer for the subframe-rack bolts?

What are you guys using to shorten the shaft? Like zinoville? Looks like they used some pipe and bolts???

[doug]

Are there any huge differences between the z3 rack, m3 rack, and the standard e36 rack? My stock one went, so i needed a replacement. I bought a standard e36 rack and installed it in my 91 srs-equipped. It went in fine, i used some SS collars i bought at the hardware store for spacers... (no pics no, not yet anyways)..they just happened to fit perfectly. I didn't have any problem as far as the steering column was concerned. however, the rubber boot that seals the off the car from the engine column popped out when i was trying to get the shaft to go through it, and it was 11:30pm, and i was doing outside in the winter, so i said "ill fix that later" and never did. but!...the steering rack works really nice, and i didn't have to buy any of those parts, like the spacer or anything. although, maybe the m3/z3 racks are different.

I am parting out my e30, so ill take pics of the rig when i get it out of there.