Steering rack swap

[ElJimo]

Just bought my first E30, has a steady PS leak coming from the boot on the steering rack. I figured now is a good a time as any to replace it.
Would you guys trust this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-325-Stee...sories&vxp=mtr
Should i just go to a pick-a-part and find one myself?
should i just buy a new one?
Opinions/help is appreciated.

[jeffnhiscars]

You can get a reman from someone like rackdoctor.net for $129 (+core & shipping) and a used one from a junkyard for about $50 (I pad $55 for my last one). Since thats all you get from BAR, why pay that much for a "used one" when all they do is check the boots for leaks, which is exactly what you will do if you pull one yourself.

..and "as long as you are in there" get an e36 rack. You will be amazed at the difference

[ElJimo]

You can get a reman from someone like rackdoctor.net for $129 (+core & shipping) and a used one from a junkyard for about $50 (I pad $55 for my last one). Since thats all you get from BAR, why pay that much for a "used one" when all they do is check the boots for leaks, which is exactly what you will do if you pull one yourself.

..and "as long as you are in there" get an e36 rack. You will be amazed at the difference

Yeah, i meant i was going to switch it out for an e36, i wasn't very clear sorry. When i do the swap should i replace my tie rods as well? or do i not have to?
Thanks for the help

Edit: nevermind, it says it comes with new ones.

[jeffnhiscars]

Edit: nevermind, it says it comes with new ones.

If you mean from rackdr it only comes with inners which presumably will be e36 if thats the rack you order (which is fine). You cannot mix and match inners and outers between e30 & e36 so you will need to get new e36 outers to match. Keep in mind that e36 outers are left and right.

Double check on the core charge as they are not likely to give you a full refund if you buy an e36 and return an e30.

You know about the mods to either the knuckle or firewall (depending on airbag or not), right ?

[ElJimo]

If you mean from rackdr it only comes with inners which presumably will be e36 if thats the rack you order (which is fine). You cannot mix and match inners and outers between e30 & e36 so you will need to get new e36 outers to match. Keep in mind that e36 outers are left and right.

Double check on the core charge as they are not likely to give you a full refund if you buy an e36 and return an e30.

You know about the mods to either the knuckle or firewall (depending on airbag or not), right ?

Alright, i WILL need the outer Control arms then. Thank you for clearing that up. I'll have to give rackdr a call about the core return, hopefully they'll give me the full return, but we'll see. I didn't even think about that.

I know that they're a little different. If i've researched right, for an airbag car you only have to modify the firewall to move the column over and not the knuckle? Or do you have to modify the knuckle as well? (I have an airbag car)

[jeffnhiscars]

Alright, i WILL need the outer Control arms then. Thank you for clearing that up. I'll have to give rackdr a call about the core return, hopefully they'll give me the full return, but we'll see. I didn't even think about that.

I know that they're a little different. If i've researched right, for an airbag car you only have to modify the firewall to move the column over and not the knuckle? Or do you have to modify the knuckle as well? (I have an airbag car)

You are correct about only having to modify the firewall in an airbag car. Im sure you meant outer tie rods not control arms, but if your budget allows, I would highly encourage you to do the control arms, control arm bushings (using M3 offsets), sway bar links & sway bar bushings. I just did this on 2 cars and the transition is night and day.

FWIW rackdr responds well to email and if you figure the likely reduced core refund plus return freight you may be better off just paying the core charge and being done with it

NOTE..you would not be the 1st noob to have your knuckles bind on to the splines and spend hours learning to cuss in 11 different languages. Spray them well in advance with something like PB Blaster and be sure to completely remove the bolt from the lower knuckle as it locks in to a groove on the rack. Then try very hard to keep the splines square to the rack and column as you nudge them off. They bind easily..you've been forewarned :-)

[ElJimo]

You are correct about only having to modify the firewall in an airbag car. Im sure you meant outer tie rods not control arms, but if your budget allows, I would highly encourage you to do the control arms, control arm bushings (using M3 offsets), sway bar links & sway bar bushings. I just did this on 2 cars and the transition is night and day.

FWIW rackdr responds well to email and if you figure the likely reduced core refund plus return freight you may be better off just paying the core charge and being done with it

NOTE..you would not be the 1st noob to have your knuckles bind on to the splines and spend hours learning to cuss in 11 different languages. Spray them well in advance with something like PB Blaster and be sure to completely remove the bolt from the lower knuckle as it locks in to a groove on the rack. Then try very hard to keep the splines square to the rack and column as you nudge them off. They bind easily..you've been forewarned :-)

First off, thank you for being extremely helpful. and yeah i meant tie rods haha, my bad. Although now i'm starting to get worried. Seeing what some other people did to the fire wall to make it fit, looks like it's more complex than i thought. If i didn't have an engine in the front of my car i could do it no sweat, but i don't have the "luxury" of an empty bay. Have you installed on an airbag car? What's your opinion on the difficulty of the modifications required?

[jeffnhiscars]

I haven't personally done the swap on an airbag car but others have, with the engine in place (even noobs) and I don't think its a big deal. You are removing maybe 1/2", with a dremel being the tool of choice. The good news is you dont have to mod the knuckle, so don't let this discourage you.