1.9 z3 rack swap- e30 or z3 outer tie rods?

[BadfishTX]

I am doing a 93 Cabrio vert w/ airbag 1.9 z3 rack swap today. Do I need to use the e30 outer tie rods or the z3 tie rods. Any benefit to either?

[willworkfore30s]

I used both inner and outer e30 tie rods. I essentially unbolted my e30 rack and bolted in the z3 rack. Never took the tie rods out of the spindles. Your steering knuckle should be a direct fit. All you really need to do is notch your firewall so the steering shaft doesn't rub or bind against it.

[karmatose]

I used E36 tie rods (inners/outers) because they look beefier. Either work but don't mix the two. If you are using E30 inners, use e30 outers, etc.

[Todd Black 88]

I used the stock z3 inners and outers. They fit fine.

[BadfishTX]

Hmm.. Well I should have done my research about this a little better. I bought the z3 rack from a junk yard. Had it rebuilt by a local place in Houston. When I got the rack back it had new boots and what looks like new inner tie rods. The gave be back the old tie rod z3 assemblies. I purchased full e36 tie rod assemblies to install on the rack. The look exactly the same as the z3 tie rods. I guess I am just going to install the old z3 outer's on the new inner's and be done with it. They do look beefier than the e30's.

[Todd Black 88]

The outer e36 will work on the z3 inners. They are the same

[joncrz]

Hmm.. Well I should have done my research about this a little better. I bought the z3 rack from a junk yard. Had it rebuilt by a local place in Houston. When I got the rack back it had new boots and what looks like new inner tie rods. The gave be back the old tie rod z3 assemblies. I purchased full e36 tie rod assemblies to install on the rack. The look exactly the same as the z3 tie rods. I guess I am just going to install the old z3 outer's on the new inner's and be done with it. They do look beefier than the e30's.

where did you get it rebuilt and how much?

[BadfishTX]

where did you get it rebuilt and how much?

Bought the rack from a junkyard for $120. Had it rebuilt by a company in Houston called A.S.A.P that I deal with frequently at the shop I work at. They replace all the seals, boots, and inner tie rods and put a 3 yr warranty on it for $175. A Maval rack from IMC is $$252.44 plus a $150 core at my shop cost. World-Pac is $261.10 and $250 for a core. My core is broken so I came out ahead this way.

[joncrz]

Nice, I feel ripped off now I bought a z3 rack for 150 at a yard. I should have waited for a better deal, but I did end up with all the hoses and reservoir. I am considering rebuilding it just so it lasts a long while.

[BadfishTX]

Nice, I feel ripped off now I bought a z3 rack for 150 at a yard. I should have waited for a better deal, but I did end up with all the hoses and reservoir. I am considering rebuilding it just so it lasts a long while.

The website I use for locating junkyard parts is www.car-part.com . It categorizes parts by type,distance, price, and grade. Check it out next time.

[joncrz]

Very Nice. I might hit some of them up. How did you know yours was busted? When I got mine I did the usual pull on the tie rods and move them around listening for pops.

[JinormusJ]

The website I use for locating junkyard parts is www.car-part.com . It categorizes parts by type,distance, price, and grade. Check it out next time.

I'm going to start utilizing this reference. It will become exceedingly useful when I start wanting to track down hard to find OEM upgrades

[Zreberlcoe]

What gain do you get out of a z3 swap?

[eduTechnic]

What gain do you get out of a z3 swap?

This gives a good explanation of that: Much tighter steering rack

[Zreberlcoe]

I guess this is a better question. For someone very inexperience, what is the benefit compared to the pain of doing the swap?