Power steering noise after rack swap...

[ELVA164]

Hey all,

So I finished my E36 rack swap a few days ago and now that the rack has worn in a little bit it's growing on me. One thing that bothers me is ever since finishing the swap, the power steering pump emits a constant low whine. The fluid level is fine, the fittings and hoses are all new (save for the high pressure line), and the rack functions without and grabbing or grinding. The only thing I can think of that might be affecting it is that I used a crush washer on each side of the banjo fittings instead of just one. The pump made no noise at all before the swap, aside from when I first turned the car on.

Thanks for any input!

[bmwguy325is]

Maybe try run the car and work the wheel back and forth a few times. Maybe bleed it out.
Im not savy on the swaps but if i remember right the only real difference is the worm gear inside?
Maybe the crush washer are making a weird blockage?

[ELVA164]

Maybe try run the car and work the wheel back and forth a few times. Maybe bleed it out.
Im not savy on the swaps but if i remember right the only real difference is the worm gear inside?
Maybe the crush washer are making a weird blockage?

My first thought was air, but I bled the system when I first installed it and I've been driving the car for a few days now. The only thing I can think of is the crush washers not allowing the banjo fittings to completely line up?

[Swanny]

^Sounds about right. The added height of the extra washer is putting the opening to the bolt higher than it would normally slightly limiting flow.

Which e36 rack did you swap in? I'm thinking about the swap but deleting the power steering and using a delete block for recirculation purposes.

[ELVA164]

^Sounds about right. The added height of the extra washer is putting the opening to the bolt higher than it would normally slightly limiting flow.

Which e36 rack did you swap in? I'm thinking about the swap but deleting the power steering and using a delete block for recirculation purposes.

I'll have to look at that....sigh. Interesting that the opening is that sensitive to constriction.

My rack is stock E36, I think 92-95 325i but all the regular E36 ones are the same. It's plenty quick for the street but the u-joint makes it a bit twitchy on the highway. Definitely the quickest DD rack I would want to have; I have no idea how anyone DD's a Z3 rack.

[ELVA164]

So this is embarrassing...

Turns out the first mark on the cap isn't the cold fill, it's the "low" mark. Filled the system to the "full" mark and believe it or not, it's all quiet now. Heh.

[Swanny]

Haha, glad it was a simple solution!!