Need some help here, I am swapping an E46 rack into an E30. I am using E36 inner and outer tie-rods as well as E36 rubber boots. However, I am running against a problem with air pressure in the boots.
On the E30/E36 racks, there is an air hose that connects the two sides of the rack. There are two holes drilled into the rack (on either side) and a small plastic air fitting in each connected with a hose. So, if you are still following, as you turn the rack and compress one of the rubber boots, the air is pushed to the other boot which is expanding. Everything stays balanced, everyone is happy.
Now the E46 rack: it does not have this feature, it does have two screw holes where the air fitting are supposed to go, but the holes are not drilled through, as if it was provisioned for in the rack body for other models, but left unused. As a result, when i clamp on my boots (which seal pretty darn well), if i move the rack, the boots compress or expand as the air pressure changes and to the point that the boots blow off or just move in really awkward ways.
What's going on here? how does the E46 rack equalize the pressure? Are the boots just looser and let air in/out? Is there a slot in the inner tie-rod boot holder to allow air to pass? Something else i'm missing?
Unfortunately, I got my E46 rack short, so I can't see how it is originally. If someone can help me out, would be great!
On the E30/E36 racks, there is an air hose that connects the two sides of the rack. There are two holes drilled into the rack (on either side) and a small plastic air fitting in each connected with a hose. So, if you are still following, as you turn the rack and compress one of the rubber boots, the air is pushed to the other boot which is expanding. Everything stays balanced, everyone is happy.
Now the E46 rack: it does not have this feature, it does have two screw holes where the air fitting are supposed to go, but the holes are not drilled through, as if it was provisioned for in the rack body for other models, but left unused. As a result, when i clamp on my boots (which seal pretty darn well), if i move the rack, the boots compress or expand as the air pressure changes and to the point that the boots blow off or just move in really awkward ways.
What's going on here? how does the E46 rack equalize the pressure? Are the boots just looser and let air in/out? Is there a slot in the inner tie-rod boot holder to allow air to pass? Something else i'm missing?
Unfortunately, I got my E46 rack short, so I can't see how it is originally. If someone can help me out, would be great!