E46 rack swap - is shortening the knuckle required?

[MC Hammered]

Right now my shop is installing an e46 ZHP rack. The steering knuckle was left bolted onto the steering shaft and we tried to bolt the unmodified knuckle onto the pinion and it fits as the locking bolt slides in. I got in the car and rotated the steering wheel and felt the bind as shown in the pictures.

Modifying the knuckle to shorten it wouldn't change the way the knuckle sits now correct?

[dunebuggyjay]

Did you ever get this figured out? I am about to order a E46 rack for my s52 vert project, and would love to know what you did to fit the rack in the E30.

Thanks!
Jay

[the imitator]

I believe you need to use spacers in order to utilize an e46 rack on an e30.

Did you ever get this figured out? I am about to order a E46 rack for my s52 vert project, and would love to know what you did to fit the rack in the E30.

Thanks!
Jay

[MC Hammered]

High pressure line was flipped 180deg and reused, the PS fluid reservoir and low pressure lines were replaced with new parts.

The rack spacers were required and placed on top of the rack.

The top U of the steering knuckle needed to ground to get rid of the binding. Otherwise no other modification of the knuckle was performed.

If you want the steering knuckle spacers and poly guibo I have the parts I did not use for sale.

[boy412]

Very interesting. Thanks for documenting that!

[djmossm42]

I am about to do this swap and beyond fitment its not well documented about what actually needs to be modified with regard to an e46 rack in an airbag equipped car which I'm guessing you have since the steering shaft is already shorter than non-airbag cars and you didn't have to modify it.

If you could confirm/correct some info that I'm not 100% clear on that would be great.

1. Spacers on top of the rack.
Confirmed

2. E36 tie rod ends with E46 inners to maintain venting.
?

3. Rotate high pressure line (no bending).
Confirmed

4. Low pressure hose is direct fit.
Confirmed

5. Steering shaft may need to be shortened on non-airbag cars only.
?

6. Firewall opening needs to be opened up to prevent binding.
?

7. U-joint needs to be ground to prevent bind.
Confirmed

8. Are both the firewall modification and u-joint modification required or either.
?

I see this was posted over a year ago, how do you like it?

Thanks,
Bryon

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[MC Hammered]

I am about to do this swap and beyond fitment its not well documented about what actually needs to be modified with regard to an e46 rack in an airbag equipped car which I'm guessing you have since the steering shaft is already shorter than non-airbag cars and you didn't have to modify it.

I have a non airbag car as my convertible is 1989.

If you could confirm/correct some info that I'm not 100% clear on that would be great.

1. Spacers on top of the rack.
Confirmed

2. E36 tie rod ends with E46 inners to maintain venting.
?

I ordered my e46 rack with e30 inner tie rods installed

3. Rotate high pressure line (no bending).
Confirmed

4. Low pressure hose is direct fit.
Confirmed

5. Steering shaft may need to be shortened on non-airbag cars only.
?

Did not do this

6. Firewall opening needs to be opened up to prevent binding.
?

Did not do this

7. U-joint needs to be ground to prevent bind.
Confirmed

8. Are both the firewall modification and u-joint modification required or either.
?

I see this was posted over a year ago, how do you like it?

The car handles like a go kart and I want to replace the e36 rack in my touring with an e46 rack as I like how it feels much better.

[djmossm42]

I have a non airbag car as my convertible is 1989.

Thanks for the reply that is very helpful, but now I wonder if I need to modify the steering shaft since I have an airbag.

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[djmossm42]

So my car is in the shop and after some more research and back and forth with them, the E46 M3 rack seems to be working out. So the firewall definitely needs to be modified if you have an airbag. Some grinding of the U-joint may also be necessary to prevent binding. From my research this also applies to E36 racks in E30s w/airbag.

To MC Hammerhead, I believe the reason you didn't need to shorten the knuckle is because the 330 rack has a shorter pinion than the standard/M3 racks.


The best resources I found:


See post by Kim Burgess, and following response by Greg

https://www.bmwpugetsound.com/vbb/threads/e30-to-z3-steering-rack-conversion.48064/

Write up on modifying firewall for Airbag cars good pics

http://www.rmeuropean.com/bmw-e30-steering.aspx

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?p=461155

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=269395

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