Steering rack and control arm questions

[BMWJEEP]

1991 318is 113k miles. One of my lower control arm bushings is blown out. Should I replace them with stock parts or is there something I should upgrade them with???

Second, my steering rack has play along with some resistance during steering. My bmw mechanic said I need a new steering rack. The mechanic questioned if the odometer was correct because he said that it's very unusual for one to go bad with such low miles on it. What would have caused my steering rack to begin failing so early in it's life?

Is there anything I should upgrade the steering rack with? Or is stock/reman my best option?

Anything I should change out or replace while I'm having this done?

[Garageaholic]

you could get offset CA bushings... they provide better stability at high speeds.... kind of like guiding ur wheels to the straight forward position... think of it like a shopping cart wheel... a little offset..
i'm doin that

[BMWJEEP]

you could get offset CA bushings... they provide better stability at high speeds.... kind of like guiding ur wheels to the straight forward position... think of it like a shopping cart wheel... a little offset..
i'm doin that

Where do you get them? Any difference driving in the city?

[BahnE30]

use oem E30 M3 Control Arm Bushings, those are the "offset" ones he is talking about

[BMWJEEP]

I read that you can swap a steering rack into an e30 from a Z3. Is this true? Would it be a worthwhile mod for me to do? How different would the car drive? I want to get an Mtech II steering wheel. Would the Z3 box interfere with this wheel?

Any other suspension mods I should do while we're in there?

[erik325i]

Yes, you can swap in the Z3 rack. You can also swap in an e30 m3 or an e36 m3 rack. The Z3 has the quickest steering ratio though, which makes it most desireable.

It is not too hard to do on a car that did not come with an airbag. It is possible if you have an airbag, but it requires more work.

To put an e36 or z3 rack in a non airbag car, you need to modify your steeirng linkage, and use a modified e36 high pressure PS hose. I'm not going to go farther into this topic as there are already threads written about this swap.
Do a search, and you will see.

-Erik

[PeaveyBassist]

Whats so different between the airbag/non-airbag column?

Will

[Garageaholic]

Whats so different between the airbag/non-airbag column?

Will

All of you, there is a huge writeup about it... for the n00bie, just do a search. It's all right there.....