Steering rack swap for airbag cars...

[RobertK]

Too much angle on the universal joint.

You will not hacking the firewall. There is a removable plate from what I understand. You have to remove that plate and fab a new one.

[e304me]

just do the z3 rack. the firewall needs to be moved down and to the right. you need to make a new plate to hold the grommet too but its no biggie. i might be albe to find my template i'd sell you for a few bucks. it needs to be moved cause the input shaft on th erack is in a different location then the e30 racks

[Brew]

Alright, thanks for your help guys.

e304me, could you shoot me a PM if you come across that template?

[Bimmerfanatik]

Got another question - friend's in the middle of the swap.

Lock plates for the tie rods - seems there's no place on the z3 rack for the tab to bend into. Do you use the stock e30 locking plates and notch the z3 rack for them, or just use red locktite and tighten them up?

[rwh11385]

What about a 7/89 car like my "90"... I don't think it came with an airbag so even if it is a "90", it is non-airbag, right?

quicker steering would help get to full-lock faster...

thks

[RobertK]

Got another question - friend's in the middle of the swap.

Lock plates for the tie rods - seems there's no place on the z3 rack for the tab to bend into. Do you use the stock e30 locking plates and notch the z3 rack for them, or just use red locktite and tighten them up?

Red loctite should do the trick just make sure you get them on tight.

What about a 7/89 car like my "90"... I don't think it came with an airbag so even if it is a "90", it is non-airbag, right?

If it did not come with an airbag originally then it should not have a modified steering column.

quicker steering would help get to full-lock faster...

Yep, that's the whole idea behind this kind of swap.

[BimmerToad]

Too much angle on the universal joint.

You will not hacking the firewall. There is a removable plate from what I understand. You have to remove that plate and fab a new one.

I'm in the middle of the swap as we speak, and while you don't have to grind away at the firewall, the column barely touches it, so I've ground some clearance on both the firewall, and what's left of the plate.

[Brew]

Ok, just finished mine tonight.
I used a '95 M3 rack, e30 inner + outer tie rods, and the e30 power steering lines.

The coupler/universal joing does not need to be modified, however I did have to remove the plate on the firewall and grind maybe a 1/4" inch of material away from the bottom right hand corner where the column passes through (when looking at it from the driver's seat).

All in all, I'm very happy with the outcome- the steering feels great, especially with a totally new front end- tie rods, control arms, M3 CABs, koni's and GC springs.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Ok, just finished mine tonight.
I used a '95 M3 rack, e30 inner + outer tie rods, and the e30 power steering lines.

The coupler/universal joing does not need to be modified, however I did have to remove the plate on the firewall and grind maybe a 1/4" inch of material away from the bottom right hand corner where the column passes through (when looking at it from the driver's seat).

All in all, I'm very happy with the outcome- the steering feels great, especially with a totally new front end- tie rods, control arms, M3 CABs, koni's and GC springs.

So...lock plates? :)

[Brew]

E36 lock plates, put them in last night.

[e304me]

did you make a new plate to hold the rubber seal on the firewall?

[Brew]

Haven't actually done that yet, but it should be fairly simple.

[M42Technik]

Bumping this since my steering rack is busted.

So with the '95 M3 steering rack, all you really have to do is modify the firewall plate a bit?

[BimmerToad]

Brew: Did you have to shorten the steering rack spline in order to fit it onto the steering coupler? I had to on mine, since the full length of the rack spline was almost binding with the u-joint at the coupler.

I put the original rubber grommet back on the firewall, but now it occassionally squeaks from the column rubbing up against the grommet

[Brew]

I didn't mess with the steering rack spline at all. I did "clearance" the u-joint before I installed everything, but when I bolted the everything up it turned out I didn't have to. The only modifications I made were to the firewall.