bump steer correction for non-M3?

[Sh3rpak!ng]

I'd like to correct bump steer after swapping an e46 330 rack into my e30. I'v seen special tie rods for the e36/e46, spacers for the e30 m3, but so far with all the searching I haven't come up with anything for the regular old e30.

I tried putting the rack spacers under the rack, rather than above it to do a little correction but the hardlines from the rack hit the oil pan, so no-go.

Can I simply use the e36 bump-steer correction tie rods from akg/GC? DO I also need some sort of control arm correction/spacer too?


Actually I did find one kit from SLR but at ~$1200 thats way out of the question.

Thanks!

[acolella76]

How do your tie rods and control arms look? Parallel? Past parallel?

Yes you can use E36 bump steer kits. Though I haven't (yet) done it personally, the OEM tie rods are interchangeable so I can't think of any reason they wouldn't fit.

You probably don't *need* to correct your control arms, but if you're willing to spend the dough it wouldn't hurt. BimmerWorld sells E36 race control arms that should work for you, but would require welding a sleeve onto the spindle. The arms should bolt in but I'd call BW to see if offset CABs are needed.

If you do end up using roll center/bump steer spacers you will need 17" wheels

[Sh3rpak!ng]

How do your tie rods and control arms look? Parallel? Past parallel?

Yes you can use E36 bump steer kits. Though I haven't (yet) done it personally, the OEM tie rods are interchangeable so I can't think of any reason they wouldn't fit.

You probably don't *need* to correct your control arms, but if you're willing to spend the dough it wouldn't hurt. BimmerWorld sells E36 race control arms that should work for you, but would require welding a sleeve onto the spindle. The arms should bolt in but I'd call BW to see if offset CABs are needed.

If you do end up using roll center/bump steer spacers you will need 17" wheels

Actually I think the handling issues I was experiencing and assuming to be bump steer were due to the stock wimpy sway bars and dead end links. My steering was feeling very sloppy and kind of vague and on the highway going over bumps at speed would cause the car to veer to either side. The steerign just felt loose.

I installed 25mm front, 19mm rear bars plus adjustable endlinks and reinforcements and those problems are gone. Car feels VERY sharp and tight. It's almost like a different car. I couldn't believe the difference.

That said, my control arms really aren't that far from parallel. They have a slight angle, which as you said probably doesn't "need" correcting. I can still feel a tiny bit of bump steer, but not enough to warrant doing anything about it. I also have the offset FCABs.

So I guess case closed :D