replacing seal on a steering rack

[der affe]

i am trying to find the replacemnt seal for the m3 rack i just bought. it is this guy here, not the black plastic cap, but the shaft seal there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/JoeUser11/steeringleak.jpg

bma doesn't offer a seal kit anymore, that i could find on their site.

has anyone here ever replaced that seal?
i removed the snap ring, but the seal seems to want to stay in there. do i need some kind of speacial seal puller or can i use the regular snap-on hook type?

has anyone found the seal or do i just go to a seal supply house and match it up?

[FredK]

I managed to get a seal kit for an E36 rack, which is nearly the same as an E30 rack. I did the rebuild a long, long time ago, so I don't quite remember how that seal comes out, but at the time, I had a minimum of tools at my disposal. I believe I used a pick to remove it. Here is a write up with some pictures of how things get broken down:

http://home.comcast.net/~adamsjohn/325ic/work/SteeringRack/steeringRack.htm

[vr2jetta]

I know BMA has a rebuild kit for the 325 rack but I looked and didnt find one for the m3. I dont know if they are the same but if they are let me know and I will send you the link to the kit. Ahhhh, fuck it, here it is anyway:

http://www.bmaparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1990-BMW-3--5i--/--L6--494cc--.5l--Gas--Fi--m--0--15---Front--End--/--Suspension--Steering&yearid=1990%40%401990&makeid=BMW%40%40BMW%40%40X&engineid=1011700%40%40325I++%2F+L6-2494cc+2.5L+GAS+FI++(M20)+152%40%40325I&catid=Front+End+%2F+Suspension+%26+Steering%40%40Front+End+%2F+Suspension+%26+Steering&subcatid=Rack+%26+Pinion+Seal+Kit@@Rack+%26+Pinion+Seal+Kit&mode=PA

[der affe]

thanks to both of you, that's exactly what i needed!