Z3 rack: best mod to date!!

[grantlacey11]

Just put a brand new z3 rack on my 91 318iS. AWESOME.

The difference is night and day. It changes the whole feel of the car. most importantly driver pleasure is greatly enhanced along with an mtech I wheel.

There are some suspension mods you can do, like subframe bushings, TA bushings, CA bushings and so on, that take a lot of effort to complete, with (personally) only a slight noticeable improvement. But with the steering rack, the amount of effort you put in, you get right back in driver enjoyment!




People with an airbag car, this install is a sinch.

1. no firewall modification needed (maybe a slightttt bend with crowbar)
2. you need washers to space the new rack in the subframe (a stack of 3/8 washers work)
3. old ps hoses will work, just turn the high pressure hose around and bend a little. be sure to get new crush washers for the banjo nuts on rack and pump
4. case closed.

While i was under there, decided to replace everything else!



Ball joint installer!!



fresh and clean!



back on her feet with kappa098 for bath time!

[Drewdown]

nice. Is the z3 rack the tightest? I need to do this, my rack is leaking... badly

[grantlacey11]

there is so much speculation as to which rack is the tightest.

but the z3 has the least turns to lock. but i believe the 95 m3 rack is the most progressive, despite the 3.5 turns to lock.

depends how you define "tight"

but this is the best one IMO.

[Dj Buttchug]

well mutha fack. thats exactly what i need. my rack leaks like a sive. how much was it?

[Drewdown]

i see... I was mainly referring to turns to lock. Ive always heard fewer is better, but im kinda a noob when it comes to racks :giggle:

[Ian Bowers]

nice. Is the z3 rack the tightest? I need to do this, my rack is leaking... badly

There's a thread done by Wh33lhop that explains it all. The Z3 is (argued to be) the best, it's a linear 2.7ltl rack. I love it to fucking death.

well mutha fack. thats exactly what i need. my rack leaks like a sive. how much was it?

I think I paid around 400 - 170 core = 230-ish for a complete remann rack with inner tie rods on it. It's a fucking amazing upgrade for the car.

[SoEm0]

Hell yeah. I finished mine a couple of weeks ago. Its soo damn nice. There are people who have said that the turning radius is effected but I don't see it. I can do a complete u turn on my road in front of my house. Its not a super big road. Also its not that darty like some claim, perfect upgrade.

[Wh33lhop]

there is so much speculation as to which rack is the tightest.

but the z3 has the least turns to lock. but i believe the 95 m3 rack is the most progressive, despite the 3.5 turns to lock.

depends how you define "tight"

but this is the best one IMO.

Yeah, the 95 M3 rack is crap. There is no downside to the Z3 rack over other E36/E30 racks unless you have allergies (don't want to inadvertently change lanes when you sneeze ;))

Anyway, awesome. A full front-end refresh is always fun. Did you use offset CABs?

[grantlacey11]

Yes I can still u turn fine, have not noticed any diminished turning radius.

yeah i paid around 350 for a refurbished one. I would talk to blunt.

yeah decided to replace everything under there!

already had HD struts and eibach springs,

but did
-new control arms
-m3 offset CABS
-new shock mounts
-new sway bar links
-cabby sway bar
-Z3 rack!!!!

this project was shortly after the whole rear subframe regalia bushing replacement along with 4.10 LSD and shock mounts.

front end is now toight as a tiger, the first windy road i drove on i was laughing and crying at the same time celebrating in amazement that my car actually handles now!!

[Dj Buttchug]

I think I paid around 400 - 170 core = 230-ish for a complete remann rack with inner tie rods on it. It's a fucking amazing upgrade for the car.

how is it for drifting? figured youd know

[Ian Bowers]

how is it for drifting? figured youd know

Dude, it's awesome. I drive with powersteering, and the rack being so short took away some of its power assist, so there is a lot more feel to it. It makes manjiing/mid corner corrections super easy. I've driven E36s with a 3.0/3.5 turn rack, and a lot of experience with the stock E30 rack, the Z3 one is just loads better in every way.

[Dj Buttchug]

hmmm that sounds pretty good. I need a new rack badly.

[iamsam]

sheesh. Now you are making me want to convert my car back to power steering. Maybe after an S50 swap...

[bloodshot-e30]

man im really thinkin about going back to power steering and getting a z3 rack.... hmmmmmmm

[warmseth]

I have no money. I have a a leaky ass rack. I'm going to go donate blood to get a z3 rack. Thaaaaaannnkkkssss. ;)

Where'd you get it? link?