NOR-CAL General Chat.

[Wh33lhop]

Plus maybe we could borrow isaac's camber gauge...

[JinormusJ]

Z3 1.9 rack ordered
$75 shipped

Awwwwwwyeeaaahhhh

[Cabriolet]

Z3 1.9 rack ordered
$75 shipped

Awwwwwwyeeaaahhhh

great choice. ill be doing that in the future.

fixed error

[JinormusJ]

Not sure if sarcasm...

[Bimmerman325i]

great choice. ill be doing that in the future. the only draw back is the lower lock to lock. when you install it can you tell me if you even notice that?

Uh, how do you mean? The E30 rack is 4.1 turns lock to lock, z3 is 2.75 or so. Travel is exactly the same, so you don't lose turning radius. You just have faster steering.

It's a faster rack with the exact same travel as the E30/36 racks. I have one, the only detriment was it is a bit more hyperactive on the highway where it didn't use to be on-center.

Honestly I think the best DD rack is the 95 M3 since it is progressive ratio (slow on-center, z3 fast off-center), resulting in relaxed highway cruising but still nice canyon/fun times given sufficient steering angle.

Track/autox? Z3 non-M rack unless you can get the unobtanium Z4 MC rack.

[Cabriolet]

i was told that the z3 rack had less travel

[Bimmerman325i]

i was told that the z3 rack had less travel

Nope.

[JinormusJ]

NOR-CAL General Chat.

This is what I heard was rumored as well

Til I drove a Z3 rack'd e30. I was a believer. Go-kart response; Miata like even. Sure, the linear pull is different than the variable M3 racks, but that is why I bought the Z3 rack in the first place; quicker turn in, which means increase initial steering response.

I don't know the official radius numbers on the rack, but I can tell you, you will feel a difference. Even M3 guys were saying it was a big jump even from the 3.5L2L racks


Regardless, my rack is popping, so the way I look at it; I just replaced it with an "upgraded" Z3 rack for cheaper than a stock rack. If its an upgrade great, if not; I still got a cheap rack replacement.

[PorscheH6]

I sold my 190D 2.5 Turbo today. Replaced her with a FWD Honda :(

[Steven]

Where'd you get it for $75 shipped?

[JinormusJ]

Okay, I did not read the entire thread, but in fact I barely read any of it, but all I'm going to say is what wh33lhop's cliffs are correct. Here are some measurements that my friend who races an M coupe took from some race car drivers that took the measurements themeselves:

Z3 non-M racks are all the same.
- LINEAR ratio (same rack travel per input turn across the entire rack length)
- 53.5 mm of linear rack travel per 1 360 degree rotation input.
- 144.5 mm of total rack travel (translates to 2.7 turns L2L)
- installed 13.9:1 ratio

Z3 M racks and '96+ E36 M3 racks are the same.
- PROGRESSIVE ratio (rack is slower on-center, quicker towards L&R rack locks)
- 45.5 mm of linear rack travel on-center per 1 360 degree rotation input.
- 145.6 mm of total rack travel(translates to 3.2 turns L2L)
- installed 15.6:1 mean ratio
- Same p/n rack as E36 non-M, but locks were modified to shorten gear travel from 154.7 to 145.6mm

'95 M3 racks are the slowest and shortest of all US-spec E36 racks, until 200 deg of rotation from on-center.
- PROGRESSIVE ratio
- 39.0 mm of linear rack travel on-center per 1 360 degree rotation input.
- 117mm of total rack travel (translates to 3.0 turns L2L)
- installed 17.6:1 mean ratio

And btw, regular z3 rack > z3M rack = regular e36 rack

So the regular z3 rack would be the best. Sucks for me cuz I JUST had my '95 M3 rack installed after I discovered this info. FML!!!!!

/thread

Where'd you get it for $75 shipped?

Car-parts.com
Extensive collection of scrap-yards from around the US; many of them post up what part for each year/make/model. Pretty user friendly; I just searched for a 1996 Z3 1.9 Steering rack and it pulled up 4 pages full of yards that stocked the rack, prices ranged from $50-500; just called up the cheapest one and placed the order. Confirmed it was a 1.9 rack which had 147k miles. $50 + $25 shipping from TX via UPS by the end of the day. Should arrive by Thursday or so next week.

Probably gonna send it off to get it reman'd, but for the most part, it was a steal

[Wh33lhop]

^ werd.

Z3 rack is definitely quicker on-center, but it's still not THAT quick of a steering rack. People act like it's the quickest thing ever but really it just brings the car to a more modern standard of steering quickness.

[cyberkaa]

^ werd.

Z3 rack is definitely quicker on-center, but it's still not THAT quick of a steering rack. People act like it's the quickest thing ever but really it just brings the car to a more modern standard of steering quickness.

YOU'RE a more modern standard of steering quickness.

[ohthejosh]

hi Kalim.

[cyberkaa]

Ohai, Josh