Mechanical steering disassembly

Sun Jul 05, 2009 1:37 pm

Hello there,
at first i have to apology for my english, i am from Czech republic, but I am so enthusiastic into the e30 as you are, I am sure:)

I hope there are plenty experienced users so I turn to you with my question.

I have found a lot of the fotostories and tutorials how to disassembly servo, hydraulic steering, but is there any possibility to disassembly mechanical steering?
What I need is to leave off this nut.

WHY?...
My actual steering has problems with free motion(i hope you understand this expresion) as you can see here

It is quite sure that it is problem of steering, I have another one, but i want to be sure that this new steering (actually, isnt brand new) is without free motions before I install it into my car. My friend told me, it could be investigated under that nut.. And also there is possibility to delimitate free motions..

Please, do anybody have some experiences with that? Thank you!

Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:15 pm

Our general advice is to fit a better secondhand rack.Just done this myself to one of my cars.
Never tried to ajust the rack,I would guess that you must be able to set the distance between the pinion and the rack in some way and the nut you highlight is the most likely place!
Mostly it is rack seals failing,resulting in fluid entering the gaiter,this in turn splits making the failed seal obvious.
Only exchange racks are available,no internal parts from BMW.
Welcome to the zone,always good to find enthusiasts from other countries,you may be able to help a traveling zoner one day!

Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:44 pm

Thank you for reply..
There is a little misundestanding:) I have bought another one steering, but i don't know certainly if it is OK...
My primary intention wasn't adjustig, but to get know if it is ok.. Without having to install it to the car.. But it seems there is no other way.

Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:47 pm

are the two steering racks out of the car?

If they are, judging by that video you should be able to just feel the difference between the two racks by sliding the racks up and down the pinions? The one in the video seems like the rack itself is damaged and the pinion is fighting it, or the other way round, so it shouldn't feel smooth.

If the new one you have got feels and slides smoothly then I'd assume its ok to fit.

If you do want to investigate, you could try removing the rubber gaiters and exposing the rack ends, it won't allow you to see the entire rack but it will allow you to see part of it.

Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:40 am

Really thank you... No the first rack is still on the car. It is quite difficult to try to move the rack by myself when it is out of the car.. I don't have any other steeting shaft out of the car, but maybe it should be faster to get out of the car only that shaft to try it. Boys I am really glad to see your sugestions. It seems we advised me everything you could...

Do you mind answering any other question, please? I need to know if there are any differencies between rack with and without steering strut? In other words, can i install rack originally with strut without it?

Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:38 am

sorry, can you explain what you mean by steering strut, it isn't really a term I'm familiar with?

Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:17 pm

I reckon our friend in Czech is asking if power rack/non-power rack is interchangeable.
I would suggest that it is,although my experence is only with power racks!

Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:36 pm

No:)
I will show you it through ETK, ok?
Right expression is "steering damper"
Here you are.. steering with damper:
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/4 ... ie_rods-2/
(part 15,etc)

Here without damper:
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/4 ... _tie_rods/

As I heard it was used more likely in R4 e30's..