E36 rack

[bobbin1982]

If i was to get and e36 rack what are the benefits from it and is there any modification needed to anything?
And also what sort of time will it take to fit?.. Will a saturday and sunday afternoon be ample? (d.i.y mechanic with a little knowledge of things)


Thanks, Andy

[DHFiS]

The benefit is the E36 rack makes the steering quicker. Modifications are needed to the pipes from the power steering pump and the link that connects the rack to the steering column. Spacers are needed to fit the E36 rack to the E30 mounting points.



http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... t=e36+rack

[bobbin1982]

Just read it and i dont have a clue what any of that means
Guess ill have to stick with what i have

Andy

[jamie74]

Have a look on the E30 Zone wiki page, there is a steering rack conversion section that may be of help to you.

Jamie

[paulie30]

Did this myself a couple of months back on my 1991 325i. Definately worth the effort. Especially if like mine your old E30 rack is knackered. It really makes a difference to the car, the E36 rack is much more responsive and in my opinion it feels much better weighted than the E30 item.
I used the top half of my E30 column coupling and the botom half of an E36 column coupling, joined with a custom made aluminium spacer about 42mm thick - doing away with the rubber spacer altogether. Spacer cost £30 from a local engineering shop. Made mounting spacer with some bits I found in my odds and sods box ( washers will do ) and I managed to bend the E30 pipes to fit, without too much hassle. So cost of the rack ( I got a recon item as I'm in the trade plus new rod ends, but a decent s/hand unit would do fine ) and £30. I'd say it is a worthwhile investment for the benefits.
Go on get it done.

[scott180gtb]

Are all E36 racks the same. Does it matter what rack you pull from an E36. 318, 323? Whats the best one to pick up?

[Royalratch]

There's tons of info if you search - but as I'm right in the middle of doing this...

All E36 racks are the same, 3.4 turns to the E30 4.0 turns. The M3 racks are the same but with limited lock so artificially shorter at 3.2 turns.

The Z3 rack is 2.7 - pretty quick - maybe too quick at very high speed?
A lot people now use the E46 SPORT rack which is 3.0 turns and has reduced pressure for better weight but requires an additional fluid cooler to be fitted.

I am going E36 because I got a rack for £20 and it plugs right on with slightly modified fluid hoses. They are arranged differently than on the E30.

See last page:
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... &start=325