E36 to E46 Rack?

[leeparkes]

Ive already got an E36 rack on my car but want to upgrade to E46, will this be a like for like swap? ie do the hoses bolt in the same place and does the pinion sit at the same angle, same linkage used etc...
Can i use the E46 track rods/ends?

Thanks....

[Motorhole]

Can use either E30 or your E36 track rods iirc. I think the rack/subframe spacers are the same too. Not sure what linkage you already have for the E36 rack? Standard E30 linkage will work with an E46 rack, but if you have an M52, will need one of DanThe's splined bars with two E34 UJs to clear the manifold, making a hybrid E30/E34 UJ for the top one. But maybe you already have this for the E36 rack?

Can't answer your Qs about hoses though, sure someone will be along in a minute.

[DanThe]

Straight swap, the only problem you might run into is if you have the pipes running between the rack and crossmember

[leeparkes]

Cracking, what about the E46 track rods and ends? they were only replaced about 6 month ago so wouldnt mind keeping them.

[maxfield]

I have replaced my E36 rack with E46 rack. Used E36 track rods and ends. E46 ones dont fit in E30 hubs.

[DanThe]

As above, just unscrew what you have and fit them to the new rack

[jmc330i]

Which are the best rods and ends to use? Are E46 ones better than E30 ones for example?

[DanThe]

E46 ball joints are larger diameter and wont fit E30 hubs, E36 track rod ends will screw into E46 track rods but the ball joint ends are bulkier than E30 track rod ends so could interfere with big brake conversions, to use E30 track rod ends you also need the track rods as they wont screw into E36 or E46 track rods

[jmc330i]

Got it, cheers

I remember the confusion now when I fitted the E36 rack to my Sport.

[leeparkes]

Thanks lads.