Steering Rack Options and advice

[Gav1234]

Hi , my 86 325i chromie has decided its time for a new steering rack .
I have read through the wiki pages and was after some advice from the preople who have decided to swap the Std rack for one from another BMW, either past or present .

I do not want the car to be at all twitchy , i think the Z3 rack may be a little to extreme for what im after .
The M3 rack to me seems to be a sensible option as it progressivly gets quicker but in the center its sill nice and stable . Although from how the wiki pages read the clubsport rack is more popular .

In a ideal world i would like to keep the same feel at the wheel but decrease the amount of turns from lock to lock without sacrificing the excellent turning circle ... ?

Thanks in advance

[reggid]

z3 1.9 rack is good except when trying to fit past a 6 branch....

apparently (so im told) its linear rack and the others arent they are progressive so Z3 1.9 is more responsive in the middle and just off centre, with the Danthe solid spline its an excellent feel.

its not twitchy you move the wheel a degree and the car responds predictably unless you have bad geometry at the front end (make sure all bushes, ball joints etc are in top condition (FR and RR) and you get an alignment done after). Why would you want it to be slower or deader in the middle?

i daily drive mine and its fine, its much easier to park and the turning circle appears to have improved.

going from the e30 to the E36 M3 evo i always have to adjust to the slower turnin of the e36 its very perceivable but there are a few other factors besides the rack that can contribute.

[scottybeemer]

im putting the z3 rack on (as well as retro fitting p.a.s)in the very near future,hopefully give you a report in te nxt couple of days (weather permitting ) lol

[jslot]

I can't compare others but I am very happy with the change to the e46 clubsport rack.

It's much quicker than the standard but I don't find it twitchy at all, you soon get used to using much smaller steering input. The steering feel is exactly the same.

There are 'normal' cars out there have quicker racks / turn than and e30 with a clubsport rack (for example Alfa 147), so I think fitting the clubsport rack is not extreme, it is just 'extreme' when compared to the very very slow standard e30 rack.

[Gav1234]

Excellent thanks that's helpful.

I have a Hartge 6 branch so maybe the Z3 rack would be a issue with clearance etc?
I'd post some pics up if I could figure out how it's done.

I was mainly worried about ruining what it is a lovely handling and steering car.

Do any of the racks bolt straight in ornso they all require new hoses and some form of packing Spacers ?

Thanks again

[grants50]

I have z3 rack and car wasn't twitchy at 160 on autobahn. This is in my e36 but will be putting it in my e30.

[BenHar]

Comparing the way racks affect other cars is pointless.

There are many different things that affect steering geometry.

Ben

[ropeman]

+1 for the e46 rack. I like mine.

[DanThe]

Pipe kits available from me, you also get aluminium spacers for mounting the rack into the E30 subframe and new sealing washers

[scottybeemer]

dont forget if you fit the z3 rack you dont have the expense or chew on with the steering coupling as the z3 is a straight fit

[miniblob]

As this has drawn steering to my attention again... Has anyone found a steering rack upgrade that will fit past the original btb 6 branch???

[reggid]

As this has drawn steering to my attention again... Has anyone found a steering rack upgrade that will fit past the original btb 6 branch???

unfortunately the BTB3 is the answer and the M3 racks are better than the Z3 in this regard

[marcusw]

I can't compare others but I am very happy with the change to the e46 clubsport rack.

It's much quicker than the standard but I don't find it twitchy at all, you soon get used to using much smaller steering input. The steering feel is exactly the same.

There are 'normal' cars out there have quicker racks / turn than and e30 with a clubsport rack (for example Alfa 147), so I think fitting the clubsport rack is not extreme, it is just 'extreme' when compared to the very very slow standard e30 rack.

Hey Jslot,

Did you have to use e46 hoses or you used e30 ones to fit in with the e46 rack?

Looking to change mine as well.

thanks
Marcus

[jslot]

I bought the custom hoses from DanThe as pictured above, they were the most expensive part of the conversion but they are excellent quality.