steering rack removal?

[alan325i]

How easy is it to change a steering rack on a 325i, i have a power steering rack and would it be better to have a non pwer steering rack in it as i heard you can feel the road better with one.

[Widge]

No too difficult, jack it up remove the mounting bolts and ball joints and losen the steering column joint, it should then pull out forwards, although some "modification" of the lower tabs downwards is a lot of help. The remove the pump and reservoir. Bingo replace with manual rack.

[cliffybabe]

be careful when pulling it off I knocked myself out last weekend changing my rack

[Widge]

Wot like falt out counting stars on the drive???????
That would have been a sight for sore eyes!

[WerkdE30]

i have driven power and non power steering e30's i really dont suggest it.

if your car is pre facelift then i think changing to a post facelift model rack will make the steering heavier giving a better feel.

not 100% sure on that tho but they certainly feel different.

[cliffybabe]

Wot like falt out counting stars on the drive???????
That would have been a sight for sore eyes!

Yeah like i was laying under the car with my ad kicking me saying stop mucking around job and i was out of it for about 5 - 10 mins.

It was bloody funny, after i come round i started to fit the new rack

[Widge]

It was bloody funny, after i come round i started to fit the new rack

LOL FPMSL

[gooner1]

Why would you need to change the racks,can you not just remove pump ,belt and block the pipes?

[Widge]

Yep you can, but I think you need to fill ethe old power rack with fluid or it'll start sieze up, it's not that difficult to remove one, think I may have to find a Sunbeam rack or whatever it was that makes the steering quicker, and is manual, nearly didn't get the lock off quick enough going round a round about the other day was a little too close for my flatmate in the passenger seat.