E30 Zone

Hi, im gonna replace my rack with one from a E36 but want to know which is best.

Reading other posts it seems that all the e36 racks are the same ratio??

If so what is the advantage of the e36 M3 rack, other then it has the stops that reduce the travel and turning circle?

Thanks

Pilt

pilt wrote:Hi, im gonna replace my rack with one from a E36 but want to know which is best.

Reading other posts it seems that all the e36 racks are the same ratio??

If so what is the advantage of the e36 M3 rack, other then it has the stops that reduce the travel and turning circle?

Thanks

Pilt

Although most E36's use the same rack, it's still quicker than the standard E30 offering. Travel limiters are only fitted on M3's or on cars that were ordered with M3 sized wheels.

Non 'M' Z3 racks are even quicker than the E36 rack.

Ian.

I just fitted an E36 318i steering rack at the weekend. Very good mod that gives better feedback and less turns of the wheel.

I need some lockstops though, any idea where I can get some ?

Cheers,

Iain T

Templ8e30 wrote:I just fitted an E36 318i steering rack at the weekend. Very good mod that gives better feedback and less turns of the wheel.

I need some lockstops though, any idea where I can get some ?

Cheers,

Iain T

Hi Iain,

Lock stops are a BMW part that was fitted on cars that were ordered with 225/55 front tyres. They are simply a replacement for the locktab that secures the inner end of the track rod to the end of the rack (inside the rubber gaiters). They have a half moon shaped piece of metal spot welded to the plate that physically stops the rack from travelling as far.

BMW part 32 11 1 140 464 - approx £2.40 each.

I actually removed them from my rack and don't have any rubbing etc on full lock. I guess wheel/tyre size and offset can make a difference though.

Did the pipes fit okay ?

Cheers,

Ian.

ian332isport wrote:

Templ8e30 wrote:I just fitted an E36 318i steering rack at the weekend. Very good mod that gives better feedback and less turns of the wheel.

I need some lockstops though, any idea where I can get some ?

Cheers,

Iain T

Hi Iain,

Lock stops are a BMW part that was fitted on cars that were ordered with 225/55 front tyres. They are simply a replacement for the locktab that secures the inner end of the track rod to the end of the rack (inside the rubber gaiters). They have a half moon shaped piece of metal spot welded to the plate that physically stops the rack from travelling as far.

BMW part 32 11 1 140 464 - approx £2.40 each.

I actually removed them from my rack and don't have any rubbing etc on full lock. I guess wheel/tyre size and offset can make a difference though.

Did the pipes fit okay ?

Cheers,

Ian.

Thanks for the info Ian, much appreciated

I tried fitting an E36 rack earlier this year, the pressure pipe fitted ok but leaked from the crimped connection at the banjo end of the flexible tube. Unfortunately the rack I had was knackered and one of the threads was stripped.

This time I re-bent all the E30 pipes to fit.

I've managed to get it to fit with my BTB 6 branch too

Cheers,

Iain T

Templ8e30 wrote: I tried fitting an E36 rack earlier this year, the pressure pipe fitted ok but leaked from the crimped connection at the banjo end of the flexible tube.

Hi Iain,

Sorry to hear you had quality problems with the flexi hose. It's the one part I don't have any control over.

Glad you managed to get it all in and working though. It makes a huge difference to how the car drives.

How did you manage to get the 6 branch to clear the steering coupling ? Any pictures ?

Cheers,

Ian.

I have the rack from a 1997 MZRoadster: Ian, is this the same ratio as other Z3's but with limiting tabs, or is it the same as E36's (but with limiting tabs)?

I'll nock any tabs off unless anyone thinks I'll need them, I shall be using 17" 328i sport wheels with 215/40/17 tyres (apparently all that'll fit easily, shame cos I want to use 225/45/17).

I'm still to fit the pipes you sent (turned out you can't really fit a E36 rack to an iS) but they are awaiting the engine conversion (though I could fit rack to my new(ish) 325i no probs.

Jai

ian332isport wrote:

Templ8e30 wrote: I tried fitting an E36 rack earlier this year, the pressure pipe fitted ok but leaked from the crimped connection at the banjo end of the flexible tube.

Hi Iain,

Sorry to hear you had quality problems with the flexi hose. It's the one part I don't have any control over.

Glad you managed to get it all in and working though. It makes a huge difference to how the car drives.

How did you manage to get the 6 branch to clear the steering coupling ? Any pictures ?

Cheers,

Ian.

Hi Ian, unfortunately I was in a rush to get a lot of jobs done at the weekend for my ring trip this vweekend so no photo's.

I needed about 2mm more clearance for the steering coupling to clear the manifold. I removed the complete subframe, cut the brackets and welded wider plates onto the mounts. I then re-drilled the holes 8mm closer to the offside giving me 6mm clearance between the coupling and manifold.

The problem with this method is that I have more lock turning right rather than left so i need a lockstop to restrict travel on one side

Don't worry about the strength of the welds, I'm shit-hot with a Mig welder

Cheers,

Iain T

Hi,

Got the rack, just wondering about the pipes

Iain t said:

This time I re-bent all the E30 pipes to fit.

Is this a easy job to do?

I read somewhere else that you can use the e36 return pipe instead?

Thanks

Pilt

jaistanley wrote:I have the rack from a 1997 MZRoadster: Ian, is this the same ratio as other Z3's but with limiting tabs, or is it the same as E36's (but with limiting tabs)?
Jai

I'dlike to know too.

Non-M Z3 rack has 2.75 turns, 148mm of linear action.

I've got a dec '89 318i and I need a new rack cause of too much play, so will any standard e36 rack firt the E30?

pilt wrote:Hi,

Got the rack, just wondering about the pipes

Iain t said:

This time I re-bent all the E30 pipes to fit.

Is this a easy job to do?

I read somewhere else that you can use the e36 return pipe instead?

Thanks

Pilt

Bending the pipes is not easy, they are made of steel and will kink if not bent correctly. I used a blowtorch to heat them up until soft and used a proper pipe bender to form the bends.

You could use the return pipe from a 4 cylinder model but it runs along the front of the rack and sits too low and too close to the sump for my liking. The 6 cylinder return pipe is a no-no because it has a cooling loop in it that would sit much lower than the sump becoming the lowest part of the car.

ian332isport might have some of his custom made conversion pipes left, give him a PM.

Any e36 rack will fit the e30.

Don't forget you'll need to modify the steering coupling and make some spacers for the mountings.

Have a look here first http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... 6rack.htm

Cheers,

Iain T

Is it possible to use the E36 track rod ends?

They seem to be the same length and fit ok but i wonder if anyone has had problems with them catching?

Thanks

Pilt

pilt wrote:Is it possible to use the E36 track rod ends?

They seem to be the same length and fit ok but i wonder if anyone has had problems with them catching?

Thanks

Pilt

It's fine to use the complete E36 rack including rod ends. They fit just fine. It's also possible to use the E30 rod ends on the E36 rack, but you need to swap the complete tie rod as well.

Ian.

Templ8e30
Can you not just use the tracking adjustments to centre the rack ?

I've got a Z3 rack for sale on the parts page, 2.75 turns lock to lock if anyone's interested

Martinaston wrote:Templ8e30
Can you not just use the tracking adjustments to centre the rack ?

I've got a Z3 rack for sale on the parts page, 2.75 turns lock to lock if anyone's interested

Nope done that and run out of adjustment

Cheers,

Iain T

Did you use the E36 rod ends ?
I think they have more thread

Martinaston wrote:Did you use the E36 rod ends ?
I think they have more thread

No they were knackered so I re-used my e30 rod ends

Iain T

nice to see your back mate

if i get an e36 rack
would ya help me with the pipes etc??

and are all e36 racks the same? or should i get a certain one??
cheers

Daz

dazleeds wrote:nice to see your back mate

if i get an e36 rack
would ya help me with the pipes etc??

and are all e36 racks the same? or should i get a certain one??
cheers

Daz

Certainly mate, you'll need the coupling and spacers making up as well mate.

They're all the same ratio etc except M3

Iain.