HELP Steering Rack

Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:41 pm

Can anyone help me i'm about to try and fit a power steering all aluminium rack and pump from a 318i M40 engine car in my 320i M20 replacing the existing steel and ali rack and pump that is larger.
Can anyone tell me if they know of any clearance issues with the pipes or hoses that may cause a problem or make it impossible to fit.
Cheers.

Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:47 pm

Have a looksy here Martin,this is what I've just done,just the other was around to you!

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... pic&t=5093

Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:25 pm

Cheers i'm aware of the problems with sump and the sub frame but i was worried about the rack being a different layout to the old one as the new one is the one that comes with the 316/318 and is smaller so i'm not sure it will fit around the bigger M20 engine.

Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:29 pm

I was told they "should" be the same,i'm afraid I can't be positive on that though.

Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:36 pm

yeah i've been told it won't fit by one and it will by someone else.
I guess the only way i'm going to know for sure is to crawl around under the car and take the old one off.
Thanks anyway
p.s. why did you change your's

Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:55 pm

two reasons really.
1),couldn't afford power rack.
2)having spent months driving with a stiff rack,I rather like the feeling of control you don't get when driving with PAS.
I'll post a pic in sec of the underside of my car so you can compare to yours.

Post Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:37 am

the two tabs on the left and right of the subframe have two bolt holes per tab,the power rack bolted to the back pair but the manual rack bolted to the front pair,if you know what I mean.
Hope they help,a bit!