Steering Racks - New or Reconditioned?
Moderator: martauto
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pimp_mobile
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Hi was wondering what experience folk had had with steering racks. Mine's been replaced once to my knowledge with a recon unit, but this appears to be failing. Anyone got any clues about cost of a new one or for that matter the cost of a recon one.
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Brianmoooore
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zimmerbimmer1 will give you a price for a new one, but I don't think you'll like the reply
It's essential when fitting a replacement rack to THOURGOUGHLY flush out the old fluid from the system.
Hunt around a scrapyard for an E30 with what looks like a recently replaced one.
It's essential when fitting a replacement rack to THOURGOUGHLY flush out the old fluid from the system.
Hunt around a scrapyard for an E30 with what looks like a recently replaced one.
I think i remember enquireing the price of a new rack at BMW and IIRC it was circa £700 
From my experience of recon. racks,buy carefully, as i think quality can vary as can warrentys.Most i came across came with a six month warrenty,but i eventually bought one that came with a twelve month one
Good time to fit new TR ends thou!
From my experience of recon. racks,buy carefully, as i think quality can vary as can warrentys.Most i came across came with a six month warrenty,but i eventually bought one that came with a twelve month one
Good time to fit new TR ends thou!
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pimp_mobile
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Yep... £700 is not somewhere i wish to go... 
Are the E36 racks the same shape and size? - forgive my ignorance here its not something that I've had much experience with as a rule.
Certainly would have flushed everything through before installing... I've not got round to reading the notes on this site but was amused to find a DVD on E30 steering racks! Guess its pretty common!
The symptoms I'm getting are very stiff when the engine is cold usually it goes away after you've turned the steering to full lock both ways. Also steering seems a little imprecise... though that was someone elses comments (think I'm just used to it!).
Are the E36 racks the same shape and size? - forgive my ignorance here its not something that I've had much experience with as a rule.
Certainly would have flushed everything through before installing... I've not got round to reading the notes on this site but was amused to find a DVD on E30 steering racks! Guess its pretty common!
The symptoms I'm getting are very stiff when the engine is cold usually it goes away after you've turned the steering to full lock both ways. Also steering seems a little imprecise... though that was someone elses comments (think I'm just used to it!).
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cliffybabe
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i just picked up a 2nd hand rack off a zoner as a spare 
Considering Selling the Cabby, looks like its gonna go
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cliffybabe
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ow and i dont think e36 racks are a straight swpa as u will need a adapter for the UJ betweent he steering wheel and rack
Considering Selling the Cabby, looks like its gonna go
The E36 racks are externally the same apart from the ports being a slightly different angle.
The advantage of them is a shorter steering ratio hence more weight to the steering and feel.
Also them being out of a newer car is an advantage.
You don't need the UJ coupling if you mount the rack on the front holes on the subframe.
What car is it?
Could always get the kit to convert it for an E36 rack off me... (Shameless plug
)
The inpercise steering is normal for an E30 rack. Take nearly a 1/4 of a turn to have any effect on direction...
Being stiff on start up is more than likely the oil needing a change since it has gotten thick. I bet it'll be black as the ace of spades when it comes out
The advantage of them is a shorter steering ratio hence more weight to the steering and feel.
Also them being out of a newer car is an advantage.
You don't need the UJ coupling if you mount the rack on the front holes on the subframe.
What car is it?
Could always get the kit to convert it for an E36 rack off me... (Shameless plug
)The inpercise steering is normal for an E30 rack. Take nearly a 1/4 of a turn to have any effect on direction...
Being stiff on start up is more than likely the oil needing a change since it has gotten thick. I bet it'll be black as the ace of spades when it comes out
M42 rightness above 6500rpm, nobody can hear you scream
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DanThe
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Most E36 racks have plenty of miles up them now though,
Ive recently changed my E36 rack for an E46 and its ten times better
A BMW breaker will charge about £80 for a decent E46 rack, recon for an E30 rack is over £100
You dont need a special linkage, you just mount it in the forward most holes on the subframe as the manual rack is
Ive recently changed my E36 rack for an E46 and its ten times better
A BMW breaker will charge about £80 for a decent E46 rack, recon for an E30 rack is over £100
You dont need a special linkage, you just mount it in the forward most holes on the subframe as the manual rack is
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DanThe
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Depends how sloppy it is, the one I took off mine at the weekend was shagged, oil was dark grey and pissing out the ends.
As a comparison the bit of oil that came out of the E46 one was clean as a whistle, piss thin!
As a comparison the bit of oil that came out of the E46 one was clean as a whistle, piss thin!
Are the E46 racks Identical to the E36 rack Dan?
As in to the pipes bolt on in exactly the same position???
I was playing with a friends new E46 316 the other day. It seemed to be the same as a Z3 for turns lock to lock
I must fit some new control arm bushes to it in a few days so I'll be able to get a better look at it then
As in to the pipes bolt on in exactly the same position???
I was playing with a friends new E46 316 the other day. It seemed to be the same as a Z3 for turns lock to lock
I must fit some new control arm bushes to it in a few days so I'll be able to get a better look at it then
M42 rightness above 6500rpm, nobody can hear you scream
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DanThe
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Near enough yes, the small pipes are routed slightly different, but thats soon solved with a bit of persuasionDave_M3 wrote:Are the E46 racks Identical to the E36 rack Dan?
As in to the pipes bolt on in exactly the same position???
Cool. As long as they are roughly in the same postion on the rack, I'm fine.
I ust have a closer look at that one in the 316 today and also make sure I wasn't imagining things when it felt like 2.5 turns lock to lock
I ust have a closer look at that one in the 316 today and also make sure I wasn't imagining things when it felt like 2.5 turns lock to lock
M42 rightness above 6500rpm, nobody can hear you scream
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pimp_mobile
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Cheers for all that... Might investigate it when the time comes (next couple of months).
On the fluid issue, its not particularly dirty in the reservoir... though i've not had a good firtle about with the steering yet... have other issues to resolve!
On the fluid issue, its not particularly dirty in the reservoir... though i've not had a good firtle about with the steering yet... have other issues to resolve!
im still after a new pas rack for me touring, can we get this straight ! can i fit an e36 rack without modifiying nything but the pas pipes??? im lost in all this rack talk! lol if i have to modify i think ill just stick to the old e30, nyone got one near teesside???
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pimp_mobile
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I think that's what they were getting at... infact you can drop an E46 one on instead...
Have to admit that thought this might be odd as the newer cars are much wider, are the bolts really in the same place and where does one get one from
Have to admit that thought this might be odd as the newer cars are much wider, are the bolts really in the same place and where does one get one from
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pimp_mobile
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What's the cost of the conversion kit? as it does appear that the only other potential issue is the universal joint.
Also do people reckon that it would be possible to exchange the old rack for the new one? And would they take the E30 one as a swap for a reccon E36/E46.
Any known side effects... apart from better handling?
Cheers
Also do people reckon that it would be possible to exchange the old rack for the new one? And would they take the E30 one as a swap for a reccon E36/E46.
Any known side effects... apart from better handling?
Cheers
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pimp_mobile
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Well todays the day... Car goes back on the road after upgrading to an E36 Rack... just got the tracking to sort and put some new tyres on...
For those who are still wondering it was a straight fit for the rack as expected, though the pipe work to some bending. In fact a lot of bending to get it where it needed to be.
For those who are still wondering it was a straight fit for the rack as expected, though the pipe work to some bending. In fact a lot of bending to get it where it needed to be.