E36 steering rack....

[autoalex]

Hi all,

I'm sure this is a repost so apologies.....

I went to the scrappy yesterday and pulled out an E36 steering rack for £15.

I know they're not too hard to alter and fit but I'm not exactly sure what needs to be done. Are there any 'how to' guides which will explain. I just need to know exactly what bits I need really.

Cheers guys!

[pac1982]

Not the answer your hoping for but as far as i'm aware it involves getting some custom pipe made up or mackling your old ones and bending the tabs that hold the rack in place, i'm sure someone will be along shortly to give you a more in depth answer

[charlE30]

To get started have a read through http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... onversions

HTH

Charlie

[pac1982]

heres a link to a guide on E30 Wiki

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... onversions

E30 wiki is a really good site loads of good guides on there

[charlE30]

Great minds and all that

[autoalex]

Cheers for that guys!

Just out of interest, I know the E36 lock to lock is 3.2 turns, anyone know what it is for an E30?

[mr_dink]

Standard e30 is 4.0 turns lock to lock.

I thought e36s were 3.4 turns but I've not checked that myself.

[stonesie]

Mine is 3.2 aswell, still not fitted because im going to try to use a E36 'supply' pas pipe so that modifications are minimised. But the problem with that is that scrap yards have to drain all the fluids which usually means cutting the rubber section of the pas pipes, much quicker than doing it nicely with spanners.

[autoalex]

4.0 turns....bloody hell!

Can't wait to get the thing on now!

Good luck with the search stonsie....

[alync205]

Mine is 3.2 aswell, still not fitted because im going to try to use a E36 'supply' pas pipe so that modifications are minimised. But the problem with that is that scrap yards have to drain all the fluids which usually means cutting the rubber section of the pas pipes, much quicker than doing it nicely with spanners.

I don't think they E36 pipes will fit.I don't think there is room for them the way they sit on the rack.You will have to just bend the E30 pipes to fit or get pipes made up.

[DHFiS]

Here's the drawing I gave to the company that made mine.

http://pdfcast.org/pdf/e30-36-power-steering-pipes

And here's a pic of the rack in the car with the pipes fitted.

[N00b]

I don't suppose you could say how much they cost to have made up like that? I really don't fancy the "try to bend them" approach.

[N00b]

^^^
And will these pipes match upto an e46 rack, or just the e36 item?

[stonesie]

I don't suppose you could say how much they cost to have made up like that? I really don't fancy the "try to bend them" approach.

I would also be very interested to know this, the only place round here that springs to mind is Pertec and I've heard they are about the most expensive place going

[DHFiS]

I don't suppose you could say how much they cost to have made up like that? I really don't fancy the "try to bend them" approach.

I dont remember but I can ask on Monday. Mine were made up by CFE

http://sitebuilder.yell.com/sb/Displayc ... 3197000050

[Nay]

From what I've seen, it doesn't look like it'll be that difficult to actually bend the pipes. Saying that I used Dave_M3's kit and that worked wonders.

[N00b]

I don't suppose you could say how much they cost to have made up like that? I really don't fancy the "try to bend them" approach.

I would also be very interested to know this, the only place round here that springs to mind is Pertec and I've heard they are about the most expensive place going

Pirtek.....even Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask and a pointy hat.

[DHFiS]

I am getting a price on these tomorrow. Could someone check the banjo sizes on the E36 rack?

Is it 14mm on the feed and 16 on the return?

Did mine so long ago I cant remember.

[stonesie]

According to that PDF linked above, its 14mm on both ends of the supply pipe and 17mm on the rack end of the return.

[N00b]

^^^
Will these pipes also work if you fit an e46 rack to the e30?

[DHFiS]

According to that PDF linked above, its 14mm on both ends of the supply pipe and 17mm on the rack end of the return.

I know, that's my drawing but I think the 17mm is wrong.

[DHFiS]

^^^
Will these pipes also work if you fit an e46 rack to the e30?

I dont know, I have only used them on an E36 rack

[DHFiS]

These are going to be £115 plus postage.

[stonesie]

I'm going to have a look round locally and see what prices i can get, but after a chat with pirtek today your quote sounds very reasonable...

[stonesie]

Got a price today for the pipes made in PTFE hose with stainless braid, no pre bent bits required as its flexible. It's a rough guide price at the moment as I'm taking him the rack tomorrow but its looking like they will be about £60 the pair


Does anyone know the diameter of the stub that the return hose attaches to on the PAS reservoir?


DHFiS... you were right to question the 17mm banjo, there's no such metric fitting, although one of the imperial sizes is damn close at 16.9.

[stonesie]

I went down there to give them the correct sizes for the banjo bolts and they made them while I waited

Not at all bad for £55 I think...



High pressure line is Stainless braided PTFE hose rated at 2000 psi and the return is normal rubber hose, it did have to be stepped up for from 3/8 to 1/2 for the reservoir bottle (I really hope the E30 and E36 use the same size for this).
That price included new banjo bolts and crush washers.


I've got one of Dan's solid steering shafts, a pair of E34 steering knuckles and a couple of packs of M8 washers (spacers in kit form ) but work has interrupted my 6 day weekend so Monday it is, gives me chance to go get some ATF though.