oldest questionin e30 land... Quicker power steering rack?

Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:07 am

Ok guy's, spoke to Performance BMW Magazine who pionted me to ETA Motor sport who told me it was a waist of time and money when I asked that favourite question...Can you put an e36 power steering rack into an E30?

mine's been slowly leaking for the past year but I've been reluctant to fit a recon' e30 rack cuz I do think the original slow rack is a real weak piont in my 318is's otherwise tight chasis.
I always hoped that I'd fit a quick rack or just buy an E30 M3, a mortgage has put a stop to the M3 idea for now so I'm left the quick rack idea.

I know you can do it, I just want to know how to do it and how much?
My brother works for a specialist engineering firm so Spacers, Brackets etc are no problem.

So... who's done it? how did they do it? and was it worth it???

Paul

Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:52 am

Look in the article section there's a how to in there. Don't know of anyone whose done it but its bound to be better than the standard e30 one.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:58 am

Someone on here (think it was compact) was saying about a Z3 rack being 2.2 turns...

Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:07 pm

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... 36rack.htm

Think it was e30Adam that did this

Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:44 pm

As far as your situation is concerned PAe30318isUL = TheDutch

Yes it can be done, you want an regular E36 rack (M3 is same ratio, less travel), or Z3 rack (quicker). Ian332i will be making a batch of the high pressure pipes up sometime, get in touch with him if you want a set.

Also, could everybody please stop bidding on the eBay racks or I'll never get one cheap enough.

And I can't be deterred, the 4.1 ratio standard rack is an idiotic thing to do to the iS...

N

Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:39 pm

PAe30318isUL wrote:ETA Motor sport who told me it was a waist of time and money when I asked Can you put an e36 power steering rack into an E30?

Why would they say that? Did they give you any reason?

AFIAK you cant buy a PAS quickrack for a RHD E30 and Im not sure the manual quickracks are available anymore.

slideordie wrote:http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... 36rack.htm

Think it was e30Adam that did this

Ian332isport is the man to thank for that write up.

Ive done it on mine and although Ive only been towed in the car

I can still say I noticed the difference. Its worth doing.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:46 pm

Just out of interest and maybe with a buy in mind, does anyone know where to get a non-assisted quick steering rack ?

I know they are still available, not cheap though.

How much quicker is the Z3 2.2, than the E36 M3 ? anybody know ?

Regards,

The Gorilla.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:43 pm

GermanGorilla wrote: How much quicker is the Z3 2.2, than the E36 M3 ? anybody know ?

From what Ive read - Z3 1.9 rack is 2.75 turns for the same amount of output as an E36 M3 rack that has 3.2 turns. Standard E36 is 3.4 turns.

Although Ive read that the M3 3.0ltr has 3.0 turns lock to lock with the same ratio as the Z3 rack. The M3 Evo has a different ratio apparently.

I can confirm the 3.0 turns lock to lock of the M3 3.0ltr rack as thats what I have in my E30 and Ive just been out and checked it, but I have no idea of the ratios.

M3Compact did a load of research into this and says the Z3 1.9 rack is the one to go for.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:48 pm

Hi

I was looking to put together a group buy for quick racks at 2.5 turns but still not enough people to make it worth while, also the z3 & m3 have the same ratio, the z3 has less lock which makes it look more atractive as there is less turns from lock to lock.

There are other alternatives, in the US you can get a steering quickner, an in line gear box which up's the ratio. or if you get a manual quick rack you could look to fit a corsa electric assited column (It big in clubman rally cars)

Jason