What happened with TAS?

[Yaninnya]

Anyone knows what is with TAS (Trans Auto Sport)? The web site is not working. They have high ratio sterring racks for E36 (even 2.2:1 lock to lock) which can be used in E30 of course.
Cheers,
Jan

[ste]

They went bankrupt 3 times in 2 years and sold lots of stock off on the sly so it didn't get repossessed.

(It made good money on eBay... )

Looks like they've disappeared again, possibly to resurface in a month or so or possibly forever this time?

[Yaninnya]

Not good, I need high ratio sterring. Higher than M3 E36...

[M3Compact]

Not good, I need high ratio sterring. Higher than M3 E36...

Stick a Z3 rack in.

TAS had a pretty appalling reputation for quality in rallying circles.

[Yaninnya]

Not good, I need high ratio sterring. Higher than M3 E36...

Stick a Z3 rack in.

TAS had a pretty appalling reputation for quality in rallying circles.

It is exactly the same as M3 Evo - 32 13 1 095 963. So the same ratio.

[gareth]

2.2 turns lock to lock is likely to be a lot higher than the standard M3 one. this will be proper motorsport rack.


this has got me thinking though...

i used to run a 2.1 turn quickrack on my RS2000 and it ruled!

[Lloydie38]

Where can you get a quick rack for a E30 325 from as sometimes I wonder if mine is connected to the wheels??

I was told a steering rack from a Z3 1.9 has the least turns.... Ideas please....

[gareth]

do a search mate.

the E36 one is a cheap conversion and improves things a lot. not fitted mine yet as i have a M30 sump to clear and things will be tight!

[M3GTR]

I have one of the TAS racks (rack and pinion to replace within a standard manual rack) I bought ages ago on the zone but never got round to fitting! I'm open to offers aswell if anyone is interested but I paid £350 for it so it's going to be at least £300 or it'll be going in one of the race cars!

[ste]

Is that the one you bought off me?

[M3GTR]

Sure is! I stripped a donor rack and never got round to fitting it!

[ste]

I bought it off Duncan (crazy fella with the stripped Series 1 Sport) way back when we were all on the BMW car magazine forum before this place existed. He didn't get around to fitting it, I had it for 6 months and didn't get around to fitting it... 1 day if it's really lucky it might actually end up on a car.

[M3GTR]

lmao... I had stuff off Dunc ages ago too... those were the days... when the zone was only a nipper and we were in the first 10 people to join! If my post count hadn't been re-set it'd have a day one joined date! lol

[M3Compact]

Not good, I need high ratio sterring. Higher than M3 E36...

Stick a Z3 rack in.

TAS had a pretty appalling reputation for quality in rallying circles.

It is exactly the same as M3 Evo - 32 13 1 095 963. So the same ratio.

I can assure you it isn't.

I use one that replaced my Evo rack.

Part # 32131095577

Only the Z3M uses the M3 Evo rack.

[Yaninnya]

I have one of the TAS racks (rack and pinion to replace within a standard manual rack)

Without PS? Am I understand right?
Jan

[M3Compact]

I have one of the TAS racks (rack and pinion to replace within a standard manual rack)

Without PS? Am I understand right?
Jan

If you don't want power steering, you can use a LHD Talbot Sunbeam 2.25 turn Q/Rack, fitted upside down.

They're readily available and several people have done this conversion in E30 rally cars, it even retains the standard TREs.

[Yaninnya]

If you don't want power steering...

No, I defenately want to keep PS, I didn't understand you. So it is for PS rack? What ratio (TAS were producing three different ratios)?
Jan

[GermanGorilla]

Hi M3Compact,

Do you know if its possible to adapt this for a LHD BMW ?

You say, turn upside down, as opposed end for end, which is
making me think maybe not ?

I have been looking at the Escort MK II Quick rack, manual,
but its the brackets to fit it into E30 subframe that make it difficult.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[M3Compact]

Hi M3Compact,

Do you know if its possible to adapt this for a LHD BMW ?

You say, turn upside down, as opposed end for end, which is
making me think maybe not ?

I have been looking at the Escort MK II Quick rack, manual,
but its the brackets to fit it into E30 subframe that make it difficult.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

I don't know much about this conversion, but if I remember correctly, the 'upside down' part refers to having the pinion input underneath, as opposed to on the top.

The end to end swap is presumably taken as read, and this would automatically invert the pinion.

I can't see why the reverse shouldn't be possible?

[gareth]

Hi M3Compact,

Do you know if its possible to adapt this for a LHD BMW ?

You say, turn upside down, as opposed end for end, which is
making me think maybe not ?

I have been looking at the Escort MK II Quick rack, manual,
but its the brackets to fit it into E30 subframe that make it difficult.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

if you're running LHD, a M3 rack may be the easiest option. may not be as high ratio though but it's gotta be a worthwhile swap insead of the 9999 turn standard E30 one!

[GermanGorilla]

Hi,

Thanks for the input.

I have gone from the M3 rack to the Z3 1.9 but they were all powered.

I need now to go to a manual, 2.4 lock to lock, or quicker.

So the Talbot solution would do the Job, if it will fit,
as would the Esocrt MK II Kwik Rack which also comes with
Bronze bushes on the Tercac version Rack, I think !!

Still I will try and find a supplier for the Talbot rack and see where
we go from there, as the Escort one will require fabrication for the
Brackets and so on.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[e21Jason]

HI

I have a load of e21 manual quick rack kits and 4 recon standard racks, £200 a set if any body wants a go.

Jason

[Taffy]

I also bought one of those TAS rack's, but they went bust before I got mine, i'd be interested to know if they pop up again!

[Yaninnya]

I have one

M3GTR? Do you read me?

[Taffy]

I have one

M3GTR? Do you read me?

But i don't have an E30 anymore!

[StuBeeDoo]

If you don't want power steering, you can use a LHD Talbot Sunbeam 2.25 turn Q/Rack, fitted upside down.

Same rack as I had in my Avenger Tiger. Heavy as hell parking, but above 15mph you only had to sneeze and the car would change direction.
Those were the days.

[M3Compact]

Same rack as I had in my Avenger Tiger.

Same one I had in mine too.