Manual quick steering rack?

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
Robin_xr4i
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Torbay

Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:30 pm

The pas rack on my E30 has excessive play in it and needs replacing. I understand that the E36 pas rack fits the E30 with a few modifications, and it has the added benefit of being 3.2 turns lock to lock instead of 4. Which sounds great, but I want to convert my E30 to manual steering. I understand that povo spec E36 with manual rack came with 4 turns lock to lock, to make them easy to park etc. If this is right a manual E36 rack is no better than a manual E30 rack?

I understand that the E36 and Z3 share the same rack and a Z3 rack gives even less turns to lock, however I'm told they didn't make a manual Z3 is this right?

Or is it possible to use a Z4 rack (which is PAS, but is electric so the actual rack is manual) and adapt that?

Or am I just mental?

Thanks Robin
town325i
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 7050
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: cannock staffordshire

Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:36 pm

All E36's came with power steering. A talbot steering rack fits ive read somewhere on here
Image
ross_jsy
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 7307
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Jersey, C.I.

Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:08 am

check group buy section.

Someone is trying to organise a quick rack buy for a quaife quick rack.

btw, z3 rack is 2.9 turns
ross_jsy
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 7307
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Jersey, C.I.

Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:08 am

check group buy section.

Someone is trying to organise a quick rack buy for a quaife quick rack.

btw, z3 rack is 2.9 turns
Nay
Channel Island Crew
Channel Island Crew
Posts: 3988
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:00 pm

Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:12 am

Any reason for going manual? Personnally, I think PAS is great for a road car. I'd understand manual for the track if thats the plan?

I just fitted the Z3 rack and had a first blast with it today. Tight and very responsive. Gives a great feel.

In Jersey we have twisty roads everywhere, so its great. But for the UK roads I would be more than happy to just lump an E36 rack in. That'll remove the play and tighten up the handling a fair bit.

The Z3 rack definately gives a more stiff and solid approach when cornering, very stable feeling.

From my experiences (and there is only a couple) manual racks seem to loosen up at pace and feel a bit too easy to turn gently, then get a lot stiffer as you progress into the corner. I'm not a great fan of them tbh.
Image

Uni is killing the project.
Post Reply