Steering Rack change on 320i

Post Fri Mar 21, 2014 2:07 pm

Hi

As I'm using the E30 more and more I'm fed up of the slow rack, the car not having p/steering doesn't help. If I want to swap it with a later rack do I have to change the UJ's also? I'm not doing an engine conversion yet, in the future will do. Also thoughts on these items please (is this rack any good and will I need all these parts to do the conversion?)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-3-Ser ... 2c7e5de2e5

and

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-E34-E30-S ... 35d30a544d

and

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E30-E21-s ... 3a8d0549c6

I'm not too bothered about having p/steering for now, just a quicker rack. Any help greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Post Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:55 pm

That's the currently favoured rack - but priced at about twice the going rate. They're not rare at all.
You will need two Ujs, as in the ebay ad. I'm not sure what the going rate for these is.
Shaft is from DanThe on here. Possibly a little money to be saved if you contact him from here instead of ebay.

Post Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:02 pm

on the shaft, where it says "made with engine conversions in mind" does that mean you do or do not need it just for a standard e30 engine ?

Post Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:13 pm

You don't need it for any standard E30 engine, but you do need an adaptor of some kind, since your existing manual shaft won't fit, neither will an unmodified E30 power steering one.
M5x engine conversions put the exhaust very near the steering shaft, and Dan's simple straight shaft, with no flexible coupling, gives the maximum clearance possible.

Post Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:15 pm

on a stock car theres a donut - on the custom linkage theres just a straight shaft with no play, so more impact if your drivetrains fucced or better feel if your running new rubbers

to the OP the purple rack is the zones favoured swap but if you can find a cheap z3 rack the benefits are quicker lock (+-) and the fact it fits the original splines

Post Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:19 pm

Thanks chaps. How about a rack from an E46 clubsport? Are these a popular option?

Post Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:21 pm

The one in the ebay link is the so called 'clubsport' rack.

Post Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:23 pm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-E46-clubs ... 1e88d22e38

I've just spotted this, more of a fair (starting) price?

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:38 am

You do know that the steering will be even heavier with this rack?

Ben

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 4:54 pm

£60 is still too pricey imo, I recently bought a purple tagged 067 rack for £40 delivered as a buy it now from eBay.

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 5:08 pm

Trouble is as more ebay sellers clock onto them being sold as 'quick rack' 'upgrade' 'drift/race/extra lock' etc the prices gradually go up.
If you can get a clean one for 60 its not exactly money lost

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:40 pm

BenHar wrote:You do know that the steering will be even heavier with this rack?

Ben

Any reason for this? It couldn't get any worse on my car really. It's been lowered, has a strut brace so I thought that might be a contributing factor. It's horrible to live with but I can manage. Just hate the turn to turn factor. How easy is it to stick power steering in then?

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:45 pm

Because you don't have power steering! Fit the pump, reservoir and pipework as well, and it'll be fine.

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:12 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:Because you don't have power steering! Fit the pump, reservoir and pipework as well, and it'll be fine.

Yep wasn't thinking there

as it's a p/steer rack. So I take it fitting the pump etc is a bolt on job or do I have to get any special brackets?

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:48 pm

ZARS wrote:
BenHar wrote:You do know that the steering will be even heavier with this rack?

Ben
Any reason for this?

Physics. If you are moving the rack the same distance with fewer turns you have to use more effort to do it.

Ben

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 10:59 pm

BenHar wrote: Physics. If you are moving the rack the same distance with fewer turns you have to use more effort to do it.
Ben

Makes sense mate, physics not one of my strong suits

I'll be looking for the associated p/steer bits for it too now. I hope it's well worth it. Certainly make parallel parking easier!!

Post Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:47 pm

Standard pipework won't fit the E46 rack without modification, or DanThe does a rather nice bespoke set.

Post Thu Mar 27, 2014 5:24 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:Standard pipework won't fit the E46 rack without modification, or DanThe does a rather nice bespoke set.

Order already placed with DanThe. It does look top quality! Looking forward to getting it all fitted