So I think I might need a new steering rack in my E30. The wheel struggles to return to center and the steering feels heavy at certain points in the turning radius. I have checked my ball joints and they seem to be ok - not frozen. My power steering fluid is also okay. Upon some digging over at e30tech it seems like a lot of people run into this problem and end up swapping the rack with one out of an E36, right?

Does anyone have any experience with this? I want to tackle it but was looking for some assistance as it seems like a big job.

:help:

It's the knuckle on the shaft... Don't ask me how I know...

I need more info than that, I don't know what that means. A TON of E30tech guys have done it so I figure it can't be THAT difficult, but I'd rather do it with some bf.c guys who know what they're up against. I was hoping maybe to make an afternoon of it, with beer supplied by me.:)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/n/k/8.png

#2... My iX had a similar problem... Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't... I would turn and it would be hard... then the wheel wouldn't return to center... replaced the PS pump... nothing...

then I did this test... from up top and down low you can see the knuckle... #2... go waste 1/2 a can of WD-40 on it... spray that bitch down.. let it soak in a few... then go for a drive... if your steering improves greatly after that it is the knuckle... if not I'd vote rack...

the part is $140ish new and you need to buy it new...

It is kind of a pain to get off...

If this isn't the problem and you do the rack... go z3... used... but it sounds like you have the knuckle problem.

Faster rack with restrictors to prevent the over boosted feel is nice. I have an E30 M3 Rack in two cars and might put a E36 M3 rack in the car I'm working on at the moment. It's not hard at all with basic mechanical skills.

It could also be the strut mounts going bad.

Swapping the rack isn't too bad to do if you have a good set of tools. This (http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=66247) is a good writeup of the e36 swap from r3v.



I've got a 95 M3 rack in mine and I love it. Same ratio as the Z3 one but with more steering angle. I didn't have to modify my knuckle at all either.

Okay, good info. So, who can help me with it? :)