How can I tell if my Steering Rack Is Shagged?

It's very shakey at about 75km/h and the steering binds during a full lock or close to full lock turn and the wheels tend to jump fwd.

I've replaced everything except the rack and strut mounts.
Which one should I change first???

If I change both things and the problem still remains, what can i do??
Good excuse to get adj. camber tops, but giving me the shits.
It's been to 3-4 shops and no one can give me a direct answer.

The aligment is all correct. etc.

I hard a quick high pitch grinding noise the otherday when i moved the wheel at the lights. The steering felt really stiff. Could this be the strut mounts making that noise? Or does it sound like the rack and lack of grease or something?!!!

:mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad

check the strut mount first, they have a bearing on them that might be on its way out. I haven't seen a rack go bad yet (in my cars) my E21 has 481K KM and the 2 privious (sp) had over 275K Miles. My brothers 2002 had 200K miles on his original rack......

I kinda don't see a rack-and-pinion steering rack going out that easily. not really that complicated, nothing much to mess up.
Jake

You reckon the wheel shakes could be caused by bad strut mounts??

I think I've said this once before, but the only thing I can think of is if one of the rack gear bushings was damaged when the tie rods/rack ends were replaced. They're white nylon plastic and hold the rack shaft centered in the rack housing (under the accordian dust boots). You should be able to wiggle things around if one is bad.

Josh - I've replaced those.

These are brand new. Like a few months old.

The rack ends came complete with the rack ends and tie rods attached.

Everything has been replaced :( Control arm bushes, swaybar bushes, steering rack mount bushes, new strut inserts.

Just the rack and strut tops to go.

I'm going to go the strut tops this week and see what happens with them. IF that doesn't work - new rack..........

if that doesn't work. I'll seriously consider taking the car to BMW themselves.

If you pop the white cap off of the back of the R&P unit it will have a little allen key for adjusting the tightness of the R&P unit. It may be a little loose causing that side to side shimmy.

If nothing else I have a pretty solid R&P you can have. just pay for the shipping.

Edit : Oops forgot you were one of those right hand drivers. If you ever change to left hand drive the offer still stands.

Josh - I've replaced those.

These are brand new. Like a few months old.

The rack ends came complete with the rack ends and tie rods attached.

Everything has been replaced :( Control arm bushes, swaybar bushes, steering rack mount bushes, new strut inserts.
I think you missunderstood, but maybe not. These most likely would not have been replaced as they are an internal compenent of the steering rack. I'm talking about the guide bushing (part # 32111116910) that holds steering rack (rack gear, or the rod that the rack ends screw into) centered in the housing. Part number 3 in the diagram below:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1733&mospid=47175&btnr=32_0000&hg=32&fg=05

You are right. The parts we're referring to are differnent - my appologies.

Will be taking out the rack over summer and inspecting everything.

Thanks for ya help mate.