Steering racks hydraulic ones

[PDJ]

So while I was washing my car with wheels off I found where the power steering fluid has been slowly going, it is in the passenger side rubber boot so the seals are on their way out.

So here starts the search for a steering rack

A search of the usual suspects have no availability of the rack

Searching on here via google brings up a thread about steering rack ratios but not cross referanced to the part numbers

M3: 15.4:1.

Really interestingly picked this figures up from another sight where a bmw Nut is rebuilding his e46 m3 to CSL spec.... I though you guys would like to see the actual figures, so here they are.



M3: 15.4:1.
M3 CSL/CS 14.5:1.
330 Clubsport & Z4M Roadster 13.7:1
Z4M Coupe: 12.8:1

Also while I am doing this I message a couple of specialist garage/race engineers for some help one was helpful and funny but little real help the other came back with a recon company Western Power Steering

Any other recomendations for a recon rack

So while they do not have a rack for a Z4MR or a Z4MC they do have one for a Z3 which is supost to be a quick rack

Which rack is going to be the best out of the BMW racks available from them.

https://shop.westernpowersteering.co.uk ... y-135.html

I don't have that much time before a road trip so need to get one sortted

[PDJ]

A little bit more info

Standard E46 M3: 15.4:1
E46 M3: CS / CSL = 14.5:1
Purple Tag: 13.7:1
E46 330 ZHP: 13.7:1
Z3 1.9 or 2.2: 13.7:1
Z4M Roadster: 13.7:1
Z4M Coupe: 12.8:1

[Beedub]

for referent the current lambo huracan STO is 13.4:1 and carfection ( latest video at 5.40 ) deem this the sweet spot for rack ratios and call it utterly incredible.

[PDJ]

The one I removed (gold/yellow tag) is 3.2 ish turns lock to lock and 47mm travel per revolution of input shaft

Will measure the new one when it arrives

[bigwinn]

I'm deffo watching this as I need to attempt a hydraulic rack conversion

[PDJ]

I'm deffo watching this as I need to attempt a hydraulic rack conversion

Purple tag rack (13.7:1) from Western Power Steering cost me £325 outright this is the most popular upgrade across the internet forums for E30/E36/E46 ect and used by many car cars

It is 2 bolts and the inner tarck rod control arms to remove the rack once the hoses are removed TIS says to remove the reinforcment plate but I managed to get the bolts out with it in place you may need to file a tiny half moon shape out of the pate if the bolt washer head fouls the plate.

[bigwinn]

I'm deffo watching this as I need to attempt a hydraulic rack conversion

Purple tag rack (13.7:1) from Western Power Steering cost me £325 outright this is the most popular upgrade across the internet forums for E30/E36/E46 ect and used by many car cars

It is 2 bolts and the inner tarck rod control arms to remove the rack once the hoses are removed TIS says to remove the reinforcment plate but I managed to get the bolts out with it in place you may need to file a tiny half moon shape out of the pate if the bolt washer head fouls the plate.

Great value for a new unit

[PDJ]

Great value for a new unit

Recon unit but for keeps there was an extra surcharge to keep it though.

[TheDan]

I'm deffo watching this as I need to attempt a hydraulic rack conversion

I am also watching this intently as I will likely be doing one in the near future too!

[Mr Tidy]

bigwinn wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 9:52 am
I'm deffo watching this as I need to attempt a hydraulic rack conversion
I am also watching this intently as I will likely be doing one in the near future too!

I assume you guys have seen this thread:- viewtopic.php?t=118282&hilit=hydraulic

I know it's for N52s but the M54 ought to be pretty similar, just using E46 parts instead of E90 ones!

The EPAS set-up was my biggest disappointment with my 3.0Sis. The HPAS on my MC and my E90 daily just feels so much better.

[PDJ]

So the rack arrived from Wesern Power Steering today

It is a purple tag one

It is 3 turns lock to lock

It moves 50mm per 360 per revolution of the input shaft

The one I removed (gold/yellow tag) was 3.2 ish turns lock to lock and 47mm travel per revolution of the input shaft

It is now fitted and test driven for functionality as the rack ratio is different the steering wheel is not dead ahead so a tracking session is required