Z4 E85 Steering Rack Adjustment Question

[portculisz4]

Still pursuing my thoughts on the causes of 'sticky steering' and after several attempts to adjust the EPS motor ring with only partial success (still unstable on straight runs above 60mph). Based upon other threads I am turning my attention to the steering rack which so far I have not addressed. From the excellent from photos from Member 'maklo' (Related thread: viewtopic.php?t=141290&start=30) who has stripped down his rack there seems to be some discussion on setting the pre-load in the rack using a recommended technique shown in https://youtu.be/9KUJOvYR23A

I do have a question on this recommended procedure- I haven't as yet removed or dismantled my rack (which I now intend to do) but I have stripped down and serviced an E86 purple rack (in preparation for a future hydraulic conversion). This appears to have the same pre-load mechanism as the Z4 rack which is a fixed spring pre-loaded system with no facility for adjustment, this doesn't appear to fit the procedure in the above Youtube video to set rack pre-load which is more of a fixed setting. Does anyone who has serviced their rack have any comment on this ??

 

[raymond.harper]

Found this on another forum https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1820855

 

[portculisz4]

Raymond
Interesting thread. The rack shown in those photos is identical to an E46 hydraulic rack which I have recently fully stripped and serviced for my own future conversion. It is interesting to note from these photos that the hex screw plug on my E46 rack (with the centre hole and rubber bung) was fully tightened in the rack housing when I removed it so clearly not used as an adjustable feature but purely to retain the spring. The only adjustment I could image would be the insertion of spacer rings before the hex screw plug to reduce the default spring pressure. I assume the hole is just a grease lubrication point.