Sick of loose steering in your e34?

[eightynine535]

Updates are pictureless, because the shop had to be made free for a different car, but I've managed to install the thing, the wheels are turning in the correct direction, and things looking good for the 6 cyl engines. my v12 exhaust manifolds come too close to the inlet pipes of the rack (I believe it might be similar with the v8, so there will be some thinking to do, the angle for the linkage from column to the rack is very ok, no problems turning the wheels, but another bracket will have to be developed at the pedal box. to keep the column steady in place but all in all everything goes well, if will get the chance will make some pictures of the first fitment

stay tuned

You mentioned needing a bracket to keep the steering shaft from moving. Another member who did a R&P swap when he dropped in a LS1 motor came up with this solution:



Another member who also did a R&P swap made this bracket:

[attack eagle]

so what's the rack from, cause if we can't get one here, won't do us any good.
especially in terms of rebuilds etc.

[Sam Son]

subscribed

[redimension]

This is actually kind of exciting. I know its going to be a good product because of his detail to his other builds. Can't wait to hear the end results!

[riddlerLV]

so the first pics of an installed rack, about the brackets of the shaft, similar thought as in the picture nr 2

so here goes, I haven't driven anything yet, this is just to get it fitted to understand what kind of modifications are recquired (with the v12 some have to be made



the tie rod is extended too far, I know, working to get round this, some parts will be machined soon


oil stains are from the steering liquid, sorry not clean

but here the conection can be seen, that connects the shaft with the rack, some more pics comming up


brackets are just in one line with the oil pan of v12 on e30 engine mounts


and here is the biggest problem with the v12 engine, not relevant to the six cylinder engines


no place for the inlet pipes, and the rack is slightly touching the exhaust header/pipe, but my engine has 10mm spacers between the pipe and the header, so not yet sure how it compares to the stock, but the good thing is that the silver part can be rotated to the other side and bolted down in the very same place, just with the inlet pipes facing opposite direction, where is plenty of room. the pipes in the picture must be modded.


the car on its wheels on the ground in the correct position.



view from the front


hard to see but here is the connection between the shaft and rack from the open hood view


if all goes well next week I could finally give it a try on the road. this is not the end result yet

sorry for the dirty and oily underside, lack of time to get it cleaned

[sbeckman7]

Looking good!!! Still smile looking at the underside of an e34 with 4 downpipes...

[e34Mpower525i]

Lookin good

[toyotahachiroku]

sign me up

[ChiTownTy]

I can't wait any longer.

[strictlyJDM]

Sounds expensive but yes I am interested

[Sam Son]

I'll take one... How much?

[p1zz4guy]

What is the rack from?

[p1zz4guy]

What is the rack from?

[84318i]

Subscribed. I hate e34 steering.... and I have a 100% all new front end with Lemf/Meyle parts too. (minus the steering box and pump).

[93FIM5]

So still not going to let any of us know what the rack is off of?

[eightynine535]

Man, this thread could sure use another update.....

[redimension]

No joke, Im pretty sure everyone in the sub-forum is just itching for an update and details.. I am.

[riddlerLV]

Patience guys, I know everything has slowed down, but it is still going forward. some of the last brackets have been made and given to powdercoating + the polyurethane thing arrived just this morning. I can't wait to get it all tested myself, but the beemer is without the gearbox at the moment as well. + some unexpected mods for steering column are being performed just as I am typing this post and some other duties also stand in the way of devoting my complete time to the e34, need cash for all this you know

the rack is from a bmw ( by now that's it)

[mikeday1036]

Patience guys, I know everything has slowed down, but it is still going forward. some of the last brackets have been made and given to powdercoating + the polyurethane thing arrived just this morning. I can't wait to get it all tested myself, but the beemer is without the gearbox at the moment as well. + some unexpected mods for steering column are being performed just as I am typing this post and some other duties also stand in the way of devoting my complete time to the e34, need cash for all this you know

the rack is from a bmw ( by now that's it)

Sooo its a flipped RHD rack.... kinda looks like an e60 rack because of the removable steering shaft housing.



Have you checked to see that the rack has enough throw to get the same turning degrees of the box setup? The box and linkage has a TON of throw for what it is...

[Jimmy E34]

Oh... so this is only for LHD?

[BavariaNick]

def subscribed

[eightynine535]

Sooo its a flipped RHD rack.... kinda looks like an e60 rack because of the removable steering shaft housing.

Have you checked to see that the rack has enough throw to get the same turning degrees of the box setup? The box and linkage has a TON of throw for what it is...

Are there no LHD rear steer BMW racks?

[mikeday1036]

Are there no LHD rear steer BMW racks?

Nope, all bmw rack setups have been front steer

[eightynine535]

Nope, all bmw rack setups have been front steer

Ok. Guess that makes this swap harder for those of us with LHD cars. It would mean importing RHD racks.

Nope, all bmw rack setups have been front steer

Just found out the e21 had power rear steer racks.

[riddlerLV]

so the long awaited updates have arrived

this is the next part of the set, the polyurethane flexible joint, I was also experimenting with the steel joint with the (driveshaft type connection) but there is not plenty enough room if we use the OEM parts + the oem parts don't fit directly in the end of the steering column.

the bracket is bit rough, but it is made of 4 mm thick steel bars/girders (whatever they are named correctly) + I made it using an old stock bracket for the steering column of e34, so no cutting/welding or modifying the stock parts, bolts on with 3 bolts, the shaft in the picter had to be shortened as well.


here is a crappy pic of all this in the place, the stock rubber boot was kept in its place


if you remember, the rack was touching the exhaust header, now it clears beautifully


this was achieved by lowering the axle carrier by 20mm


engine kept in the same position by swapping the e30 motor mounts to e34 24v ones


this also gave a bit better clearing to the tie rods


the tie rods recieved their 30mm extensions


the pipes atached...


here is the view of axle carrier lowered, engine lifted


and if you can spot some differences, here is a clue why this is taking so long

before



after


about the bent pipe on the rack I know, don't like it myself, but I got another rack of this type to improve this, but not to slow down the progress this will be done separately, however this pipe issue does in no way affect the R6 engines, not sure yet about the v8s 50/50 that it could clear.

the electrician is comming the following morning, and hopefully I will be able to try it out on friday ( the wiring of M73, is installed instead of m70)


cheers!