good source for Z3 steering rack?

[timsen]

Looking for a non-M Z3 steering rack (2.7 ratio). Does anyone have experience with the ones sold on eBay like this one?

[gobuffs]

Bought mine from rack doctor. Didn't get the core back because I didn't have one. http://shop.rackdoctor.net/1996-1997...95-25460-z.htm

[hide1]

how many turns lock to lock is the z3 vs stock e36 m3??

[Crustashio]

2.7 for the z3, 3.2 for the m3.

[hide1]

Thanks crustashio.

[Br0keMyWallet]

Ordered mine from here : http://www.carsteering.com/steeringm...ring_Rack.html

[SneauxM3]

The Rackdoctor units are nice, and they're lifetime warrantied.

But I did the 330 rack, I didn't like the twitchy S2k style steering the Z3 rack gives, but I don't track my car either. I was going for the smooth and more solid feel of the thicker torsion rod from the E46 racks.

Also if something happens and you have to send it in, etc.....told me he would priority the new one out. So only 2-3 days wait depending where you are at.

[hide1]

What's the lock - lock of the e46 330 rack?

3.2 to 2.7 is only 0.5 reduction or 15%. That hardly seems twitchy. I know cars with closer steering ratio than that stock. But without sitting in one and comparing the two side by side, that small of a reduction hardly seems worth it imo unless you're looking for that next track upgrade..

[joenationwide]

You need the 330ZHP rack, or some say the later 330i rack. There are a few threads on it. Took me a couple hours of searching before I understood the Z3 non M rack or the 330ZHP rack are the ones to have.
EDIT* This is 6 years after I installed a 1.9 Z3 rack in my first M3, and now I've had to do the research again to install in my new e36 m3 since I forgot everything I learned back then.

[hide1]

Lol that happens to me every time I start a new build/ project. I've now learned to start keeping a notepad file etc. Nice to see you getting back into the game!

[jakermac]

I don't understand this "twichy" complaint that everyone talks about. I have the Z3 non-M rack in my daily driver/autocross car as well as the SLR Speed roll center correction setup which speeds the steering up even more. I'm about .75 to .8 turns one way to go from straight ahead to having the tire rub on the inside. It isn't twichy at all.

[bimerok]

I don't understand this "twichy" complaint that everyone talks about. I have the Z3 non-M rack in my daily driver/autocross car as well as the SLR Speed roll center correction setup which speeds the steering up even more. I'm about .75 to .8 turns one way to go from straight ahead to having the tire rub on the inside. It isn't twichy at all.

I have oem rack and just researching my options..

Have you tried taking your car to a track and trying to do a steering inputs at 100+MPH? If you're saying it is less than a turn to lock the wheels each way (1.6 turns lock to lock), I would imagine it will be pretty scarry at a race track at high speeds and would take a lot of getting used to feathering inputs.

Also based on your post it looks like SLR setup alone can speed up steering by more than a full turn from lock to lock?

[NeilM]

I don't understand this "twichy" complaint that everyone talks about. I have the Z3 non-M rack in my daily driver/autocross car as well as the SLR Speed roll center correction setup which speeds the steering up even more. I'm about .75 to .8 turns one way to go from straight ahead to having the tire rub on the inside. It isn't twichy at all.

I have the non-M Z3 rack too, and don't find it twitchy in the slightest. If anything I found the new rack didn't make as much difference as I'd hoped. Maybe that's because my DD is a Mini Cooper S, which with its short wheelbase and 2.1 turns lock-to-lock has very quick steering?

Neil
96 M3 - track car

[kenndoggy]

How about the E46 M3 rack instead?? I have one of those sitting here that I'm contemplating using or selling.

[bostonaudi]

Just drove a Z4 and my E36 M3 back to back at a DE. I didn't think the Z4 was twitchy per se but it is certainly more sensitive to steering input. Once I got around the track a few times I was fine with the Z4, but overall I like the stock rack in my M3 at the track. I'd prefer the faster rack at a tight autocross, and it's much better in parking lots!

[jbrannon7]

Mazda Miata is 2.8, and it is the most popular race car ever. I feel like I am driving a bus when I get in my M Roadster after driving a Miata. The 1.9 rack is on my to do list.

[bimerok]

How about the E46 M3 rack instead?? I have one of those sitting here that I'm contemplating using or selling.

From my research, e46 m3 rack is slower than regular 330/zhp.

[jakermac]

Well I can't comment on 100+mph on the track, but I can comment on those speeds and higher in "other" environments. Still don't understand the "twitchy" complaint. I can assure you though that it makes recovering/controlling an unintentional drift one hell of a lot easier.

I expect you'd get used to this rather quickly. Maybe 2-3 laps!

[SneauxM3]

I guess I should've chosen better wording for my "twitchy" comment.

I'm meaning that feel in the wheel to how the wheel is somewhat bobbly, or feels a lil loosely connected in the steering on these. I'm not sure how others feel it, but just from car to car, I've always felt like the steering connection on the E36 was a bit weak.

The 330zhp rack feels insanely solid, and it feels much quicker. I can't recall the T2T ratios, but there is a pretty in-depth thread on it. After driving a friends car with the non-M Z3 rack....and then after following the thread to see if it works, then trying the 330zhp. It just has a completely different feel, I loved it immediately and could tell the difference.

Best way I can put it is it just feels like it steers like it should. Solid, responsive, and quick to turn.

My apologies for the "twitchy" comment, as I would definitely have to say the S2k IS twitchy, and the E36 just feels more loosely connected. But I also swapped to the 5-series solid steering coupler instead having that spongy flex disc. Comparing it to replacing with new oem joint, and then doing the 5-series. Huge difference even if the rubber is brand new.

Another strong suggestion to anyone with E36 looking to upgrade/solidify. No added vibrations or anything either, just had to slightly file in the grove for the bolt to slide through, which took maybe 5 minutes under the car.

[TXBDan]

There's more to the effective steering ratio than just the rack ratio. The distance between the spindle's steering axis and the mounting point of the tie rod end also plays a roll. So you can't compare two different cars unless they have the same spindle geometry.

[Miuge]

Have you seen this chart?


I ended up to buy E46 ZF rack, not much difference to Z3 rack and it's probably cheaper and easier to find..

[joenationwide]

I just installed a Z3 non M rack yesterday, and I verified that it is 2.7 turns LTL, and the total rack displacement L to R is 145mm, which is 53.7mm/turn.
The 96+ M3 rack I removed was about 2.7-2.9 turns LTL, and the total rack displacement L to R is 117mm, which is 40-43.3mm/turn.

[circuiticon]

Ordered mine from here : http://www.carsteering.com/steeringm...ring_Rack.html

Which of these 3 is from the Z3 (non-M)?

I see that only one of them has a core charge.

[blckstrm]

I'm wondering the same thing. Mine is failing and this looks like a great replacement - just need to make sure it's the right one.

[bluptgm3]

Alignment plays a part in how “twitchy” or slow the steering inputs feel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk