M20 steering rack

[Bruce_Z]

Anyone know where I can source for a remanufactured M20 steering rack (w power steering)? See a lot of them on eBay but they seem to be for LHD. My rack is back to it's old ways...kinda loose at highway speeds....I've tried the refurbishing route, that only fixes the problem for a month or two. The 24 years of wear of the metal parts probably is the main culprit and not so much of the bushings. Would a mod E36 rack work? Thinking of getting a new e36 one and transplanting it. Anyone has done it before?Thanks

 

[jeffreyewe]

Yes, converting to an e36 rack has been done before.

 

[Bruce_Z]

Thanks for the reply. I probably should forget bat looking for a near virgin m20rack and just go on and get an e36 put in I suppose. It's getting hard to get good critical parts like this. Any details of who and where this has been done? Guys at blue green?

 

[moots]

bruce,normally we have issues of leaky racks hence the reason for change or upgrade to e36 rack as they have tighter turn ration but if your case is loose steering then perhaps then the possibilities wud be as such:
1. tie rods
2. the rubber 2 rubber bush that secures the rack to the car
3. the steering rubber vibration isolator (doughnut) on the steering column in the engine bay.prone to fail in the e30 due to it's location next to exhaust manifold.the e34 and e39 vibration isolator sits higher up on the steering column in the cabin hence lasts maybe the lifetime of the car.

ps. i replaced the rubber isolator on my previous e30 twice during my ownership (6 yrs)but never had to replace even once on my previous e34(10 yrs ownership) and it still looked solid when i sold it.

 

[Bruce_Z]

Hi moots, thanks for the suggestions. Definitely have the mechanics look again at items no. 2 and 3. on your list, but I think the tie rods are in good nick since they were checked when the rack was refurbished about 5 mths ago. Anyway, I think I should start to plan for the e36 rack implant anyway so that I can get that satisfaction..