Pre-cut Lower Joint Steering Coupler

[davidinnyc]

Hi all -

I purchased two OEM couplers to fit an Ireland Engineering urethane coupler in case I destroyed one of them - turns out it was an easy process and now I have an extra coupler that I can cut and ship for someone that wants to do the same. If you watch videos online, you see people drilling out the bolts but I have a nice press with a perfectly fit tip that pushes these out very cleanly.

I keep all of my OEM components (headers, exhaust piping, steering rack, suspension parts) when I swap them out for aftermarket as the car only has 47K miles, so that’s why I bought two because I wasn’t going to use my OEM coupler.

What you get with this purchase:

1. Cut out the old OEM rubber coupler
2. Clean and “resharpen” the inner knurls (I have a throwaway pinion shaft that I use for realigning anything that’s off)
3. Clean the brackets in an ultrasonic cleaner
4. Sand (where needed), polish and treat with a rust preventative

$50 shipped

Pictures attached to show the coupler for sale (bottom) and what a finished version looks like with the Ireland Engineering coupler (top).

David

[TramRam]

Is the red rubber a higher, or the same durometer as OE? Is it urethane? Wondering how it feels.

[davidinnyc]

Is the red rubber a higher, or the same durometer as OE? Is it urethane? Wondering how it feels.

Check the linked product below. It’s urethane and it added a slightly “snappier” feel to steering turn, but I’ve read that a new OEM steering coupler is the same. I installed a 712 rack shortly thereafter, and that had a more positive and immediate feedback result.

[George Hill]

I know this isn't the point of your post but I would highly reconsider the use of a poly part in this location. I have a customer with an E28 and his failed while he was driving. Luckily it was at low speeds and he was able to drift to the side of the road safely, but he had just miles before been driving very fast. When it failed he lost ALL steering, zero control of the car. I asked about this on some E28 groups and apparently its not uncommon. The design looks essentially the same as the E46 so I can only assume the issue would be present with our cars as well. YMMV

[davidinnyc]

I know this isn't the point of your post but I would highly reconsider the use of a poly part in this location. I have a customer with an E28 and his failed while he was driving. Luckily it was at low speeds and he was able to drift to the side of the road safely, but he had just miles before been driving very fast. When it failed he lost ALL steering, zero control of the car. I asked about this on some E28 groups and apparently its not uncommon. The design looks essentially the same as the E46 so I can only assume the issue would be present with our cars as well. YMMV

Thank you, I appreciate that perspective. I can say that with the 712 rack I can’t say for certain that it provides much of anything at this point, and I have another coupler sitting in the wings. I’ll check on it at my next oil change interval and see if there are any signs of stress - if so, I’ll swap it out with the OE one.

Very much appreciated!

[George Hill]

TBH that one had been installed in the car for years, but after seeing that one I'll never install anything that isn't solid metal in the steering coupler.

I do think you will get a great steering feel just from going to a new coupler. Unfortunately they have shot up in price 2x in the last 6 months, but still I think for a street car and dual purpose cars its likely the best option.

If you do inspect it please update us on what you find.

[theOracle]

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