Steering Rack Diagnosis!?!

[Craig]

Hi Guys,

Just wondering how you can check a PAS rack for damage? As you can see below from the picture, my rack looks goosed... it has pulled both steering arms out of the rack, does this instantly mean its goosed or are these replaceable on the M-rack??

The operation of the rack still feels smooth, there is no notchyness, theres a little bit of a mark when somethings hit it (see the shiney spot in the picture) but it hasnt cracked or punctured.

It's obviously going to need two new arms, and two boots to look whole again, but is there any way I can actually test it? I want to be sure before sale that its 110%.

[DuncanR]

Whats this ? spot the steering rack competition ??!!:hahaha:

[Craig]

Yeh its a bit like where's wally, but more where's racky!

Anyway, quit ya bitchin, its you I've been looking into this so much for lol.

[DuncanR]

Anyway, quit ya bitchin, its you I've been looking into this so much for lol.

Sorry Craig, thought you may have been following my threads of whoe !, Thorney fitted me a new rack last week mate, but it is the third one ! I have since found out that the rack is covered on my Warranty, so thats they way hopefully I will go if it fooks up again. Wonder how many racks BMW will fit before wising up ! Would think its a useful spare to have for ayone without warranty who tracks their car, list rice is £976 !!:banghead:

[Craig]

Aha, no just been down the unit and every time I pick it up ready to just throw it I put it down again in hope!

[DuncanR]

If its not graunching and feels smooth Craig,I would say its a keeper, but in case its got a problem, advertise it on the other M3 forums as "the much sort after, very quick, you must be a skillful driver to use it " CSL rack !One careful owner, long jail sentence forces reluctant sale !!:hahaha:

[glendog74]

No offence Craig, but i wouldn't trust using it again - without a bonafide test by a specialist imho.

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Craig- Try these, for
a check over etc.

https://www.power-steering.co.uk/

Are the inner rod ends [ball joints]
or the outer tie rod ends that
have 'snapped' or pulled off ?

If the seals are
ok and the casing is not cracked then
it should be fine.

There is another BMW Power
rack with the CSL ratio.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Craig]

Glen, same here but after going to numerous places and getting no results thought i'd ask for advice on here. Non of the ends snapped off, they were pulled out of the socket, a result I guess of going from full left lock to full right lock in a shunt.