Comprehensive Steering Information Thread

[digger]

Placebo effect is one hell of a drug.

As far as I'm aware, nothing faster than 50mm/rev has been identified thus far.

53.5mm/rev stated in this thread post #3? Maybe it’s erroneous

[terra]

thanks for confirming, i just wondered why you hear people say the z3 rack (2.7 LTL) is more twitchy than the 3 turn LTL racks e.g. purple tag on the highway when they are geared the same.
I did note the 2nd post it says one is 50mm/rev vs 53mm/rev so actually not geared the same unlike stated on other resources.

Placebo effect is one hell of a drug.

As far as I'm aware, nothing faster than 50mm/rev has been identified thus far.

[Lavatoad]

Anyone know where to source the power steering shims, or the dimensions?

[digger]

The ones I measured I checked if linear, so e36 m3\z3m = progressive...z4mc\roadster, standard z3s, zcp = linear

thanks for confirming, i just wondered why you hear people say the z3 rack (2.7 LTL) is more twitchy than the 3 turn LTL racks e.g. purple tag on the highway when they are geared the same.
I did note the 2nd post it says one is 50mm/rev vs 53mm/rev so actually not geared the same unlike stated on other resources.

[sapote]

Has anyone measured the linearity of the rack travel just off centre?

The rack/pinion ratio is fixed so the rack travel should be linear to the wheel rotation, the whole range.

[lapoune]

Has anyone measured the linearity of the rack travel just off centre?

All measurements seem to be based on 1 full rev when i would have thought you'd need to do various incremental measurements at 1/8, 1/4 turn etc to establish this

The ones I measured I checked if linear, so e36 m3\z3m = progressive...z4mc\roadster, standard z3s, zcp = linear

[digger]

Has anyone measured the linearity of the rack travel just off centre?

All measurements seem to be based on 1 full rev when i would have thought you'd need to do various incremental measurements at 1/8, 1/4 turn etc to establish this

[bigjae46]

From factory there is usually a shim in the regulator. I just went to a scrap yard and pulled the regulators out of a couple different e46's and measured/used the shims from those.

For what it's worth I ended up removing the additional shim from mine a few months after I put it in cause I hated the way it felt lol

bro...you're committed! lol

[Richardracer]

Hi Volpe, I am a new subscriber (Richardracer) and can’t send messages yet. Could you message me with an email address. I would like to buy a set of yours shims please.

thanks

Richardracer

[Thoglan]

Looks like volke hasn't been active since March and I got no response from PMing him. Does anyone have extra shims they can spare? I can buy, only looking for 3 or 4.

From factory there is usually a shim in the regulator. I just went to a scrap yard and pulled the regulators out of a couple different e46's and measured/used the shims from those.

For what it's worth I ended up removing the additional shim from mine a few months after I put it in cause I hated the way it felt lol

[sixthspeed]

Looks like volke hasn't been active since March and I got no response from PMing him. Does anyone have extra shims they can spare? I can buy, only looking for 3 or 4.

[Rich022]

Shim kit - Where do I purchase ? Rack is off the car, so figured this was the best time to tackle this! thanks

[Amoscake]

So all 2002-2005 330i/ci came with either a purple or yellow? No trw?

[Taz]

Hey guys, amazing post with great detailed information.
I have a e39 520iA, I will ask something totally different. The car is used for long, cross Europe journeys, very docile driving( with 150HP can't be anything but docile) but handles the autobahn well. I want my steering as smooth as it can possibly get. I have retrofitted servotronic, but it still feels stiff. I have a brand new PS pump installed, the solenoid is good, everything else is new and fresh.
My friend has a e39 530IA also with servotronic, and his steering is ideal. So smooth and progressive.
If untighten the pre-load bolt on the steering rack, will that make the rack more smooth or will it introduce play in the rack.
Is there also a possibility of increasing the pumps assist, just like you added shims to decrease its assist?
Any insight is appreciated.

[snaponbob]

The current rack in my M3