Black & Tan 332iT

[Bry5on]

Well it was rainy all day today, so that means house and car work. The 6001 bearing at the bottom of the pinion shaft didn't feel so great, so I finished off the rack rebuild other than replacing this bearing (which arrives this week). I didn't bother replacing the PTFE seals as I don't have tapered tools to stretch/install them properly. Yet another concession that I hope I don't regret down the road..





I also got to painting the ground control lower control arm replacements. I haven't been able to get camber in spec on either side (maxing under 1.6 degrees on both sides), and I figured I'd try a set of arms with a ball joint a la CSL. The ground control arms are a nice shade of red, but I'm not exactly jazzed about having some red arms showing from underneath my car as folks follow me. It just screams 90's Honda Civic to me. I also found it a bit odd that the two arms are using what appear to be different brand ball joints.

[Bry5on]

That's great. Where did you get parts to rebuild the steering rack?


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I’m using a kit made by Gates. It’s got everything including the little o-rings for the transfer pipes. I bought it a while ago, this looks like it: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-gates-pa...it/348654~gat/

[0-60motorsports]

That's great. Where did you get parts to rebuild the steering rack?


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[Bry5on]

Spent a few hours today cleaning up the hitch and dropping the smaller parts in the ultrasonic, then started the rebuild process for the 712 steering rack that's been sitting for months. It's got a little etching, so I'll basically be crossing my fingers that it seals.

[Bry5on]

Aluminum BMW/Westfalia hitch showed up today - time to clean it up and adapt this to the US stealth hitches design we've got on the Macan

[Bry5on]

Slon just sent me these pics, I had the strut mounts anodized black to be a little more stealthy. Install coming soon!

[Bry5on]

I'm wondering if there has there been feedback that these solid couplings make any noticeable difference to steering feel. Cool idea and neat little machining project with the sphericals though

Pretty much every BMW since the e46 is solid, even the e39 was solid in the same generation. NVH isn’t bad in those cars so I’m assuming it shouldn’t translate up the wheel. I’ll be sure to notice though, as Heinz says. And I’m not afraid to go back to stock if something sucks.

heinzboehmer (& Thoglan) less rear toe in really helps with the numb on center feel. Since you’ve got sphericals back there, you should run CSL specs or similar. Way different settings.

[Thoglan]

I'm wondering if there has there been feedback that these solid couplings make any noticeable difference to steering feel. Cool idea and neat little machining project with the sphericals though

Pretty much agree with Heinz above. I run CMP's coupler since I am RHD. Deadspot in the centre is still there (I think that is just a function of the geometry and design of the steering on these cars tbh) but the feel through the steering is improved but it's not earth shattering.

[heinzboehmer]

I'm wondering if there has there been feedback that these solid couplings make any noticeable difference to steering feel. Cool idea and neat little machining project with the sphericals though

I had one on my car for a bit (didn't give it too much thought then, fortunately rack seems fine), but have since replaced with the regular rubber one. Did make the steering feel more direct, but also made it much more twitchy. Did not eliminate all of the on center deadness that the M3 racks have.

[timmo]

I'm wondering if there has there been feedback that these solid couplings make any noticeable difference to steering feel. Cool idea and neat little machining project with the sphericals though

[heinzboehmer]

Interesting in hearing your thoughts about that steering coupler. Especially considering how sensitive you are to NVH

Maybe you could start with one of the off the shelf ones and drill it out to accommodate the spherical bearings. Would save you a bit of work. Most of them have reliefs cut out though, so not sure if you'd have enough material to work with.

[Bry5on]

I thought this was a 'no no' with LHD cars since the rubber guibo compensates for misalignment while RHD cars have a UJ. Solid steering couplers on LHD cars can damage or wear the steering rack IIRC. That's why places like CMP only sell a solid coupler for RHD. I'm sure there was a discussion about it a while ago but I could be misremembering.

It’s hard to tell from the image but there are four spherical bearings, $12/ea in that design above. They provide the same amount of articulation as a factory setup good callout though, you’re absolutely right that a solid adapter is a no no

[Thoglan]

Spent a few minutes last night to design a solid/spherical bearing replacement for the steering guibo, another mill/lathe project once I free up the time

I thought this was a 'no no' with LHD cars since the rubber guibo compensates for misalignment while RHD cars have a UJ. Solid steering couplers on LHD cars can damage or wear the steering rack IIRC. That's why places like CMP only sell a solid coupler for RHD. I'm sure there was a discussion about it a while ago but I could be misremembering.

[Bry5on]

Spent a few minutes last night to design a solid/spherical bearing replacement for the steering guibo, another mill/lathe project once I free up the time

[Bry5on]

Still planning on swapping in the M3 floor and exhaust? Don't know too much about these hitches, but will the wagon version still fit with that muffler on?

Word on the street is that it should still fit. For now I’m going to keep the standard twin pipes. With the vincebar and v-brace installations looming, I’ve got plenty of work cut out for myself on the back end already.