Rack and Pinion into e34 535i...

[JAlfredPrufrock]

I completely agree with SRR2. I've no complaints about mine, its simple and reliable, feels great. How we could graft bits in and get a better result than BMW engineers have done with basic parts I do not know. Interesting sure, how anyone could say this is compelling enough to do I don't get... plus I am sure an insurance company would love to claim this to be an illegal modification should one have an accident and write off the car or kill someone...

GP

If the insurance company was able to figure out, I think they'd deserve to claim it.

[dmenheere]

I don't think its a bad ideal ... save probably 50 lbs right off the bat when you combine the weight of the recirculating gearbox, the rod that follows the subframe and its link rod. The cost of replacing the gearbox alone would buy you a lot of parts at the junkyard.

I'm going to look at the steering rack out of a 2000+ Passat ... 14.3:1 ratio and 2.8 turns lock to lock and similar weight on the front end. Try to find a car that has been rear ended with low mileage and do lots of measuring. If it all goes wrong and your not happy just reinstall the originals.

I would love to find an electric rack but don't think one out of a civic or golf would handle the extra weight not to mention the electronics that go with it.

Just my .02 canadian,

Dave Menheere

PS: plenty of hot rods running around out there with cobbled together steering systems not to mention Factory Five Cobras