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#1. RE: [E36M3] Steering Rack - from Dave DeBuhr
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 10:14:20 -0700 From: "Dave DeBuhr" <debuhr@comcast.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Steering Rack Removing the airbag takes about 10 minutes. Very easy to do. Recommend disconnecting the battery the night before and let it sit. Just to make sure there are no spare 'trons floating around. Overkill but safe. -----Original Message----- From: Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net [mailto:Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net] Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 10:00 AM To: E36M3 Subject: [E36M3] Steering Rack Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 12:58:23 -0400 From: <Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net> Subject: Steering Rack I forget to also ask, has anyone changed their rack? Looking at the Bentley it mentioned removing the airbag.... the idea didn't motivate me... Regards, Stan Shaw Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net Phone: (413) 599-0399 Fax: (413) 599-0421 Excell.Net Owner/Operator http://www.Excell.Net/ 928 Owners Club President http://www.928OC.org/ 928Racing.net Team Member http://www.928Racing.net/ "Liberty once lost is lost forever." - John Adams ************************************************* Please help support the E36M3 list by visiting our sponsors: Bimmerworld http://www.bimmerworld.com Turner Motorsport http://www.turnermotorsport.com Eurosport High Performance http://www.eurosporthighperformance.com Rogue Engineering http://www.rogueengineering.com Treehouse Racing http://www.treehouseracing.com DIGEST INFORMATION: http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm *************************************************
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#2. Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack - from Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 13:25:56 -0400 From: <Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack > Removing the airbag takes about 10 minutes. Very easy to do. > Recommend disconnecting the battery the night before and let it sit. > Just to make sure there are no spare 'trons floating around. > Overkill but safe. Thanks Dave, the battery has already been disconnected for a day already. Regards, Stan Shaw Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net Phone: (413) 599-0399 Fax: (413) 599-0421 Excell.Net Owner/Operator http://www.Excell.Net/ 928 Owners Club President http://www.928OC.org/ 928Racing.net Team Member http://www.928Racing.net/ "Liberty once lost is lost forever." - John Adams
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 10:30:27 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack On Mon, April 4, 2005 9:59 am, Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net said: > I forget to also ask, has anyone changed their rack? Looking at the > Bentley it > mentioned removing the airbag.... the idea didn't motivate me... Souldn't be necessary, you can de-couple the rack from teh steering solumn down below. Probably just one of those "cautionary" notes, to keep them from getting sued should you injure yourself :-) My 2 cents, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 - new rack in 2000 1993 325is #44 JP - in need of new rack (see next post :-))
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#4. [WTB] 95 M3 steering rack - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 10:35:34 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: [WTB] 95 M3 steering rack Must be the week for steering rack issues :-) I'm looking for a used rack from a '95 M3. If anyone has one, or knows of one laying around (like at you local mechanic's), let me know. (It would be great if there was one in the SoCal area - I could pick it up this weekend at the Willow Springs school :-)) Thanks, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 1993 325is #44 JP - needs a new rack
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#5. Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack - from Chester Wong
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 10:40:25 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack Changing the rack does not require removing the airbag as everything is done underneath the car. You'll need a very flat 32mm wrench to take the tie rods off but I guess you already know that since you changed the tie rods. You'll also need a 13mm socket to loosen the universal that holds the steering column to the rack. Some have suggested that the universal wears with age and there are two of them. Perhaps you should check these first? Chester --- Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net wrote: > Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 12:58:23 -0400 > From: <Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net> > Subject: Steering Rack > > I forget to also ask, has anyone changed their rack? Looking at the Bentley > it > mentioned removing the airbag.... the idea didn't motivate me...
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack - from Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 13:41:35 -0400 From: <Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Steering Rack > Probably just one of those "cautionary" notes, to keep them from getting > sued should you injure yourself :-) Thanks Jim, that was my first thought. My second thought was why would I put the airbag back in.... Regards, Stan Shaw Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net Phone: (413) 599-0399 Fax: (413) 599-0421 Excell.Net Owner/Operator http://www.Excell.Net/ 928 Owners Club President http://www.928OC.org/ 928Racing.net Team Member http://www.928Racing.net/ "Liberty once lost is lost forever." - John Adams
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#7. RE: Steering Rack Change on '96 M3 - from Don Eilenberger
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Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 13:50:37 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@yahoo.com> Subject: RE: Steering Rack Change on '96 M3 Stan asked: >I am considering changing the steering rack on my '96 M3, as the steering >is not >as tight as it once was. I have already changed strut bearings, struts, >springs, lower control arms, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, calipers, >rotor, so there really isn't much else left... > >I have checked many of the back end components, as I know some have said they >have had a similar issue due to worn back end components. The struts, springs >and rotors have been replaced in the backs as well. > >Has anyone else noticed that the steering is less tight after many miles >(150k+), and found it to be the steering rack? > >The symptom is perhaps 1/4" to 1/2" play in the steering wheel, but seems >to be >more noticeable when turning in one direction. I can't recall which >direction, >as the M3 has been hibernating all winter. The symptom shows up with >either my >winter or summer tires. > >I do notice a PS reservoir leak, but it doesn't seem to be a low fluid issue. > >Any thoughts before I order a rack. I figure with 150k+ miles the teeth >in the >rack might just be worn a bit... > >Regards, >Stan Shaw Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net In your list I didn't see the universal joint on the steering column. IMHO - this is a more likely wear point than the rack itself. If the rack was to wear - the wear would be 90% on dead-center (since that's where 90% of your driving is unless you live in a super part of the world to drive..) - Moving the wheel even a few inches off center should result in 0 play again. If so - then it might be the rack. If not - I'd be looking very carefully at the U joint on the steering column. <http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=BF93&mospid=47486&prod=19950600&hg=32&fg=30> And: <http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BF93&mospid=47486&prod=19950600&btnr=32_0640&hg=32&fg=30> I also vaguely remember somewhere, some time ago, reading about some play being created by a bad upper bearing on the steering column, and given that they list part #2 as "STEERING SPINDLE BEARING PLASTIC" in this diagram - I'd say that's also a possibility: <http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BF93&mospid=47486&prod=19950600&btnr=32_0635&hg=32&fg=30> Best, _______D_o_n__________S_p_r_i_n_g__L_a_k_e__H_t_s____________©1946________ Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ - http://www.njsbmwr.org/ '98 M3c/5, '03 525iT, '87 K75S
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#8. Re: Steering Rack Change on '96 M3 - from Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 14:02:50 -0400 From: <Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net> Subject: Re: Steering Rack Change on '96 M3 > In your list I didn't see the universal joint on the steering column. > IMHO - this is a more likely wear point than the rack itself. If the > rack was to wear - the wear would be 90% on dead-center (since that's > where 90% of your driving is unless you live in a super part of > the world to drive..) - Moving the wheel even a few inches off > center should result in 0 play again. If so - then it might be > the rack. If not - I'd be looking very carefully at the U joint > on the steering column. I guess I will have to check those as well. The "play" does show up at dead center though, but seems only to be in on direction....maybe too many right hand turns :-) > I also vaguely remember somewhere, some time ago, reading about some > play being created by a bad upper bearing on the steering column, and given > that they list part #2 as "STEERING SPINDLE BEARING PLASTIC" in this > diagram - I'd say that's also a possibility: I will check that as well. I do have the steering column squeak, but have had it so long I tend to forget about it. Thanks Don! Regards, Stan Shaw Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net Phone: (413) 599-0399 Fax: (413) 599-0421 Excell.Net Owner/Operator http://www.Excell.Net/ 928 Owners Club President http://www.928OC.org/ 928Racing.net Team Member http://www.928Racing.net/ "Liberty once lost is lost forever." - John Adams
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#9. Will Conforti '96 cold air intake fit '95? - from Scott Spangenberg
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 11:03:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Scott Spangenberg <cpmustang2001@yahoo.com> Subject: Will Conforti '96 cold air intake fit '95? A friend is prepping his '96 M3 for BMWCCA racing and has an older Conforti cold air intake he doesn't need any more. I see the current Conforti product line lists different products for '95 and '96. Can anybody tell me why the '96 CAI wouldn't fit my '95 M3? -Scott Spangenberg __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Reverse Light - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 11:42:50 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Reverse Light On Sun, April 3, 2005 8:39 pm, Steve Crowl said: > Hi All. I have one of the very early UUC short-shifters. I recently > noticed > my reverse (back-up) were not working. I pulled the switch out and tested > it; worked fine. Reinstalled, worked once, then doesn't. When I pulled it > and reinstall, same result. Any suggestions? Sounds like the switch is intermittent. My suggestion is replace it. (FWIW, I've had 3 different SS kits in the various E36's I've owned, never had any of them cause a problem with the reverse light switch. I have had the one on the M3 replaced due to non-funtioning.) Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 1993 325is #44 JP