e30ftw 410 Report post Posted March 9, 2015 I'm doing this swap soon to my e30, Just wondering what everyone is using to make the new steering coupling? I can't find a good source online for Polyurethane tube / cylinder I can cut to length and drill as required to connect the e30 and e36 steering arms together. What has anyone who has done this used, and from where? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_BRS_ 209 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 If you want to go full custom, im looking at getting some u-joints from Flaming River to be used with a double d shaft. or Iv heard of making one using 2 e34 u joints with 2 e34 steering columns welded together. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jamez 2147483647 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 you can use the E30 one without the spacer in the middle. That's what I have on mine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e30ftw 410 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 Interesting, no issues with WOF having it that way? Lower end slips over the e36 rack and splines are the same ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jamez 2147483647 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 splines are the same, but its a race car so no WOF to worry about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slideways 47 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 I have done it a couple of times now just by removing the flexi coupling and bolting the two shafts directly together. Just use spring washers and Loctite and you should be fine. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rohil 30 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 I did this a few weeks back. Bolt it together and do away with the guibo. Use self locking nuts and washers. Loctite wouldnt hurt. Although its weird because i didnt seem to need to shorten it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e30ftw 410 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 Why isn't this common knowledge ha, Every thread goes on about using e36 lower end with e30 upper end and a custom guibo. Makes my life easier Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slideways 47 Report post Posted March 11, 2015 That's all for LHD swaps mainly. The UK guys seem to just bolt them together. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
musccoo 82 Report post Posted March 12, 2015 http://dungeonmotorsport.com do a spacer kit Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted March 12, 2015 If you want to go full custom, im looking at getting some u-joints from Flaming River to be used with a double d shaft. or Iv heard of making one using 2 e34 u joints with 2 e34 steering columns welded together. I've used those I joints and double d shafts on my e30. Saves a lot of room for exhaust 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agent75 37 Report post Posted March 16, 2015 (edited) Im in CHCH and am looking at doing the same swap soon. I don't know whether its easier when it's a 318 but thats what mine is. In the sticky rack swap thread the guy uses urethane from Mulford which is in CHCH here for the steering shaft coupler. I'm going to go in and see if they still sell it. It looked like there was enough urethane in the block purchased to do a few so it could be an idea to get a few cut to size at the same time.... Edited March 16, 2015 by agent75 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
APT 194 Report post Posted March 18, 2015 Ive got this kicking around: http://www.akgmotorsport.com/catalog/catalog.php $20 if anyones interested Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
euroriffic 607 Report post Posted March 18, 2015 Yea on Sanches one we're just welding the two parts together and removing the bolting areas to allow more room for exhaust for m52 swap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
slideways 47 Report post Posted March 18, 2015 You wouldn't be able to get away with doing that on a street car though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
euroriffic 607 Report post Posted March 19, 2015 You wouldn't be able to get away with doing that on a street car though. I see... Go on Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agent75 37 Report post Posted May 4, 2015 I have purchased a rack and have all of the bits i need. I have actually put the new rack in but have found the rack fouls on my exhaust. My car is a late 318i so I may be experiencing difficulties that others don't (ie i think most people have a 6) has anyone done this swap on a 4? i was just going to get a curve welded in to the pipe but wondered whether anyone has any thing to add. I have taken out the exhaust and its reasonably tight for room but not impossible. are there aftermarket manifolds? possibly the race guys might have encountered this. (please, no "put a 6 in it" suggestions unless you have all the bits and lots of spare time to help me!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darrencnz 10 Report post Posted May 15, 2015 I had to shorten mine, i just bolted it together with washers and spacers, lots more clearance. no dramas.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e30ftw 410 Report post Posted May 15, 2015 Yup that's exactly what I ended up doing. Was following some UK forum write ups and some on here too, which had a custom e36/e30 hybrid. You do kinda notice the steering wheel gets a bit more rattle but nothing major. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
curryinahurry 39 Report post Posted May 16, 2015 I'm not sure if its a good idea to remove the rubber coupling. I'm not sure if this is true, but I've been told the coupling is suppose to tear apart in the car was in an accident instead of pushing the steering column into the driver. In the end I just made up an adapter so I could re-use the rubber coupling. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted May 16, 2015 I'm not sure if its a good idea to remove the rubber coupling. I'm not sure if this is true, but I've been told the coupling is suppose to tear apart in the car was in an accident instead of pushing the steering column into the driver. In the end I just made up an adapter so I could re-use the rubber coupling. seems plausable, however only if the impact was tbone from the side, if it was head on wouldnt make any difference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
musccoo 82 Report post Posted May 16, 2015 (edited) Hey guys, the guy I bought my car off gave me two steering racks with it as he was planning to swap at some point. He told me one was an e36 m3 evo one but I been racking google for the part number and all I can find is one's from an E46 of some sort and the other an E36 318...Not sure if anyone can shed some light but would appreciate if they could. These are the part numbers: First one (e46?): ZF 7852 974 491 BMW 1 096 908Second one (e36?):ZF 7852 955 242BMW 1 141 609 0 Edited May 16, 2015 by potatomash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2132 Report post Posted May 16, 2015 Hey guys, the guy I bought my car off gave me two steering racks with it as he was planning to swap at some point. He told me one was an e36 m3 evo one but I been racking google for the part number and all I can find is one's from an E46 of some sort and the other an E36 318... Not sure if anyone can shed some light but would appreciate if they could. These are the part numbers: First one (e46?): ZF 7852 974 491 BMW 1 096 908 Second one (e36?): ZF 7852 955 242 BMW 1 141 609 0 im not getting a hit for the first, can you check BMW part number? the second i am getting E36 and Z3, possibly case is the same for both with different innards? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
musccoo 82 Report post Posted May 16, 2015 Incase my eyes are deceiving me... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
musccoo 82 Report post Posted May 16, 2015 (edited) Not sure if this clears anything up, both are the same height, but the one at the back has a different shaft connection. Thats the e46? one.. Also found more numbers lol, 1 095 016 on the bottom of one, quick google shows e46 m3??And the other has 1 137 481...e36 m3??Both also seem to be roughly 3.5 turns lock to lock by just turning the spline by handSo confused Edited May 16, 2015 by potatomash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
