E36 poor steering feedback

The Evo or Z3 steering rack will help but it probably needs a lot more than that. The steering feel comes from everywhere, bushes, tyres, springs/dampers. Couldn't say if you need all or only some of the above but with everything it's definitely loads better than standard.

How are your Pagids getting on?

Finally gave the Pagids a go at Oulton Park today, basically on the same set-up as you will have (Evo discs, braided hoses). They were brilliant did a 30 miunte stint and they stopped the same every time, every lap, no fade, good stopping power. I had to stop as I was far more knackered than the car.

Only thing is the neighbours can here my squealing brakes coming from two streets away...

Eamo wrote: AFAIK the 3.0 rack is a quick rack where the 3.2 evo is a standard e36 rack. your current rack may be knackered which may be causing the poor feedback

Actually the 3.0 rack is slower than the standard E36 rack, it just has a variable ratio so has less turns lock to lock but the ratio for the first 180 deg or so is slower.

Ian Godney wrote: I have the same info as Eamo , the E36 M3 3:0lt rack is the quickest one available , I fitted a RHD one into my E30 rally car I'm building , its about 2:5 turns lock to lock , If you go on Gustave's site it give you quite a bit of info on them. I've not heard ot the rack being variable , mine isn't ?? if its on a rack and pinion I cant see how it can be , to be variable the cogs would have to get further apart for it to work , I cant see how it can be done

Variable ratios have been around for quite a while. They were first designed in the sixties but most modern systems run the type pioneered by Bishop, an Australian company.

Basically a variable ratio does what it says, the amount the rack moves relative to the amount the pinion turns changes with increasing lock. The idea behind it is to slow the centre ratio down for stability but maintain lock to lock turns for low speed manouverability. It is done by changing the angle of the teeth on the rack bar so the pinion effectively acts on a different bit as you increase lock. If you remove the gaiter on the end of the rack nearest the valve you will see the teeth on the rack bar and the change in angle between them. I could take a photo of the one I have at home.

That's why a 3.0 rack has the smallest amount of turns lock to lock so people assume its the fastest rack, but as it has a variable ratio, the ratio across centre is actually slower. You would be better off with a standard E36 rack.

The lock to lock turns test is also meaningless for a second reason, that being that it depends on how much the rack bar moves. For example if you have a slow ratio with restricted lock then you will have a small lock to lock turn but also a slow ratio.

Variable ratios are now used by a lot of car companies, all Jags, the new Porsche 997, some Audis, all Mercedes new 5-series - non AFS.

I have measured the ratio from my 3.0 and could take a photo of the rack bar teeth and post them later if you like?