Re: E30 Steering Racks - What's Up With That? -Reply

[SMILLER@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Ed sets me straight:

>>>> erwalker@domain.elided ("Edward R. Walker") 09/28/98 06:15pm >>>
>
>Scott,
>you should have given this a little more than your customary 30 to 40
>seconds.  If you had, you might have come up with these points
>regarding the good old days. :^)
>
>First, the e21 3 series came with rack and pinion steering, as did a 
>number of earlier BMW's(319/1 and 327 for example).
>
>Second, the 02's and the "four doors" from which they evolved used
>worm and roller.
>
>Third, the 507 used pinion and sector.
>
>It's really only the big sixes, sedans and coupes, that used recirculating
>ball steering.
>
>Ed Walker
>'80 323i
>'72 tii

OK, I'll admit I didn't do my homework.  I do remember reading in the
"automotive press" (can't remember which publication) back in the
mid-'80's that the E30 was the "first" BMW to use rack & pinion, but
obviously whoever said that didn't do their homework, either.

Which brings me to these new questions:  Do the E21 rack & pinion units
blow seals as often as the E30 racks?  If so, why didn't they fix it for the
E30?  If not, why did they change the design?

And that also still leaves the question about why R&P is better than W&R,
although I've gotten a bit behind on my Digest reading again, and that has
probably already been answered, as well.  Ed speculates that the
steering is more sensitive with R&P.  I can't say that either of my E30's
had more sensitive steering than my E28 or E24 had, but I've never done
side-by-side commparisons.

Well, thanks for the lesson, Ed, and I'll check the Digests I've missed to
see if my other questions have been answered.

Scott Miller
Golden Gate Chapter
BMW CCA #44977
1990 325i/is hybrid

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