Removal and Installation of Poly Bushings on Steering Rack
by Sean Woodward, member BMW E21 Digest
Here's how it went together...
- Remove the steering unit. Don't disconnect the tie rods or the steering to rack. (After removal be sure to keep the two plates marked (top-bottom))
- Clean Steel plates
- Be sure you replace the Bushings correctly (I installed Poly and needed to barely sand the rough casting edges)
- Put the two plates together and hold them w/ your hand.
- Take the two smaller bolts and insert them next to the Larger bolt holes. There are three set of holes on the plates.
- Put the nuts on them loosely.
- W/ a Brass hammer GENTLY insert the Steering rack , while Adjusting the upper and lower plates as well as the steering rack.
- After the rack is pretty much in place insert the Larger bolt sleeves.
- Now use your Drift to locate the holes.
- Insert and tighten the Larger Bolts, finish tightening after both are in place.. While you are tightening the Larger Bolts you should remember to adjust the rack against the Larger bolts...
- Remove the two smaller bolts.
- Use a C-clamp to tighten the two plates.
- Insert the two small bolt sleeves.
- Use your smaller drift to locate the holes.
- Insert and tighten smaller bolts. HERE is the real hardest part. I put pressure on the sides of the bolt sleeves to help locate them.