BMW E30 Corsa Steering Linkage Guide & PAS Line Routing for RHD Steering Rack Conversion | 040

BMW E30 Corsa Steering Linkage Guide & PAS Line Routing for RHD Steering Rack Conversion | 040
In this E30 build video I create a slim E30 steering linkage using a Vauxhall Corsa C steering linkage (or Holden Barina if you're an Aussie), and bend the Right-hand drive (RHD) BMW power steering lines to meet up with my Z3 steering rack conversion.
Here's what I use in this video:
Corsa C Steering Linkage: ebay.us/6u2GQp
Map Gas Blowtorch: ebay.us/1WipXe
Chisel and punch kit: ebay.us/cxWsHA
CV Grease: ebay.us/SFB9En
14mm spacers (M10 clearance): ebay.us/W6Pyky
Z3 steering rack rebuild service: ebay.us/wj9hqU
Purple tag steering rack rebuild service: ebay.us/GamWq6
First off, if you're interested in doing the whole Z3 or Purple Tag steering rack conversion to your E30, you need to start at the previous video where I outline how to fit the Z3 rack up with 14mm spacers: • Best E30 Steering Rack...
Once you've got to that point, the steering linkage AKA steering knuckle, and routing of the original PAS lines will be your next obstacle.
In theory, you're supposedly able to continue using the standard E30 steering knuckle when doing a steering rack conversion, and that is somewhat correct, but I found that the steering linkage was slightly too long, meaning it was taking up the entire steering rack and steering column splines with absolutely no wiggle-room. I could imagine this to be an issue once there is heat expansion at play thanks to proximity to the exhaust manifold.
But further to that, I'm planning to do an M52 engine swap so using the original E30 steering coupler is not an option for me thanks to its width obstructing the routing of the exhaust pipes. In fact, if you have any kind of aftermarket exhaust manifold (headers), even with M40 or M20 engine, you'll run into problems with the original E30 steering linkage fouling it.
When doing a steering rack conversion for RHD E30s, you'll find that the requirements for bending the original PAS lines is not well documented at all, and there's barely one photo on the entire internet showing how the RHD lines need to be routed to meet up with the steering rack swap whether Z3 or Purple Tag. So this video involved a bit of experimental trial and error to solve it. But luckily it was successful.
Regarding the Vauxhall Corsa steering rack mod for E30, this is a great cost-effective way to get a slimline E30 steering rack. It involves modifying the Corsa steering coupler to have the E30 steering column splined end instead. Here are the steps:
1. Remove non-splined end of Corsa C steering knuckle with angle grinder
2. Knock the stakes back on the E30's steering column end bearings
3. Press out the bearings on the E30 steering coupler with two sockets and a vise
4. Fit the E30 end to the Corsa linkage, regrease and press the bearings back in place
5. Restake bearings
6. Grind out key spline from steering rack end of the linkage
7. Replace steering rack side retaining bolt with an M6 shouldered 35mm cap-headed bolt and nut
You will need to be especially careful with the bearings, as you see in the video, they are very easy to damage, and you can end up with them being very notchy which would obviously be no good for your BMW steering feel. Luckily your E30 steering linkage will be trash with an end missing, so you've got a few spare bearings to go at if needs be.
With it fitted to the car, you will find the Corsa linkage retaining screw won't fit with the notch on the steering rack splines. I was originally planning to drill the hole out wider and use the E30's nut/bolt. But I found a nice M6 shouldered bolt to use as a much better alternative to secure the steering linkage to the rack.
The E30's original power steering lines are quite different to the Z3 ones, and thus do not naturally line up to the ports on the Z3 steering rack which is unfortunate. I think this is much less of an issue with LHD cars thanks to the lines being a different design with more rubber flex hose. But with RHD E30's, it's a pretty drastic difference.
The low-pressure return line ended up only needing a minor bend, and I had to bend the hard lines on the Z3 steering rack for a bit more clearance too. But the high-pressure PAS line needed rerouting entirely around the back of the subframe. Using the original high-pressure line seemed like it would be impossible until I worked that out.
To bend the lines you need to apply a lot of heat, I used map gas for this which worked quite well, bending the lines with the bench vise.
For more helpful how-to guides: www.spannerrash.com/
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#bmwe30 #e30build #e30

[@polloloci21]

Love your videos man! You should also start another channel in which you read children’s stories. You have a good voice for that

[@SPANNERRASH]

Haha you're too kind mate, rare that the Yorkshire accent gets such high praise. 😄 Glad you're loving the vids!

[@felixjayasuria8963]

Hi Rash, Nice vids on the steering linkages mod 👌 On the power steering lines, don't bother bending them, as the banjo head for the e30 side doesn't match on the m52 vane pump. Might as well get a e36 lines, they fit easily and they have cooler line added below. M52 ones fit nicely.

[@SPANNERRASH]

Oh no! Why did I not think to check that before bending!? 😳 I was quite happy with the result too, bloody typical! 🤣 I guess I will cross that bridge when there's an M52 in the hole. If I have to get E36 lines and re-bend them to shape then so be it, at least I know its doable now and have an idea where to route them. Really appreciate the heads-up on that.

[@medievilassassin]

Great work mate 😎

[@SPANNERRASH]

Thanks mate! 😁

[@vagkos3060]

Great video as always !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

[@SPANNERRASH]

Cheers mate!

[@JohnWilliams-tr7nw]

My ZZR600 had plenty of needle roller bearing and i remember the fun games. You are doing really well with the motor 👍

[@SPANNERRASH]

Cheers John, yeah those needles resulted in a few choice words off-camera. 🤣 when you delicately get all the needles back in and it still doesn't turn smoothly it's extremely frustrating. Glad I cut my losses on those and carefully extracted another two from the E30 coupler. Couldnt have worked out better after that.

[@johnzervoudakis2835]

If you ever come to Athens, you can count few beers on my account!!! This steering rack video is helpful 1000%!!!

[@SPANNERRASH]

Thanks John, really glad its useful for you mate. I'd love to visit Greece so maybe I'll take you up on that one day. :D

[@richwatts8824]

Your videos are class

[@SPANNERRASH]

Cheers Rich! Really kind of you to say. 😃

[@ant76og22]

Great video. P.s please bolt that vice down.

[@SPANNERRASH]

Cheers Ant! And yeah I succumbed to bolting it down in the end, it got too annoying.

[@mariosnikolaou5212]

Really useful video

[@SPANNERRASH]

Thanks Marios 😃

[@dhilankerai3585]

Great video as always. Looking to tackle this project soon for my purple tag rack. Let’s hope mine goes as smoothly as yours.

[@SPANNERRASH]

Thanks mate, hope my 2 vids on it help you out, it took some serious figuring out for me, especially the PAS lines for a RHD E30. It was a relief when it came together because I honestly thought I was on for custom lines. It seems LHD cars have less of an issue and most of the advice you can find is for those.

[@dhilankerai3585]

@@SPANNERRASH can’t wait to see the progress on the build. When’s the next m52 planned to go in?

[@SPANNERRASH]

@@dhilankerai3585 Tough to say exactly, but I will want to figure out the brake servo situation first because the standard one wont fit with the M52 intake manifold. So that might be next. Although I have another more weather dependent job I want to do soon while we have some dry days. Either way, we'll keep moving forward on the project! 😃

[@shanechiddy4303]

Excellent work. Now bolt that vice down 😃.

[@SPANNERRASH]

Thanks Shane, yeah I really bloody need to, every time I use it I'm cursing myself! 🤣 I need to get my hands on some appropriately sized bolts that will take the abuse I'll be delivering.

[@shanechiddy4303]

@@SPANNERRASH Or maybe clamp it down when your using it. That way it’s removable and doesn’t take up bench space when not needed.

[@benfidar]

We used a 944 booster. Works a charm. Wasn't too expensive either. The clevis pins need to be altered too, IIRC.

[@SPANNERRASH]

Cheers Ben, seems a common choice the 944 booster, but I do worry they are quite old themselves now. I'm weighing up my options for a slightly more modern booster, maybe E90. 👍

[@Dallo422]

@@SPANNERRASH the e9x booster seems to be the way to go these days

[@bobfrankish8883]

Enjoyable video. FYI, a few years ago I restored a MK3 Golf. The steering rack needed reconditioning, and the 2 fluid transfer pipes (the ones you are calling the Z3 hard lines) were completely rotten and needed replacing. They are unavailable from VW, I found a company, I think in Coventry, not 100% sure, that can make any PS line, any size any shape. They had a template for the pipes I needed and made me a pair for £20 I believe. If they are still in business, they would be able to make you new lines to your own spec. maybe worth a search? I had an invoice which I may have given to the new owner of the car, but I definitely found them in the first place via our old mate Google.

[@SPANNERRASH]

Cheers Bob! £20 for the pair, that sounds like a serious deal, I was anticipating a lot more than that. I guess the difficulty is specifying exactly what shape I need be cause it doesn't match any OE template. Although if I had most of it as a soft line it would probably work. Thanks for the tip on that, the lines I've got are actually pretty solid, just not that pretty. I reckon they're plenty thick judging by how hard they were to bend. I'll see how I go with them for now.

[@bobfrankish8883]

@@SPANNERRASH Yeah, no problem. If I can find the details I'll drop them in a comment. I remember the guy being super helpful. Maybe you could make a sample of the hard line with, say, a length of brake pipe, possibly mock up the banjo for orientation, and as you say, make allowances with the rubber section.

[@josevasconcelosligeiro9471]

The steering linkage joints are out of fase with each other, check the video at the start to see how their suppose to be

[@SPANNERRASH]

Hi Jose, great spot, thanks for pointing out that the BMW joints have to be a specific way round. Unfortunately there's no way for me to change the angle on the Corsa steering linkage so it'll have to be this way. I have a feeling it will be fine. After all, Vauxhall made their linkage like this, I just swapped half of one end on. 😆

[@mariospantouvanos4645]

Wow, there's a lot of information crammed in this video. I wonder how much of it apllies to LHD cars.

[@SPANNERRASH]

Thanks Marios, I try to make it useful for other enthusiasts. 😁 This vid is a bit more RHD E30 specific thanks to the differences in PAS line routing. The steering linkage mod would work a treat for LHD cars, but it might not be worth it for you as your steering coupler will be on the opposite side and away from the exhaust pipe!

[@slydogg0068]

E90 booster is the way, I have a 944 booster and it's terrible. The e90 option apparently gives a great feel, there is good info online regarding the installment, small mod to the fork , do you know if any e36 power steering lines would work for rack swap ? I have a m52 e30 ( without power steering)

[@SPANNERRASH]

Cheers! Yeah it seems the E90 booster is the most popular modern one to go for. Renault Clio boosters were always the favourite but they're old and hard to get now, E90 is what I'm leaning towards currently. I'll be sure to make a vid! I did have a look at what the lines look like for other models to see if I could use something off the shelf, but unfortunately, I didn't see any I thought wouldn't need major modification anyway.

[@fuzzik5947]

Corsa Steering Linkage Will it also fit in LHD e30?

[@SPANNERRASH]

I'm not sure to be honest. But if your car is a LHD, why would you bother changing to a slim linkage?