# Rack and pinion, remove and install

Remove the front wheels |
Disconnect one of the fluid lines from the power steering pump and drain the system. |
Remove 13mm nut and bolt from steering knuckle (white arrow, right and below) and pry knuckle up on shaft of rack. There is not enough clearance to completely disengage the coupling at this stage. |
Remove the banjo bolts from fluid lines at rack (green arrows). |
Remove tie rod ends from struts. |

NOTE: Never hit the threaded rod of a ball joint to remove it. Hitting the side of the ball joint, or the component it goes through, while applying pressure against the control arm, is enough to knock it loose. Hitting the threaded rod will both damage the threads, and risk spreading the rod to the point that it will no longer fit through the hole it needs to come through. It is also much less effective than hitting the mount.

Remove bolts and nuts securing steering rack to cross member. |
To remove the rack from the cross member either remove the nuts from the engine mounts and jack up the engine for clearance, or bend the tabs on the cross member down.

### Installation:

Place steering wheel in straight ahead position. Position steering rack spindle so that small arrow on plastic shield lines up with cast mark on rack, this is the neutral position. |
Fill and bleed system.

### Torques:

Rack mount bolts | : | 42 Nm (30 ft lbs.)
Banjo bolts | : | 10mm, 10Nm (7 ft lbs.) 12mm, 20Nm (14 ft lbs.)
Tie rod nuts | : | 36.5 ± 3.5 Nm ( 26 ± 3 ft lbs.)
Knuckle clamps | : | 22 Nm (16 ft lbs.)

E30 M3 Repair Manual V2.7. Copyright ©1999-2001 Koala Motorsport & Brett Anderson