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I was under the impression that steering racks could be swapped for SE30 until I read Denny’s race breakdown from Grattan. He said Louisin’s rack broke in the tech line after the race while the tech workers were counting turns lock to lock.
Are rack swaps legal or am I misinterpreting this?
9.3.7.1. Steering components may be substituted, and the interior steering shaft angle may be
altered and must be secure.
They’re legal as long as you swap it with an “original OEM equivalent” part. That means E30 parts only.
Basically we where checking by comparing the ratios. It’s popular to put an M3 rack in, which is a faster ratio but looks the same as a standard E30. Another racer also bought his car used and unknowingly had an M3 rack before he swapped back 1-2 years ago.
Michael is just trying to have tech check as many different things throught the year to make sure we are not ‘suprized’ at nationals.
When I had the engine out I put an E36 rack in because I thought it was legal.
E30 parts only, does that mean an E30 M3 rack is legal?
Oh, and does anyone want to buy an E36 rack with modified steering knuckle?
I don’t think a faster rack directly correlates to faster lap times on the track, but it’s a driver preference thing. If I like the feel of the controls better, I will be more comfortable in the car which can lead to faster lap times. I also currently autocross the car, where a rack faster than the stock 4 turns lock-to-lock will create faster times.
At Grattan, a faster rack would have been great. There is a lot of steering input compared to tracks like Mid-Ohio
I think the relevant interpretation is that the rack needs to have come from an E30 325; i.e. the ratio cannot be different than what was OEM fitment.
[quote=“Dizzle” post=66458]Are rack swaps legal or am I misinterpreting this?
9.3.7.1. Steering components may be substituted, and the interior steering shaft angle may be
altered and must be secure.[/quote]
When in doubt refer back to “If it doesn’t say you can, you can’t”. Here is the definition of substitute:
Original is the key word there. If the car didn’t come with it, then it isn’t original. The rule is there to allow OEM equivalent parts made by companies like Febi to be used, not to allow racks from E36s or M3s.
What’s tech going to do when it comes across an e30 manual rack? I think it’s slower, not faster. My point is that the different turns to lock can’t create an immediate assumption of an illegal rack.
[quote=“King Tut” post=66497][quote=“Dizzle” post=66458]Are rack swaps legal or am I misinterpreting this?
9.3.7.1. Steering components may be substituted, and the interior steering shaft angle may be
altered and must be secure.[/quote]
When in doubt refer back to “If it doesn’t say you can, you can’t”. Here is the definition of substitute:
Original is the key word there. If the car didn’t come with it, then it isn’t original. The rule is there to allow OEM equivalent parts made by companies like Febi to be used, not to allow racks from E36s or M3s.[/quote]
I get it. Thanks!
Essentially, tech should have the specs on all racks available for the E30 and would be compared to what is on the cars. Then again, it should just be called out as a spec rack in the rules to avoid confusion, imo.