Detailed technical specifications (BMW 3 Series E21)

The vehicle is equipped with a ZF rack-and-pinion steering mechanism. The steering gear housing is secured with brackets with rubber supports. The steering shaft consists of upper and lower parts connected to each other by a cardan joint and an elastic coupling. The lower shaft is connected to the drive pinion by a cardan joint.

All models except the "316" produced before 1981 use a steering shock absorber.

Steering characteristics

The steering gear housing and the drive pinion boot have steering center point marks for correct assembly of the steering gear.

Steering shock absorber

Steering shock absorber - hydraulic, single-tube.

Shock absorber brand:

• on cars with 6-cylinder engines: Boge or Stabilus;
• on vehicles with 4-cylinder engines: Boge 1 116 258.

Stroke length, mm: about 156.

Data for checking the shock absorber

Power steering

Power steering, rack and pinion steering with built-in distributor. Power steering pump is vane-type with belt drive from crankshaft pulley.

Maximum pressure of the power steering pump, kg/cm²:

• all models except "323i": 100;
• "323i":
• before 1979 model year: 75;
• since 1980 model year: 100.

Power steering pump type:

• with a maximum pressure of 100 kg/cm²: NR 7671 955 120;
• with a maximum pressure of 75 kg/cm²: NR 7672 955 262.

Oil for hydraulic steering system Filling capacity of the system, l: 1.2.

Oil used: ATF.

Tightening torques of main threaded connections, kgf·m

• Bolt for fastening the steering gear housing to the front axle bracket: 5.0-5.5.
• Drive gear adjusting nut: 2.2—2.7.
• Steering shock absorber mounting nuts: 1.5-1.8. Outer end of steering rod: 5.6-6.6.
• Inner end of tie rod: 7.1-8.0.
• Ball joint tie rod mounting nut: 3.6-4.1.
• Nut of the bolt securing the cardan joint to the elastic coupling or to the lower shaft: 2.0-2.3.
• Nut of the bolt securing the lower shaft to the upper shaft: 2.5-2.9 (2.0-2.3 when installing aluminum ball joints).
• Steering wheel mounting nut: 8.7-9.7.