Remove all plugs from the pressure ports first

– Do not turn the steering rack while the plugs are still in.

– Leaving plugs in can create vacuum or unnatural pressure inside the rack, which may damage the seals or even pull them out of their seats.

Install the inner tie rods

– The tie rods must always be installed on the rack rod during centering. Without them, the rack rod could travel too far into the housing and damage the internal seals.

Measure rod travel

– Turn the steering fully to the left, then fully to the right, and measure the total stroke (total movement). (In the BMW E36 E46 steering rack this value should be 150mm)

– Divide this by 2 to find the centre position.

Check rod position at centre

– For all E36 and E46 steering racks for the correct centre point the rod should stick out exactly 75 mm.

– Measure from the end of the rack rod to the point inside the housing where the tie rod stops when fully retracted.

– This ensures the piston inside the rack is centred and both sides of travel are equal.

Align steering wheel

– Once the rack is centred, fit or adjust the steering column so that the steering wheel sits straight.

– Double-check by turning lock-to-lock: you should have equal turns to the left and to the right.

Key points to remember:

Always have inner tie rods fitted when doing this.

Always remove port plugs before turning the rack.

For BMW E36 and E46 steering racks, the rod must "stick out" 75 mm both sides evenly.

Reminder:

BMW E36 and E46 steering racks have a typical design where both sides of the housing are the same inside, so the rod travel inside the housing is equal both ways. However, some other steering racks are built differently, allowing the rod to go further in one direction than the other. In those cases, the rod may look slightly off-centre even when it is correctly set. The method described above still applies and will ensure the rack is properly centred.