Steering free play when cruising at highway

[Asrul Shamin]

This Albert in Pandan Indah...anybody can give quite specific location/address/telephone no.?

 

[MyBimmer]

My car has a little "free play". I bought the steering column and coupling myself but my mechanic insist it is the rack causing the problem. He advise me to continue driving since my car is not so serious. I think I will change the lower coupling on next oil change since it is not that expensive as compare to the rack and upper steering column..
My hesitation is whether to change the upper column as well. The shop sold the part to me allow me to refund the upper column if I did not use it.

 

[EtEE]

Hi Dylan/Machaplai/Climenta,

Bro .. you gave very good advice and thanks to all of you.

I've sent my car to Albert (Pandan Indah), done inspection (steering rack) ... disassemble all part (of the rack) and he foundout that the gear was not in good condition. He suggest the rack to be replaced with used steering rack. Just collect my car this evening (one day gone bro ). Now my car far better than before ... no free play.

Lesson learnt : The previous owner's mechanic tighten the steering rack.. and it was proven ... bad impact to the steering rack resulting in gear problem (rod inside the steering rack with gear)

This guy (Albert) is a nice guy .. always try to repair ...

He charge me RM 1,100 for steering rack ....

Bro .. thanks for introducing me to Albert (of Pandan Indah) - WP Auto Service

Hi EmKay46, since u change ur steering rack in 2009, is it lastful till today?

 

[bmwjackiee36]

It will last more that 5 year if the used steering is from Halfcut....

Now it is more cheaper like RM700 in year 2011

 

[EtEE]

That will make a huge difference since new cost around rm3k+

 

[infinityKL]

That will make a huge difference since new cost around rm3k+

where?

tq

 

[chylee11]

Hi Dylan/Machaplai/Climenta,

Bro .. you gave very good advice and thanks to all of you.

I've sent my car to Albert (Pandan Indah), done inspection (steering rack) ... disassemble all part (of the rack) and he foundout that the gear was not in good condition. He suggest the rack to be replaced with used steering rack. Just collect my car this evening (one day gone bro ). Now my car far better than before ... no free play.

Lesson learnt : The previous owner's mechanic tighten the steering rack.. and it was proven ... bad impact to the steering rack resulting in gear problem (rod inside the steering rack with gear)

This guy (Albert) is a nice guy .. always try to repair ...

He charge me RM 1,100 for steering rack ....

Bro .. thanks for introducing me to Albert (of Pandan Indah) - WP Auto Service

i'd also would like to know, im having abit of this issue as well, and yes mine do tramline a little. not sure if its the tyres (since already almost botak).

checked bushes and rods all ok. left steering coupling havent check/change only.

 

[EtEE]

where?

tq

I enquire it from a mzone Kota dsara, what do you think

 

[adrianyam]

I enquire it from a mzone Kota dsara, what do you think

just check with mzone today. was quoted 2k for recon steering rach. wow... i think a bit to high on the price. what do you think guys. anyway where is Alberts shop located in pandan indah? anyone can give full details? mine also like riding on a roller skating.....

 

[V-Man]

just check with mzone today. was quoted 2k for recon steering rach. wow... i think a bit to high on the price. what do you think guys. anyway where is Alberts shop located in pandan indah? anyone can give full details? mine also like riding on a roller skating.....

Alberts is in Pandan Mewah. Same area with Titan and newly opened PUSPAKOM. His shop is on the last row, mid-alley shop. PM me if you need his contact number and address, afraid revealing here will be deemed commercial. Cheers.

 

[aidilj]

I've been experiencing free play in the steering since I got the car, the free play induces nervousness at high speed as you feel not in control. Been nagging to my mechanic and after a lot of debug he managed to convince me that it's the "swivel joint with universal joint" problem. From undermeath the car (while jacked up), you can grab the item (4) and haggle it around it's place and see that the rubber not properly mounted anymore. Well this is how the mechanic convinced me the source of the problem. Havent replaced it yet since still waiting for the part. Anyone having the same problem please also try this.

Cheers

http://www.argyrides.eu/bmw/mods/steering_cross/steeringjoint.htm

 

[morrogan]

In my case, it was Part 3 connect to Part 5,6 got worn out. End of part 3 is actually a hexagon shape male part and suppose to insert into a female hexagon hole and tighten. However, if u always turn your steering while the car is in stationary, eventually the hexagon edge will be worn and round off. That is the time when your steering got a lot of floating feel and a bit out of control when doing high speed. I will put up some photo illustration tomorrow.

 

[morrogan]

Picture ..1979 show the whole assembly. ...1980 shown the female hexagon part and ....1982 show the worn out male hexagon part. May be you can see all the edge/angle of the hexagon are worn out/round off.

As such, when insert into the female part, it got a bit loose and free play is there. Thinking of putting epoxy to bond it into tight fit but risk of next time cannot open....

sorry for the low quality pictures taken by handphone and also I feel the wording sound like some sex lesson...may be I am dirty.

 

[aidilj]

Just changed the steering coupling, not like yours only the lower part was changed, will post picture later.

The difference between the existing and the replacement is that the replacement is rigid and rubber is harder. The existing coupling's rubber has soften.

Can definitely feel the difference, yet to test at high speed. Cheers.

 

[xcrave]

changed that same thing too now not much "free play" ... thats the culprit if you want to know AidilJ ..

Also do check on ur Front "Wishbone" Bushings... this is also another one that will go together with the repair...

 

[aidilj]

changed that same thing too now not much "free play" ... thats the culprit if you want to know AidilJ ..

Also do check on ur Front "Wishbone" Bushings... this is also another one that will go together with the repair...

All other bushings are checked already, after changing the coupling the car drives great. This is after one year of owning it, now I need to relearn driving the car. Goodbye freeplay.

The replaced part

 

[Alex5522]

All other bushings are checked already, after changing the coupling the car drives great. This is after one year of owning it, now I need to relearn driving the car. Goodbye freeplay.

The replaced part

Bro mind to share what's the name of this replacement parts ? Isit Steering shaft universal joint or coupling ? And how much was it cost ?

Thanks

 

[aidilj]

It is part no 4 in the earlier realoem diagram, "swivel joint with universal joint". Mine is a used one because if new they'll come as a whole like in morrogan picture. Got it for rm220.

In my case, the rubber didn't break but compared to the replacement one it is softer which explains the looseness when turning the steering wheel.

 

[Alex5522]

Bro my car only got very very little free play and slightly feel knocking from the steering i feel when come across the uneven road, do you think this are the parts that i need to check through ?

 

[cythomas83]

Bro my car only got very very little free play and slightly feel knocking from the steering i feel when come across the uneven road, do you think this are the parts that i need to check through ?

i have the same problem too...eventhough i already changed the bushings