E46 Drifting Steering

[DonovanPorter]

Hi all.

I have noticed after i have started doing a lot of Highway driving, at motorway speeds above 100km/h the steering seems to drift.
By that I mean, I need to correct my steering more than I can remember having too.
I would be traveling on a straight section and the car would drift off to either left or right and id need to correct to get back on track.
It feels as if there is exess play in the steering.
I have replaced control arm mountings which were on the verge of collapse, which has helped a bit. The remainder of bushings and joints are fine.
Is there anything i can look into other than that i have mentioned ?

Alignment and balancing are spot on and the tyres were replaced 2 months ago.
The car in question is a 2003 318i Touring.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[Blue Shirt]

Also look at the condition of the tie rod ends on the steering rack and the universal joint in the steering column. Both can wear out and affect steering stability.

 

[DonovanPorter]

Also look at the condition of the tie rod ends on the steering rack and the universal joint in the steering column. Both can wear out and affect steering stability.

Il check them out thanks @Blue Shirt

 

[Coisman]

Hi

Re-check the alignment that they did in fact set it with weight in the car, or simulated weight.

I found with my car the same issue, and I am running 245/40/17 all round, so I feel any issues in steering very fast. Also check your tire pressures again. I went to Midas and bought a calibrated gauge that I keep in the car. I run at 250 pressure, and if it drops to 230 or lower then my steering starts to feel loose.

Also what tires do you have?

I found in the past driving on cheaper brands there were not just issues with road noise but with steering feel as well. Also check if the direction of tire is fitted correctly, and some brands have a set direction of rotation, and this can also create that feeling of wondering on the steering wheel.

 

[DonovanPorter]

Hi

Re-check the alignment that they did in fact set it with weight in the car, or simulated weight.

Hi

Re-check the alignment that they did in fact set it with weight in the car, or simulated weight.

I found with my car the same issue, and I am running 245/40/17 all round, so I feel any issues in steering very fast. Also check your tire pressures again. I went to Midas and bought a calibrated gauge that I keep in the car. I run at 250 pressure, and if it drops to 230 or lower then my steering starts to feel loose.

Also what tires do you have?

I found in the past driving on cheaper brands there were not just issues with road noise but with steering feel as well. Also check if the direction of tire is fitted correctly, and some brands have a set direction of rotation, and this can also create that feeling of wondering on the steering wheel.

Thanks @Coisman

I cant recall the Tyres Brand name. I bought them from Autostyle
I will go around and check the tyres as well as the pressures.

Shot for the feedback, ill have the alignment checked as well

 

[Nick]

What i thought this thread was about...

 

[DonovanPorter]

What is thought this thread was about...


View attachment 14168

i can see how the title could have mislead you 😋

 

[Jive_E46]

Here’s the part numbers I used to fix my steering wander,

- Steering spindle: 32306761571 (BMW OEM)
- Universal CV joint: 32306761570 (BMW OEM)

I’m not 100% sure if the spindle needs to be replaced but definitely the Universal CV joint.

It will be a job and a half to get to, but if you can reach your hand through to the steering column in the engine bay you can actually feel the movement on the column itself.

Also as [mention]Blue Shirt [/mention] mentioned, first check the inexpensive tie rod ends before going to the steering column


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DonovanPorter]

Here’s the part numbers I used to fix my steering wander,

- Steering spindle: 32306761571 (BMW OEM)
- Universal CV joint: 32306761570 (BMW OEM)

I’m not 100% sure if the spindle needs to be replaced but definitely the Universal CV joint.

It will be a job and a half to get to, but if you can reach your hand through to the steering column in the engine bay you can actually feel the movement on the column itself.

Also as [mention]Blue Shirt [/mention] mentioned, first check the inexpensive tie rod ends before going to the steering column


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you @Jive_m135i

 

[DonovanPorter]

I had a look around the weekend and the Captain's side tie rod seems to have so movement on it, Drinkers side seems fine, I will take it in today to have it checked out properly.

 

[DonovanPorter]

i had ny car at best drive On Beyers, had a look underneath, seems like the problem is with the Rear Control Arm bushes, i replaced these not a month ago with Febi units from Goldwagen. you are able to move them quite easily with a pry tool they are quite soft aswell.

i dropped in at Goldwagen and spoke with them there about this issue, they can only sell me a new pair and send these i have on my car for "Assessment" and wait to hear what there HO has to say , if they are defective the will reimburse me.

Tie rods and the steering rack are in good condition, ball joints on the control arms are also fine.

while i was under the car i noticed that there is a ring that has come off of the Rear Mount i did not take a photo, when i saw the new ones at Goldwagen i realised that they should not be off but actually be around the rubber bushing.

the circled ring is off and is just around the control arm part that enters into the bushing


also when removing the OEM bushes i needed to use a puller, when putting the new ones on they went on very easily minimal effort.