Steering rack and column overhaul

[antonvh]

I need some help with repairing a manual steering rack and also replacing broken lower bearing on the steering column.

318i 1992 cab, steering shaft on passenger side has alot of play comming out of the rack. I would say it is a bust bush but I have no idea how to strip the darn thing.

Then the steering column has a bearing at the lowerend which has disintergrated, can one replace this....how?

 

[antonvh]

Done, and what a difference.

Sent the rack in to my Advance Power Steering and had it reconditioned. Bought the bearings for the column (upper and lower) from BMW (R420), removed the steering shaft and replaced the bearings (fairly simple). The trickiest part is to get the adjustment on the u-joints right as it effects the steering adjustment inside the vehicle. Now my horn and indicator stalk cancelation also works (steering adjust ment was out due to the busted bearings.

It doesn't stop here though, I now have a horible vibration comming through the steering and this is probably what caused the rack and bearings to pack up in the first place. Hopefully just wheel balancing.

 

[Nic_s]

The previous owner of my car had a bend wheel on the front which ruined the rack. R2500 seems to be the going rate to have it reconditioned and then I'm without wheels for about 2 - 3 days. So after 3 years of owning it I still haven't had it done. There is slight play, but I've never had to have any wheel alignment done. Front tires run down dead even and it doesn't pull at all.

When they balance the wheels keep an eye on it to see if one of the wheels might not be bend. You can also spin the wheel while the car is in the air and see if the wheel forms a perfect circle.

 

[antonvh]

thanks for the input, wont you feel a bent rim all the time? I had the rack repaired (patch job) and it was fine for a while....a horible vibration came back and I had it checked out...seems the rack is starting to wear again in the same place (left front). So it means either something is causing the rack to fail or it was not fixed properly.

If you are still in the market for a steering rack, give my brother-in-law a shout. He specializes in steering racks (advance power steering), probaly get you a recon rack for under R2K

I might have to do the same but will definantely check the wheels.