E36 - "Excessive" play in steering
 

Hello All,
I spent the better part of yesterday looking over a 93 325IS that a
friend is considering purchasing.
The only real issue I found with it was "excessive" steering wheel play.
We could move the wheel almost a full inch with no change in the orientation
of the tires.
The car has just over 110k miles on the clock. The owner showed us
receipts to back up his claim of around $800.00 in front end work about 4
months ago. (New control arms with new ball joints, tie rods, control arm
bushings, alignment, etc)
I have not faced this issue so severely on any of my E36s. Any input on
what could be the cause (and possible fixes) would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!
Wayne K.

"Wayne K." > wrote in message
news:l2wCe.116875$yV4.105976@okepread03...
> Hello All,
> I spent the better part of yesterday looking over a 93 325IS that a
> friend is considering purchasing.
> The only real issue I found with it was "excessive" steering wheel
play.
> We could move the wheel almost a full inch with no change in the
orientation
> of the tires.
> The car has just over 110k miles on the clock. The owner showed us
> receipts to back up his claim of around $800.00 in front end work about 4
> months ago. (New control arms with new ball joints, tie rods, control arm
> bushings, alignment, etc)

That still leaves the rack and all the linkages in the steering column. Any
of which could be worn enough to give play at the s/wheel.
Is it all play?
Does the s/wheel stay where you leave it, anywhere in the area of play, or
does it return to a central position?
You'll allways feel a certain amount of movement, before the wheels move
when a car is stationary. If you don't notice it on the road, it might not
be an issue.
Mike.

In article >,
Mike G > wrote:
> You'll allways feel a certain amount of movement, before the wheels move
> when a car is stationary. If you don't notice it on the road, it might
> not be an issue.

Not with R&P. There should be no noticeable play at all. Of course there
must be *some*, but you'd need instruments to measure it. Any that can be
felt is a fault.

--
*Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice?"

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Mike G" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Wayne K." > wrote in message
> news:l2wCe.116875$yV4.105976@okepread03...
>> Hello All,
>> I spent the better part of yesterday looking over a 93 325IS that a
>> friend is considering purchasing.
>> The only real issue I found with it was "excessive" steering wheel
> play.
>> We could move the wheel almost a full inch with no change in the
> orientation
>> of the tires.
>> The car has just over 110k miles on the clock. The owner showed us
>> receipts to back up his claim of around $800.00 in front end work about 4
>> months ago. (New control arms with new ball joints, tie rods, control arm
>> bushings, alignment, etc)
>
> That still leaves the rack and all the linkages in the steering column.
> Any
> of which could be worn enough to give play at the s/wheel.
> Is it all play?
> Does the s/wheel stay where you leave it, anywhere in the area of play, or
> does it return to a central position?
> You'll allways feel a certain amount of movement, before the wheels move
> when a car is stationary. If you don't notice it on the road, it might not
> be an issue.
> Mike.
>


Mike,
Thanks for responding. There was similar play while driving. I checked
the rack for leaks etc, it looked good. (But we all know looks can be
deceiving.)

Where is the linkage in the steering column?


-Wayne

"Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Mike G > wrote:
> > You'll allways feel a certain amount of movement, before the wheels move
> > when a car is stationary. If you don't notice it on the road, it might
> > not be an issue.
>
> Not with R&P. There should be no noticeable play at all. Of course there
> must be *some*, but you'd need instruments to measure it. Any that can be
> felt is a fault.

With every car I've had with R&P, a small amount of movement could be made
on the s/wheel without visibly moving the wheels. All the rack parts have
clearance, and there's a certain amount of spring in the column. It all adds
up.
Mike.

"Wayne K." > wrote in message
news:7IwCe.116876$yV4.7709@okepread03...
>
> "Mike G" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Wayne K." > wrote in message
> > news:l2wCe.116875$yV4.105976@okepread03...
> >> Hello All,
> >> I spent the better part of yesterday looking over a 93 325IS that a
> >> friend is considering purchasing.
> >> The only real issue I found with it was "excessive" steering wheel
> > play.
> >> We could move the wheel almost a full inch with no change in the
> > orientation
> >> of the tires.
> >> The car has just over 110k miles on the clock. The owner showed us
> >> receipts to back up his claim of around $800.00 in front end work about
4
> >> months ago. (New control arms with new ball joints, tie rods, control
arm
> >> bushings, alignment, etc)
> >
> > That still leaves the rack and all the linkages in the steering column.
> > Any
> > of which could be worn enough to give play at the s/wheel.
> > Is it all play?
> > Does the s/wheel stay where you leave it, anywhere in the area of play,
or
> > does it return to a central position?
> > You'll allways feel a certain amount of movement, before the wheels move
> > when a car is stationary. If you don't notice it on the road, it might
not
> > be an issue.
> > Mike.
> >
>
>
> Mike,
> Thanks for responding. There was similar play while driving. I checked
> the rack for leaks etc, it looked good. (But we all know looks can be
> deceiving.)
>
> Where is the linkage in the steering column?

I'm not familiar with the 325 in particular but I've no doubt there are
u/j's or equivalents on the column, with couplings, to the shaft, and then
there's the coupling to the rack itself. It's not common, but not unknown
for such couplings to become loose.
Mike.

In article >,
Mike G > wrote:
> With every car I've had with R&P, a small amount of movement could be
> made on the s/wheel without visibly moving the wheels. All the rack
> parts have clearance, and there's a certain amount of spring in the
> column. It all adds up.

You may well be able to move the wheel slightly with no apparent movement
of the wheels, but free play means free movement followed by a definite
and 'hard' change in resistance. If it's 'springy' movement then that's
ok, as this may be a function of the power steering sensing. But without
that, on say a non power rack, there should be no play to be felt
whatsoever.

--
*Money isn‘t everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Mike G > wrote:
>> With every car I've had with R&P, a small amount of movement could be
>> made on the s/wheel without visibly moving the wheels. All the rack
>> parts have clearance, and there's a certain amount of spring in the
>> column. It all adds up.
>
> You may well be able to move the wheel slightly with no apparent movement
> of the wheels, but free play means free movement followed by a definite
> and 'hard' change in resistance. If it's 'springy' movement then that's
> ok, as this may be a function of the power steering sensing. But without
> that, on say a non power rack, there should be no play to be felt
> whatsoever.

There is always going to be some play between one diretion and the other
evenon a rack.

>
> --
> *Money isn't everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch
>
> Dave Plowman London SW
> To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Mike G > wrote:
> > With every car I've had with R&P, a small amount of movement could be
> > made on the s/wheel without visibly moving the wheels. All the rack
> > parts have clearance, and there's a certain amount of spring in the
> > column. It all adds up.
>
> You may well be able to move the wheel slightly with no apparent movement
> of the wheels, but free play means free movement followed by a definite
> and 'hard' change in resistance. If it's 'springy' movement then that's
> ok, as this may be a function of the power steering sensing.

Which is why I asked the questions in my original reply.
You and I know what play means, but Waynes post didn't explain whether the
play was springy, or perfectly free play with no resistance. He simply said
the wheels didn't move.
Mike.

Hello All,
So I checked the steering column. There is a connection in approximately
that looks something like a small U joint. It's below the Master Brake unit
etc. This thing seems to be the culprit. It seems very work out. Is this an
easy fix? Or does it require changing out the whole steering coloum.

Thanks,
Wayne