Steering column question

scotsman60 · 05-10-2002, 09:21 AM

I have a problem with my wifes '92 525i. The steering doesn't feel quite right when I turn to the left and I suspected the flexible disc at the top of the U-joint just above the steerring gearbox.

Problem is when I look down there I can't see any flexible disc!!!

Everything else looks OK - no play in the U-joint, no play throujgh the steering gearbox, non eo fthe suspnesion components/balljoints etc. have any play.

Are there any other joints in the steering column?

Any ideas why my car doesn't have a flexible disc when the Bentley manuals shows it and refernecws it?

Thanx

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Are you sure that you just can't see it in there - might be covered under the dash. Also the Bentley manuals are not always 100% correct.

Just a thought, but if there was a problem with this disc, then wouldn't you have similar problems when turning right? The disc shouldn't affect performance in only one direction.

Can you explain in further detail what the exact steering problem is?

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Are you sure that you just can't see it in there - might be covered under the dash. Also the Bentley manuals are not always 100% correct.

Just a thought, but if there was a problem with this disc, then wouldn't you have similar problems when turning right? The disc shouldn't affect performance in only one direction.

Can you explain in further detail what the exact steering problem is?

-Wayne

scotsman60 · 05-10-2002, 11:33 AM

Wayne,

I haven't checked under the dash yet - the manual shows the disk right next to the U-joint and I've got a good four inches of column showing above the U-joint before it disappears.

I thought the same thing about the disc affecting only one direction bu convinced myself that it might be possible - if the disc is damaged on one side and that side is in tension when I turn to the left then it would be more noticeable than if it was in compression when I turn to the left.....

The steering problem is difficult to describe. Steering accuracy seems OK - the wheels go where you point them - but you can feel a change in pressure midway through a left turn - like the steering resistance is not unform throughou the tunr - it drops and then increases.

Originally thought it was a worn joint because the feeling is like when a worn joint is carrying load on one side and then "jumps" to acarrying load on the other side. But I can't find any wear in any of the suspension or steering joints.

Doug

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

What you described sounds to my like it could be a piece of dirt or something in the steering rack. Not a common problem, but still quite possible.

Your rationalization on the steering rubber is a good one, however, I don't think that it's thick enough to cause this failure.

You can however, check the entire linkage. Chock the wheels (with the car off) and turn the steering wheel (car in neutral). If there is a problem, it will show up immediately when you turn the wheel left or right against the steering rack with the power steering unit off.

One flaw in your theory though. If it were the dampener, it would give you problems as soon as you turned left, not at a specfic turning point. Since the column is axial, it doesn't really quite care where the actual wheels are. The fact that you're getting what appears to be 'flat spot' leads me to believe that there might be something wrong with the rack.

Check the boots on the rack for breakage and tears - that's your first sign that there might be dirt in there. My 356 has a similar problem - it's a flat spot in the steering box...

You also might want to disconnect the PS pump to isolate that, and try driving it around without it powered up. (not sure off the top of my head how you would do that). That's how I dianosed a steering problem on one of my other cars...

Hope this helps,

-Wayne

scotsman60 · 05-10-2002, 12:31 PM

Wayne,

Thanx. I didn't realise the flexible disc was axial - I guess I thought it was used to change direction.... So it's not likely to be the problem.

I'm doing a bunch of repairs on the car this weekend and I'll have it off the ground so I'll take a good look at all of the steering gear and try testing it the way you suggested. We've only had the car for a few months so I'm not that familiar with it.....

Doug