Loose steering connection. What could it be? (Not the suspension, it's new)

[xboss]

Hey guys,

I just replaced the whole front suspension with all new OEM parts. I was hoping that the wiggle in the steering wheel would go away when the tie rod ends got replaced but when the car is not running there is a very loose wiggle in the wheel that does not move the pitman arm. You can wiggle it freely like 10 degrees and the pitman remains idle so it's the steering box or knuckle. Anybody have a similar experience or tips? The car drives fine but the looseness is unacceptable. I'm pretty sure I blew up the box or knuckle on these Michigan roads when I had a bad suspension.

[vegaslightsss]

Not sure about the steering boxes on the e39 but there should be adjustment on the steering gear itself to firm up the steering

[HOFFMANN707]

the box is self adjusting when running. how many miles on yours? is the pitman arm tight on the box shaft?

[xboss]

195,000 miles. Pitman is tight. You cannot feel the play with the car running. Nothing loose when driving but when the car is off the wheel is super loose. You can feel it hitting the left and right side of the play, quite a bit of travel, maybe two inches of steering wheel travel back and fourth with one finger. Seems like maybe its the lower shaft knuckle. Are those even able to be worked on without pulling the engine?

[nike32]

I have exactly the same.. so I am also willing to know how to fix that.


Отправлено с моего SM-G935F через Tapatalk

[RVAE34]

Couldn't that just be caused by no pressure in the system with the car off? If not noticeable when the car is running and driving, why would it matter?

[xboss]

I just want it to be as nice as possible since I waited three years to afford to replace the whole front and I expected it to be like new! I also replaced the edc with non edc.

[RVAE34]

I completely understand that.

[cazal740i]

I remember BIG E saying theres a screw to tighten the steering by removing a screw and tightening the screw underneath it . Like the procedure to tighten the OIL CHAIN

[racer2086]

I thought that was normal. I have the same play with car off. Car running, the power steering tightens it up and the pitman arm moves directly with the wheel.

[xboss]

Heh, I'm probably being OCD. I swear it was not like that three years ago. The car is riding awesome with the lemforder kit by FCP. It's got a trw Germany center but the tie rod ends are trw Malaysia like other people have mentioned. Great deal @ FCp. Pro tip, if you add the kit to the cart and let it sit a couple days they will offer you a 5% discount to check it out. I was $620 out the door on the whole 10 piece kit.

[HOFFMANN707]

All steering boxes have play when not running. Only other thing that could cause play is the guibo in the upper steering shaft under the dash. Were the ball joints in your new center link both hard to move? My new trw center link pitman arm ball joint came loose from the factory and shortly failed.

[xboss]

All steering boxes have play when not running. Only other thing that could cause play is the guibo in the upper steering shaft under the dash. Were the ball joints in your new center link both hard to move? My new trw center link pitman arm ball joint came loose from the factory and shortly failed.

They were super firm. was yours Germany?

[asianvenom]

I have this major vibration between 50-60mph on my 750i, its definitely loose steering rack, not sure if its coming from the steering box or loose pit arm. I can shake the wheel, its not from suspension definitely from either the pit arm or the steering box, Im gonna crawd under and find out today hopefully. I'll let you guys know.