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Thread: Steering gear question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    West Nyack, New York
    Posts
    1,391
    My Cars
    86 635csi 98 740i 96 MB

    Steering gear question

    1986 CSi. 148,000 miles. Throughout the 30 years front end always

    maintained. Mwrench installed years ago. General spirited driving and about

    10 track days in the last 5 years. Steering had excessive play.

    Engine off, moving wheel left and right briskly would make

    the clicking sound. Adjusted the lash one sixteenth. The

    clicking stopped but now more resistance turning left than

    right. Still has about the same play. I'm going to replace

    the swivel joint and back off on the lash to get even resistance.

    So maybe the box needs to be rebuilt. what do most do?

    Have it rebuilt locally or get one from a rebuild supplier?

    Thanks for any heads up. Same post on Big Coupe.

    Bob V
    Last edited by 1986series6; 05-23-2018 at 08:25 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Boston, Ma
    Posts
    1,649
    My Cars
    86 635,72 E3, 88M6,73 E9
    Boberto, If you find a decent rebuild, I would love to know. I took the one from my e3 apart and it is a rubics cube. These are the achilles heel of BMW's of this era.
    Rob E3

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Scottsdale, Arizona
    Posts
    4,885
    My Cars
    81 euro 635, 4.4 X5
    Rob, I have no clue where I saw it, very probable in Hemmings. IIRC there is a large rebuilding place, possibly in Detroit, that has rebuilt steering boxes an, again, IIRC in the $350 range. I will look to see if I can find it for you and post here.
    81 Euro undergoing total nut and bolt restoration
    pictures at: flickr.com/photos/bertsphotos

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    111
    My Cars
    1983 633csi, 2017 540i

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    West Nyack, New York
    Posts
    1,391
    My Cars
    86 635csi 98 740i 96 MB
    I found Benchworks in AZ.

    Can't load their site so talked to them, they really know their stuff.

    Here's some info on them https://www.yelp.com/biz/benchworks-...ems-scottsdale

    Complete normal rebuild $530.

    6Fan--I feel more comfortable with an outfit like Benchworks instead of a box from a parts supplier. Thanks for the heads up

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles CA
    Posts
    559
    My Cars
    BMW Service
    Quote Originally Posted by 1986series6 View Post
    Complete normal rebuild $530.

    Hi,

    It would be better of finding a used in a good
    condition.

    If you take box apart and study the principle of
    how this works then you will quickly understand
    the rebuild will require very special machining
    and the precision to Machine the gears is a very
    difficult to bring a nice and factory path. And
    taking your play out will put a smile on your face
    for very short period of time till it wares out back
    again...

    Long time ago I tried one of those companies on a
    customers car and after several thou miles the
    play was back and I found a good used box.

    The reason for the these power steering gear boxes
    to get worn out is the upper control arm bushings
    or lose center drag link arm, or lose steering
    component.

    The pics bellow is from one of the few boxes I opened
    clean and re-seal. Note the shape of the actual gear....

    Hope this will help a bit.

    Regards,
    Anri
    Attached Images Attached Images
    - E24 M6 88' Schwartz/Sparco Race Track Toy
    - E24 M6 88' Schwartz/Nature. daily driver
    - E24 M6 88' Royal Blue/Lotus White- Restoration project.
    - E24 M6 88' Zinnoberrot/Natur. daily S38 B35 special engine project...
    - E30 M3 Diamand Schwartz build S14-B2X.
    - E28 M5 Black/Nature M-Technic project
    - E31 '97 840Ci Black/Black CSI complete futures my cruiser soon S62-B50 6spd.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTV4asC3Bp0&t=14s
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyh...yUW-Q/featured
    https://www.instagram.com/euroclassicmotors/

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    West Nyack, New York
    Posts
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    My Cars
    86 635csi 98 740i 96 MB
    Anri,

    The problem would be to find a good used unit. Benchworks gets glowing reviews, they are very familiar with ZF boxes.

    When I did my 5 speed swap, I wanted the 150,000 mile tranny rebuilt. The tech said it's tough to get parts and

    the bearings are almost impossible to change. So I ordered one from Metric Mechanic. They specialize in bimmer trannys.

    It cost me $4300 but the box is better than new because they upgraded the problems associated with the 260.

    It will also handle more hp if I decide to turbo.

    Benchworks will do the same with the steering box. My thoughts anyway. Thanks for the heads up.

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