how do you access the top fitting on the steering box?

**makenzie71** · 10-26-2018, 09:03 PM

EDIT: For anyone who comes across this in the future: UNBOLT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AD LIFT THE ENGINE 3-4 INCHES.. Both line connections can be accessed and manipulated easily once the engine is clear.

'97 540i...leaking heavily from the top fitting on the steering box. How do you access it? It's right under the left bank and looks to be against the strut tower.

**Santaclaus4** · 10-26-2018, 09:06 PM

It sucks big time but I've done it several times. There is a small metal heat shield next to the steering gearbox that you can remove from underneath the car that will give you a tiny bit more room. Then it's all about feeling around blindly with your fingers.

**makenzie71** · 10-26-2018, 09:08 PM

Do you know what size the banjo bolt is? I don't see any heat shields...I was hoping it'd be one of those there where you can get right at it if you take off the wheel liner or something. Bummer.

**Santaclaus4** · 10-26-2018, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by makenzie71

Do you know what size the banjo bolt is? I don't see any heat shields...

Off the top of my head I don't remember. I haven't had to revisit my steering box since I fixed it a couple years ago. Well, aside from realizing my pitman arm was slightly loose on the splined shaft a few months ago.
Mine had a small metal heat shield held on by a couple 8MM bolts that gave me slightly better access when it was removed.

**JimLev** · 10-26-2018, 09:47 PM

I used a crows foot from the top side. Don't remember the size, if no one answers I'll go out in the garage after the Sox/Dodgers game and look.

**makenzie71** · 10-26-2018, 09:52 PM

That'd be great Jim. I've been out there trying to get a bunch of different wrenches on it but I get no room to position them and nothing gets seated. If someone can confirm the size I'll go buy a damn crows foot tomorrow morning to get it done.

**Santaclaus4** · 10-26-2018, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by makenzie71

That'd be great Jim. I've been out there trying to get a bunch of different wrenches on it but I get no room to position them and nothing gets seated. If someone can confirm the size I'll go buy a damn crows foot tomorrow morning to get it done.

Why don't you just get a small set from HF or something? That way you have them on hand for the next project.

**makenzie71** · 10-26-2018, 10:02 PM

I have a huge amount of...we'll call it stuff...and I've never needed one before. I'd prefer just buy the tool I need if at all possible. Parts and tool stores are right around the corner so if I need a different size it's not too much of a hassle.

I mean I'd rather have just the tools I need rather than buy a set that has six sizes I'll never use to throw on top of the huge assortment of stuff I already own.

**JimLev** · 10-26-2018, 10:51 PM

#6 bolt, right?
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0927
I buy tools before I need them, you'll never know what you need until you don't have it.
I wait until there is a sale and just stock up. When one tool box is full I buy another tool box. Up to 7 boxes now.

**makenzie71** · 10-26-2018, 11:18 PM

Yeah #6.

**JimLev** · 10-26-2018, 11:51 PM

The smaller banjo bolt #6 is 19mm, the larger one is 22mm.
Not that easy to get at. You could loosen the steering box bolts, that might give you better access from the top.
When you are putting the sealing washers back on the banjo put some grease on them to keep them in place, you'll probably drop it a few times, the grease keeps them from falling off.

**Santaclaus4** · 10-27-2018, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by makenzie71

I have a huge amount of...we'll call it stuff...

Same here. Lol...

**makenzie71** · 10-27-2018, 09:23 AM

If I'm reading that right those copper washers are 14mm, right?

**JimLev** · 10-27-2018, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by makenzie71

If I'm reading that right those copper washers are 14mm, right?

Yes, the ID is 14mm, they are aluminum. Copper is also fine to use, which may be just a little harder than aluminum so give it another ft-lb of torque to ensure a good seal.
I've used both in the past, never had any leaks.

**makenzie71** · 10-30-2018, 04:56 PM

Well the banjo that’s leaking is actually 19mm...I went and got a crows foot set (couldn’t get just the one size I needed) and none of them cleared the manifold. I had a pretty thin Chinese 19mm I chopped into an open end shorty and that fit the stupid thing..,was barely tight at all. A good quarter turn quit the leak.

**JimLev** · 10-30-2018, 07:34 PM

I did say 19mm.
Good thing you only needed to tighten it and not replace the washers, that would have been much harder to do.

**edjack** · 10-30-2018, 07:57 PM

In the Olden Days, thin end wrenches were called "tappet wrenches," and used for adjusting valves.

Those are one thing I've not seen at HFT.

**makenzie71** · 10-31-2018, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by JimLev

I did say 19mm.
Good thing you only needed to tighten it and not replace the washers, that would have been much harder to do.

yep misread your post...it's amazing how much information gets squeezed out when you're trying to get it from a tiny phone screen

Originally Posted by edjack

In the Olden Days, thin end wrenches were called "tappet wrenches," and used for adjusting valves.

Those are one thing I've not seen at HFT.

I actually got these from Wal-Mart MANY years ago. They're not tappet wrenches, though...too thick for that...but they're about half the thickness of my (old) craftsman and snap-on wrenches. They're not great, but the thickness has been a great help with a few projects.

**geargrinder** · 10-31-2018, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by makenzie71

I'd prefer just buy the tool I need if at all possible.... I mean I'd rather have just the tools I need rather than buy a set that has six sizes I'll never use to throw on top of the huge assortment of stuff I already own.

Yeah you and I pretty much take the exact opposite philosophy. I view it as "take the opportunity when you need one to buy the set, then you'll have 'em next time". Sure maybe you'll never use the odd sizes but, never know tho... ScottieDucati was confounded to find that BMW actually uses 16mm for some stuff, which is an "off-standard" wrench size vs. what you'll find used by many manufacturers - aka they stick to either use 15 or 17... and that's why its not included in a lot of wrench sets... So I'd rather have the set and be 'set' than be lookin' around in mid-job going "crap I got an X-1 size and an X+1 size but not X size... gotta hit the store..."

Not to mention that wrench sets are often priced such that 3-4 singles = a set of 10 or whatever. Unless its a super weird item, then just get the set...

Originally Posted by edjack

In the Olden Days, thin end wrenches were called "tappet wrenches," and used for adjusting valves.

Right. Obsolete tewls!

**JimLev** · 10-31-2018, 08:51 AM

Get a few different sizes if bicycle/cone wrenches, they are thin. You'll need them to get behind the upper part of the rear sway bar link if you ever need to replace them.
https://www.amazon.com/SABLUE-Double...cycle+wrenches

**geargrinder** · 10-31-2018, 09:07 AM

That's a great tip. I got bike wrenches, didn't occur to me for second to try them when I was strugglin' w/ my swaybar links last year! DOH!

**JimLev** · 10-31-2018, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by geargrinder

That's a great tip. I got bike wrenches, didn't occur to me for second to try them when I was strugglin' w/ my swaybar links last year! DOH!

I bought them years ago after I ground down one of my wrenches to fit back there. When you got 2-3 of the same size it's no big deal to grind one of them down.
Pretty sure the bike wrench recommendation was from edjack back in the Roadfly days.

**makenzie71** · 10-31-2018, 09:24 AM

Buying a set of tools because you need one and can reasonably foresee uses for the others is all well and good and something I practice...but I’ve never needed a crows foot before and when I bought a set, because that’s the only way I could get the size I needed, it didn’t work for the intended purpose. I think it’s safe to say that, after over 30 years of not neeeding them, that f I use them now it’s going to be in an effort to justify having them...that’s if I even remember I have them sitting in the bin of other tools I don’t have any use for.

**makenzie71** · 10-31-2018, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by JimLev

Get a few different sizes if bicycle/cone wrenches, they are thin. You'll need them to get behind the upper part of the rear sway bar link if you ever need to replace them.
https://www.amazon.com/SABLUE-Double...cycle+wrenches

I have this set and it’s been pretty invaluable. I work on dental equipment and there’s a lot of really tight spaces and these have been life savers. I crossed my min to cut the 19mm one up for my project here as I don’t use it normally, but managed it with one of the 25+ regular 19mm wrenches I got (with the help of an angle grinder).

**Santaclaus4** · 10-31-2018, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by makenzie71

Buying a set of tools because you need one and can reasonably foresee uses for the others is all well and good and something I practice...but I’ve never needed a crows foot before and when I bought a set, because that’s the only way I could get the size I needed, it didn’t work for the intended purpose. I think it’s safe to say that, after over 30 years of not neeeding them, that f I use them now it’s going to be in an effort to justify having them...that’s if I even remember I have them sitting in the bin of other tools I don’t have any use for.

I find it doesn't work that way. Once I have (for example) a new set of widgets, I find I can use them on many things I didn't think I needed them for in the past. Then I think I shoulda bought them a long time ago. Lol...