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Thread: My pitman arm is loose on the splined shaft again.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Hockinson Washington
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    Two 2003 540i6 Msports

    My pitman arm is loose on the splined shaft again.

    I've had this problem before.
    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...e-and-solution

    It's only been a few thousand miles and the steering is getting vague again. Got under the car and I can slightly wiggle the pitman arm on the shaft. The pinch bolt can't get any tighter without snapping. Hopefully FCPEuro can get me a new pitman arm.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    2003 525i
    Hmmm.

    Have you been making a list and checking it twice?


  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Hahaha, we don't put ourselves on the "list". That being said, I'm sure I am on someones list and I think it some kind of sh.t list.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Hollywood, CA
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    2003 525i
    Quote Originally Posted by Santaclaus4 View Post
    Hahaha, we don't put ourselves on the "list". That being said, I'm sure I am on someones list and I think it some kind of sh.t list.


    Aye.

    Good luck with the part.


  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Hockinson Washington
    Posts
    933
    My Cars
    Two 2003 540i6 Msports
    Got it ordered from FCPEuro. It's $105 plus $17 for a new pinch bolt.
    I'm wondering if the gearbox splined shaft is worn down a little from the pitman arm slipping on it. I guess I'll find out soon enough.
    If I end up replacing the gearbox, I'm wanting to install an M5 steering box. Mmmmmm.....
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
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    2001 525it
    Is the gap in the pinch bolt area closed totally when tight, if it was you could open the slot a bit to give it better clamping force. Is the bolt always tight.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Hockinson Washington
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    Two 2003 540i6 Msports
    [QUOTE=jclausen;8 MM (1/4) inch at least. It's not like the ends are touching. They look normal ish.
    Per my previous thread, the car has always felt a little odd compared to other 540i's.
    I'm not sure what happened but that looks odd.
    Last edited by Santaclaus4; 01-20-2019 at 09:44 AM.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Hockinson Washington
    Posts
    933
    My Cars
    Two 2003 540i6 Msports
    I got the new pitman arm installed last night but haven't driven the car yet.
    The old arm didn't have any noticeable wear on the splines and neither did the splined shaft. I didn't measure the shaft because I don't have a pointer micrometer to get to the bottom of the splines.
    The new one looked tighter on the shaft but that's subjective and I didn't have a "helper" last night to jiggle the steering wheel while I held the arm so I'll just have to drive it.
    I'll keep you posted.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Lansdale, Pa
    Posts
    7,043
    My Cars
    98 540 6, SC'ed, 16psi
    If the new arm can't clamp tight, you could grind a little bit of metal from the clamping gap with a cutoff wheel. Maybe the box shaft wore a little.
    98 540i 6, 525 whp, 120 mph 1/4, V3 Si S/C'er @16 psi, W/A I/C, Water/Meth, Supersprint Headers, HJS Cats, 3" Custom Exhaust, UUC Twin Disc, Wavetrac LSD, GC Coil Overs, Monoball TA, AEM FP, Aeromotive FPR, AEM Failsafe AFR/Boost, Style 65's w/275's, M5 Steering Box, Eibach Sways, M3 Shifter, Evans Coolant, 85 Deg Stat, PWM Fan, 10" Subs, B.A. speakers, Grom Aux/BT, Still Rolling as my DD!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Two 2003 540i6 Msports
    I took the car for a long drive yesterday on some very curvy roads out near Mount St. Helens (the volcano for those that aren't familiar) and the stering feels tight and solid.
    I just don't get how the other pitman arm could possibly have been loose. The pinch bolt was so friggin tight and there was a gap between the pinch ears, so it's not like the pinch ears were touching.
    The arm had even slid down a few MM on the splined shaft.
    FWIW, the TRW center link that I installed about 40,000 miles ago still had tight ball joints. I gave 'em a wiggle while I had it apart.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

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