Steering wheel squeak FIXED... Writeup w/pics

[LuxoM3]

Gentlemen: Tried the under the car spray the bearing thing... tried the drill the hole into the steering column to lube the bearing thing... NO CHANGE. Still a squeeeeak!

Took it into Edge motorworks in Dublin... I turned the wheel, they listened...

Steering Rack

Normally, this either grinds or leaks or BOTH. But with the stethescope, Matt at EDGE heard the squeak coming from right INSIDE the steering rack. Seems like under load, the rod shifts internally scrapping the inside walls of the rack... sounds like metal to metal SCREEECHING. Only does this at lower speeds where the rack is working hardest.

Thought I'd share this for the archives.

[Winter]

So much much does the guitar player from U2 want to fix it? They talking about replacing the whole rack?

[LuxoM3]

If I got the rack new, they run about $1200. ZF sell it remanufactured for around $550 to $700.

Labor is 2 hours or with CA labor rates about $240.

I found rebuilt Z3 racks online for round $400 so $650-ish all told.

And yes, when the steering rack goes... it goes.

[turbo mike]

On my 97 M3/4 it started as squeak when turning and sounded like it was coming from behind my steering wheel. The squeak soon turned into a grinding and popping noise. It also sounded like a spring being wound up (as others here have mentioned). The steering was also tight at times. I was sure that the clock spring/slip ring behind the steering wheel was about to break apart very soon. My next step was to pull the steering wheel to investigate. Before I did this I asked Jordan (aka Stuck) if he ever heard of this problem. He told me there was a DIY thread for the problem. So I searched and found this.
This is the reason why I love this site. I put my car on the lift at work. I sprayed the lower bearing with white lithium grease and the problem seems to be fixed (so far).
Thanks to all that contributed.

Mike

[PsychoMaiko]

I have to try this..

[sterndotstern]

Chiming in as another person helped by this DIY. Used Champion chain lube from Walmart, not a penetrating type lube. It has helped, but if the problem recurs I will certainly rinse it with de-greaser and try again with Tri-Flow.

[joon]

Just to update you guys..

After a couple of months.. a different squeak appeared.. this time it turned out to be the slip ring on the steering wheel.. for non-airbag E36's we don't actually have a slip ring per se, but we have a metal ring behind the steering wheel where a spring loaded pin makes contact... spraying this ring liberally with lithium grease cured it

[galmad]

my steering wheel has been squeeking for as long as i can remember, tried everything inside the car with no results, followed this writeup (didn't have the confidence to drill holes) but sprayed the bearings/ unies coming out of the firewall in the engine bay and the noise has gone

cheers fellow bmw owners, very happy

[polo12345]

well I guess you can add me as well to being thankful for this writeup! My m3 was making the squeaking noise and I finally tried spraying the lower bearing with triflow lastnight and it workeed!!!!!!!! it's really simple too.

[dhracer]

Dammit, when I test drove the 328i touring I bought last week it had a squeak, and i could swear it was coming from right behind the wheel, thought a bit of GT85 between the wheel and dash would fix it, but no joy! Ah well, I'll go get the trolley jack I guess!

[kuixotiq]

this looks awesome and I know i need to do this, but the pictures don't work! can somebody do somethign about it please...


thanks~Steve

[Patrokloss]

Images are fixed... Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[Cal's 740il]

I have a 99 740 which has a sqeek in the dash area over rough roads and when moving up and down for adjustments. How do you get into the affected area and what lube works best? Thanks, Cal

[doogee]

Can't thank you enough.

Just used a regular Motomaster general Lube. Sprayed it thoroughly making 1/2 turns to the steering wheel each time.

Now the squeak is gone, steering isn't so heavy and the wheel actually self-centers now.

[shore]

Mine makes a noise but it more like a moan...maybe that is what you guys are talking about?

It's pretty much anytime you turn the wheel and are able to hear it with the radio off or way down.Very faint.

[lastnight]

What is STEERING RACK? How it loks like? U have any pics? Or any info that i can use RealOEM? I'm own e36 328i 95'....

[lastnight]

Can i use Shell Lithium grease in plastic can (not spray) for doin these DIY??

[frey328is]

i just did this...only thing different is i shined a light from under the car and was able to locate the part i needed to lubricate from above

i didnt like the idea of having that tri-flow stuff dripping on me after reading the warnings on the label

my steering is 100% less stiff now and no more squeaking...and the cheapest repair ive done on my car so far

[FitzRoger]

I found this a while back, and thought it was pretty annoying, so I sprayed WD-40 on the u-joint down by the rack and have lived in silence ever since.

Maybe that's what people should try instead......

[bimmerman318]

I have a little noice but it also knocks when i wobble it left and right even when i barely do it... feels like something is lose what do you think it could be??
thank you.

[joon]

My squeak was caused by the spring-loaded pin that makes contact with the steel ring on the back of my non-airbag steering wheel.. this is part of the horn circuit.. greasing the contact surface cured it

[HuinChang]

i just did this and no squeek!
thanks for the write up!

[ar design]

Nice!

[Duke131]

Thanks so much! I had never noticed it before. but then my lady friend pointed it out, and that's all I can hear now

[suntex01]

man,
I have to say, this really worked!!! I had a shop close up put the car on the lift. At first the mechanic said it was the slip ring / top bearing. I told him to try the bottom bearing as I have had the top ones changed.

With the car on the lift, you can actually spray the whole bearing without having to use a straw to reach in. He sprayed it well while I turned the wheel from one side to the other. This fixed my annoying squeeking and also my steering wheel inconsistent steer / hard to steer problem that I thought was the steering pump. Everything works like a charm quietly now!!!

Saved me a lot of money.
Thanks alot!!!