Steering gear question

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86_6series
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Steering gear question

Post by 86_6series »

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 Bimmerforums.

Bob V
86-635CSi
96-MB C220 SOLD
98-740i
71-Continental MK3
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86_6series
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Re: Steering gear question

Post by 86_6series »

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.
86-635CSi
96-MB C220 SOLD
98-740i
71-Continental MK3
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Brucey
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Re: Steering gear question

Post by Brucey »

before you blame the steering box for the lash, be 100% sure that the lash hasn't appeared in the splined joint that allows the steering column to telescope. This commonly wears slightly and can be adjusted (with difficulty) by moving the nut on the end of the joint, which bears against a split taper joint so that the female part of the spline can be brought to bear closer to the male part. It isn't a bad idea to grease this part either.

Often this nut is almost stuck solid with dried grease and (if it hasn't been disturbed for a long time) is best first moved so as to loosen rather than tighten.

I found a fair bit of lash in this part, (at similar mileage), only after I'd blamed the steering box and nearly wrecked it through overdoing the preload... :shock: If you feel the steering lashy, draggy, numb, and lacking in self-centring, it is often the case that the box preload is too high, and the fault really lies with the splined joint.

FWIW it is often the case that with worn parts, 'zero lash' also corresponds with enough preload on the splined joint that the steering column won't adjust easily any more. C'est la vie; better that than lash IMHO.

BTW I found that (to my great surprise, and note that I am not built like a baboon) on my RHD car my arms were just long enough to reach the steering wheel and the steering column (by the steering box) at the same time. This turned out to be invaluable in diagnosing where the lash really was. I don't know if you can do the same thing with a LHD car or not; it may be that there are more brake parts etc in the way and you can't do so.

cheers
~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Re: Steering gear question

Post by 86_6series »

Thanks Brucey I'll check the splined joint.
86-635CSi
96-MB C220 SOLD
98-740i
71-Continental MK3
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