E85 Steering rack issues - hard to resolve

[ryushe]

I think I budgeted £200 ish in parts and doing the works myself?

Wait wait, £200??? That's WAY less than I would have imagined based on the parts list I saw on the post I linked to in my original post. One of the posters there did a rough cost estimate and came to around $2400 all in (new parts though).
But for that money I'd do it (or have it done!) in a heartbeat, especially as it sounds like it would improve handling over the original handling anyways, although to be honest I never really had any complaints about handling with the few Z4s I've had.

You lucky SOBs in the UK seem to have access to a very very affordable second hand parts collection, something I haven't encountered in NL. Everyone here just wants to make as much as possible off of these parts, even the indies. I'm jealous

[bigwinn]

I think a purple tag rack was around £50-70 (fitted one to my e46)
Pump and reservoir about 75

Have a search on here for the full list of what’s needed

I’ve considered it a number of times and will get round to it

[enuff_zed]

And just to add to your confusion, how old are the shocks?
Worn front ones could possibly not keep the front wheels in touch with the road, and again aerodynamic forces on the bonnet could influence this.
Rear ones could let the rear dip, therefore the front rise, and the front end get a bit light.
Do you have spacers on the front?

Shocks are 3 years old give or take. No spacers.
With regards to 'not keeping the front wheels in touch with the road', I expect I'd feel that in driving in a straight line with the car wandering around. However in a straight line it drives perfectly fine. It's purely the steering wheel that's acting up.

Honestly, just grasping at straws and trying to cover every possibility, but it seems you have mostly been there already.

[ryushe]

Honestly, just grasping at straws and trying to cover every possibility, but it seems you have mostly been there already.

Nah, appreciate any suggestions you or others might have.
Now if I could only find an LHD steering rack

[Mike6]

I have the E85 so i put my registration number into AUTODOC and it seems they have the steering gear for sale at around £200 . Take a look and see if it is the item you are looking for and if it is why not purchase it and see if you can get anyone to do the fitting.

[ryushe]

I have the E85 so i put my registration number into AUTODOC and it seems they have the steering gear for sale at around £200 . Take a look and see if it is the item you are looking for and if it is why not purchase it and see if you can get anyone to do the fitting.

Yeah, that's an RHD version most likely. I specifically need an LHD version

[MikeyH]

I thought AutoDoc was a German company, surely they would sell LHD stuff

[Mike6]

It was a LHD one I saw.

[raymond.harper]

I have the E85 so i put my registration number into AUTODOC and it seems they have the steering gear for sale at around £200 . Take a look and see if it is the item you are looking for and if it is why not purchase it and see if you can get anyone to do the fitting.

Yeah, that's an RHD version most likely. I specifically need an LHD version

This one is LHD https://www.autodoc.co.uk/delco-remy/11057712

[MikeyH]

They would know by your reg

[ryushe]

This one is LHD https://www.autodoc.co.uk/delco-remy/11057712

Autodoc is a great suggestion, and I found a few steering racks on there earlier indeed. Sadly All of them are out of stock it seems. Sent them an email to check, cause at those prices it seems more than worth it to buy one.
Thanks

[Maklo]

I have struggled with the same problem. My EPS is working and I have adjusted the ring many times but it still self steer on highway speed. I have made all possible testing exept looking inside the steering rack. Yesterday I took the steering rack out of the car. Is was bone dry inside and it also showed wear at 12’o clock. After cleaning and lubing I put the steering rack back and put the preload in position so there was no play in it. I don’t know if this is a permanent soulution but it helped a lot. It now drives much better

[perttu]

I have struggled with the same problem. My EPS is working and I have adjusted the ring many times but it still self steer on highway speed. I have made all possible testing exept looking inside the steering rack. Yesterday I took the steering rack out of the car. Is was bone dry inside and it also showed wear at 12’o clock. After cleaning and lubing I put the steering rack back and put the preload in position so there was no play in it. I don’t know if this is a permanent soulution but it helped a lot. It now drives much better

Interesting. How tough a job this was? I might try this myself, so I would be grateful for any tips, links to videos if you used any, etc.

[Maklo]

Not to hard to do. Before I took it out I tested the steering with the engine of, the front wheels in the air and the tie rods not connected. The steering felt loose in the center and heavy of center. The loose feeeling appeared again after one turn of the steering wheel in each direction probably due to wear on the pinion.

Dismantling the steering rack:
Take the plastic cover of, release the big clips from the rubber boots, release the inner ball joints from the rack, release the column at lower u-joint (torx bolt) and finally release the two bolts holding the steering rack. When the steering rack is out you can take a closer look at it. I only took the preload adjuster apart. A full dismantling may be better to do so everything can be cleaned up but my dust cover was stuck and I was afraid to break it. Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures during the work Don’t forget to use thread locking on the torx bolt when you reassemble.

Good luck!

[Maklo]

Interesting. How tough a job this was? I might try this myself, so I would be grateful for any tips, links to videos if you used any, etc.

Not to hard to do. Before I took it out I tested the steering with the engine of, the front wheels in the air and the tie rods not connected. The steering felt loose in the center and heavy of center. The loose feeeling appeared again after one turn of the steering wheel in each direction probably due to wear on the pinion.

Dismantling the steering rack:
Take the plastic cover of, release the big clips from the rubber boots, release the inner ball joints from the rack, release the column at lower u-joint (torx bolt) and finally release the two bolts holding the steering rack. When the steering rack is out you can take a closer look at it. I only took the preload adjuster apart. A full dismantling may be better to do so everything can be cleaned up but my dust cover was stuck and I was afraid to break it. Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures during the work Don’t forget to use thread locking on the torx bolt when you reassemble.

Good luck!