E85/E86 Steering Problems (Solved)

wonkydonkey · Post by **wonkydonkey** » Wed Nov 20, 2019 6:46 pm

Johnny B you must be the fella I replied to on YouTube but I didn't hear back. It costs nothing to adjust the eccentric ring and provided you mark its position before you turn it, it's entirely reversible. Torque wrench isn't really needed if you have an experienced feel for such things.

Johnny B · Post by **Johnny B** » Wed Nov 20, 2019 8:15 pm

Yes that was me. Thanks for the reply. As I said I am going to try to adjust the ring. As you say if I mark the position there is nothing to loose. Do you think it will make the steering light again.

wonkydonkey · Post by **wonkydonkey** » Wed Nov 20, 2019 9:54 pm

Johnny B wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 8:15 pm Yes that was me. Thanks for the reply. As I said I am going to try to adjust the ring. As you say if I mark the position there is nothing to loose. Do you think it will make the steering light again.

I presume you're somewhere in South Wales. If so, I'm not a million miles away (near Burnham On Sea) if you decide you need help. I don't have an extensive description of your steering symptoms so can't really make a judgement yet, but by all means report back with your findings when you've had a go.

Johnny B · Post by **Johnny B** » Wed Nov 20, 2019 10:04 pm

I am in London. Yes went out in the car just now. Feels very heavy and sluggish perhaps because it is cold etc. Part of me thinks the steering rack and tie rods are a bit shot. The car is really good otherwise.

Newbers · Post by **Newbers** » Thu Nov 21, 2019 12:44 pm

Can anyone tell me - would removing the fuse for the power steering and seeing if it has any impact on my hideous handling problems (as moaned about here viewtopic.php?f=3&t=117848&start=30) be a way to diagnose the problems discussed in this thread?

Mrmct · Post by **Mrmct** » Mon May 25, 2020 8:48 pm

I'm still having this issue after a 5mm adjustment last summer. What would be a good setting to move the worm gear to? 10-15mm?

wonkydonkey · Post by **wonkydonkey** » Mon May 25, 2020 9:10 pm

Mrmct wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 8:48 pm I'm still having this issue after a 5mm adjustment last summer. What would be a good setting to move the worm gear to? 10-15mm?

The real answer is to adjust it while checking steering feel with the road wheels off the ground until you dial out the stiction. There is no predetermined "correct" amount to adjust it by

yg54sg · Post by **yg54sg** » Mon May 25, 2020 10:22 pm

Brilliant thread , I’m going to try this to fix my sticky steering next week, just to add I recently I refurbed my steering angle sensor which involves disconnecting the lower steering shaft in the engine bay , I changed the bolts on both steering universal joints (inverse Torx) to longer bolts with a nut on the end also using thread locker , the upper uj one totally stopped play on the steering which I thought was the rack. The rod has a groove in it so it cannot fall out while the bolt is in there but the bolt can come slightly loose and cause slight play as documented on forum years back , I think this is due to the fact that in the z4 eps Models the eps unit is in the cabin so this rod is under more stress than in say the mz4 where the rack is assisted itself with less stress on the shaft

redtailed78 · Post by **redtailed78** » Sat May 30, 2020 3:27 pm

I tried and failed to do mine, bought a ratchet set from ToolStation that I thought would be ideal but I cant get it on the back one as the spring gets in the way.. The front one was so tight it felt like someone must have put it on with an air gun

Anyone recommend somewhere in Scotland that can sort it or would Zed Shed be the nearest? I also need to get the window regulator done af the same time.

wonkydonkey · Post by **wonkydonkey** » Sat May 30, 2020 4:04 pm

redtailed78 did you adjust the steering wheel so that it was pulled all the way out towards the driver and down as low as possible? This gives maximum clearance for accessing those bolts. (I THINK the wheel needs to be fully down rather than fully up, from memory)

redtailed78 · Post by **redtailed78** » Sat May 30, 2020 6:38 pm

wonkydonkey wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 4:04 pm redtailed78 did you adjust the steering wheel so that it was pulled all the way out towards the driver and down as low as possible? This gives maximum clearance for accessing those bolts. (I THINK the wheel needs to be fully down rather than fully up, from memory)

Yeah I had the steering wheen at lowest point then extended as far as possible, my wifes dad has got other ones I might try and hopefully get it going

wonkydonkey · Post by **wonkydonkey** » Sat May 30, 2020 6:50 pm

redtailed78 I've only ever done them with spanners. Trying to get sockets in there seemed too fiddly. Might be worth a go

Any1else · Post by **Any1else** » Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:25 pm

wonkydonkey wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2020 6:50 pm redtailed78 I've only ever done them with spanners. Trying to get sockets in there seemed too fiddly. Might be worth a go

+1 for the spanners. I can get at mine using an 8mm ring spanner but I need to be on my back in the foot well

Reamesy · Post by **Reamesy** » Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:47 pm

Joycey, You sir are a legend!

Today I used an 8mm spanner with another on the end and adjusted the ring by 14mm anti-clockwise. It has transformed my car! It now drives like a BMW should. My steering was like having a ghost pulling left and right between 65-70 mph. Now its solid. Feels like my 4 series.

Only took 30 mins in total.

Thank you

Wigsters · Post by **Wigsters** » Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:03 am

Guess what i am getting my mechanic to do when he does my MOT

Hope this works, mine isn't bad but it certainly doesn't feel normal.

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