E85/E86 Steering Problems (Solved)

[enuff_zed]

So I went to do this as my steering feels a bit odd at motorway speeds. Sort of constantly sticking/unsticking, only ever so slightly but just constantly adjusting like it’s catching a magnet on/off.

I managed to undo the torx bolts no issue, however the ring seemed to be seized in place? The hole that people were using to put a screw driver was completely inaccessible as it was up in the 2 o'clock position, does this mean it’s already been fully adjusted?

If so, would I need a new rack to fix the issue?

That does sound as though it's at its full travel. Just checked on the one laying in my garage. They usually have a good 10mm of open slot showing past the bolt, which equates to at least 20mm of adjustment left.
However, before you get too deep into it, there is a possibility it has been adjusted too far in the past. There is a sweet spot either side of which you start to get odd behaviour.
So you could try moving it back. Mark a datum line across it before you move it, then pull the bottom of the ring back towards you until you have a good 25mm gap between the datum marks. It will likely be too far, but it will allow you to then tweak back 5mm at a time to see if it improves.
It's so easy to adjust, if you leave the panels off you can go for a drive and do several adjustments as you go.

 

[Emanresu]

So I went to do this as my steering feels a bit odd at motorway speeds. Sort of constantly sticking/unsticking, only ever so slightly but just constantly adjusting like it’s catching a magnet on/off.

I managed to undo the torx bolts no issue, however the ring seemed to be seized in place? The hole that people were using to put a screw driver was completely inaccessible as it was up in the 2 o'clock position, does this mean it’s already been fully adjusted?

If so, would I need a new rack to fix the issue?

That does sound as though it's at its full travel. Just checked on the one laying in my garage. They usually have a good 10mm of open slot showing past the bolt, which equates to at least 20mm of adjustment left.
However, before you get too deep into it, there is a possibility it has been adjusted too far in the past. There is a sweet spot either side of which you start to get odd behaviour.
So you could try moving it back. Mark a datum line across it before you move it, then pull the bottom of the ring back towards you until you have a good 25mm gap between the datum marks. It will likely be too far, but it will allow you to then tweak back 5mm at a time to see if it improves.
It's so easy to adjust, if you leave the panels off you can go for a drive and do several adjustments as you go.

Thanks for the speedy reply!

When I had the bolts loosened, I tried to adjust either way and the ring was completed solid, I could rock the entire motor a few mm but the ring would not slide? I managed to prise the bolt from the connector in case it just needed the seal broken, didn’t change anything.

This is viewed from the bottom.

 

[enuff_zed]

So I went to do this as my steering feels a bit odd at motorway speeds. Sort of constantly sticking/unsticking, only ever so slightly but just constantly adjusting like it’s catching a magnet on/off.

I managed to undo the torx bolts no issue, however the ring seemed to be seized in place? The hole that people were using to put a screw driver was completely inaccessible as it was up in the 2 o'clock position, does this mean it’s already been fully adjusted?

If so, would I need a new rack to fix the issue?

That does sound as though it's at its full travel. Just checked on the one laying in my garage. They usually have a good 10mm of open slot showing past the bolt, which equates to at least 20mm of adjustment left.
However, before you get too deep into it, there is a possibility it has been adjusted too far in the past. There is a sweet spot either side of which you start to get odd behaviour.
So you could try moving it back. Mark a datum line across it before you move it, then pull the bottom of the ring back towards you until you have a good 25mm gap between the datum marks. It will likely be too far, but it will allow you to then tweak back 5mm at a time to see if it improves.
It's so easy to adjust, if you leave the panels off you can go for a drive and do several adjustments as you go.

Thanks for the speedy reply!

When I had the bolts loosened, I tried to adjust either way and the ring was completed solid, I could rock the entire motor a few mm but the ring would not slide? I managed to prise the bolt from the connector in case it just needed the seal broken, didn’t change anything.

This is viewed from the bottom.

Hmmm. OK, well the motor is bolted directly to the column so you can't mess that up.
I would try a couple of turns on the bolts so you can move the motor over a little, then try tapping a thin blade between the column and the spacer. It must be just sticking.

 

[Emanresu]

I don’t know what voodo you did mate, but I thought I’d give it another crack after you said, so I loosened it as before and straight away it adjusted freely so just going through adjustments, then a quick drive, adjust etc to get it perfect! Thanks for your help

 

[enuff_zed]

I don’t know what voodo you did mate, but I thought I’d give it another crack after you said, so I loosened it as before and straight away it adjusted freely so just going through adjustments, then a quick drive, adjust etc to get it perfect! Thanks for your help

No voodoo mate.
I'm just on the Steering Committee.

 

[boca22]

Just want to say, did this today and it worked an absolute treat. There’s still a bit of twitch there which i think is unrelated and could partially be put down to the characteristics of the car but the post about adjusting the rack seems like a good place to start. Thanks OP for the great write up, this has made the car so enjoyable again!

 

[FunkyGBrown]

Had a strange one with mine today.

Last year wasn't hot enough that it got sticky often.. but it still needed addressing.

Adjusted today 10mm upwards as opposed to downwards (tried that last year and it felt really loose and vague).

So, the weirdness, is that I thought leaving the bolts slightly loose would mean less aggro for adjustments, but kept the test drives somewhat short. I found that I had absolutely no sticking at all, but the micro adjustments were terrible. Tightened the bolts, steering stiffened and felt slightly stuck but no micro adjustments whatsoever.

Is this literally a case of adjusting it mm by mm to find that sweet spot?

 

[Joycey]

Had a strange one with mine today.

Last year wasn't hot enough that it got sticky often.. but it still needed addressing.

Adjusted today 10mm upwards as opposed to downwards (tried that last year and it felt really loose and vague).

So, the weirdness, is that I thought leaving the bolts slightly loose would mean less aggro for adjustments, but kept the test drives somewhat short. I found that I had absolutely no sticking at all, but the micro adjustments were terrible. Tightened the bolts, steering stiffened and felt slightly stuck but no micro adjustments whatsoever.

Is this literally a case of adjusting it mm by mm to find that sweet spot?

Yes mate adjust it little by little, to find the sweet spot for you.

 

[JimmyRichE85]

This has been a fascinating post to read and learn of your experiences - its got me wondering what the setup is on my car but being totally non-skilled at mechanical engineering, I’m wondering if anybody has any experience of working with an Indy/Specialist in the Bath/Bristol area that could look at this for me please?

 

[TrackMyZ]

I wonder if this is what my problem is!! Thank you so much for the info. I’m gonna run it by you and see if my description of what’s happening applies. I have had the car realigned three times in two months. It has new rods, new bushings, new everything as well. It is a track car and has race suspension as well so everything is tight. But it has this weird sense of play right in the center almost like as if it’s trying to drive for me and I have to slightly fight it sometimes even though it doesn’t pull to one side of the other or anything like that, it’s just a little play in the center. but because the steering is tight like I like it, it is very annoying. It is almost as if I can feel the rods on the road pulling the tire back from each side. I don’t know how to explain iit.

 

[Z4_Tom]

I have just tested this solution and it works perfectly. My steering wheel is not sticky any more and driving it is much better!

Manage to do it in situ as well. Not difficult when you have good instruction and proper tools:

- did not have to remove the seat at all.
- just run the seat all the way to the back
- column cover has one Philips screw to remove
- cover underneath has T20 screws
- remove the spring that helps with column adjustment
-get a sharpie and mark adjustment ring and the motor for original position
- use closed end of 8mm spanner
- front bolt to be released can be accessed without getting underneath on your back, just use something to extend the leverage as the 8mm spanner is quite short and these bolts are quite tight (I have locked another spanner at the open end of my 8mm one)
- you have only around 30 degrees of spanner movement space so needs to be loosen up at least 3-4 times
- for the bolt deeper behind you need to get on the floor and upside down, difficult position but doable
- loosen up same way
- what I have found after loosening the bolts was that my motor itself now could be moved a bit as well (had a play few mm each way) luckily I had it marked against each other before started moving anything.

Took me few adjustments and test drives but now it is a massive difference! Thanks guys. Let me know if anyone needs „how to” with pictures in case no one done it yet. I could have missed it.

 

[Sirius19]

I just finished making the adjustment on a 2007 E86 and the steering feels better, but waiting for hot weather again. My car uses the allen bolts and one of them is really hard to get at.
I had a hard time getting the car to respond properly at the last autocross. It would oversteer (the rear of the car would step out) through the slaloms and it would understeer (front tires would slide) though most of the corners.
I wasn't really sure what was causing the terrible handling until I got on the highway driving home. I had a hard time keeping the car centered in the lane, so I knew something wasn't right with the steering.
I think the problem with the sticky steering solves the puzzle on why the car was responding so badly during hot weather.

 

[DerekE85]

I too am one of the unfortunate ones, the sticky steering is only evident in the strait ahead position and only when the car is hot
I have had a look to see if I could manage to do the suggested adjustments and after having a good look it appears to be beyond my ability nowadays
Does anyone know of a repair centre in the Perth Tayside or central Scotland area who could carry out the adjustments for me
I have a 2007 E85 2.0i
Thanks for any help
Regards
Derek

 

[Sirius19]

I was able to test the changes I made last week and found that I went the wrong direction when I made the initial adjustment. I left the car parked outside with the windows up to get the temperature inside nice and toasty.
After testing I found that I went the wrong direction, so I went about 5mm in the other direction past the original setting and the sticky steering problem appears to be resolved.
At first it was a challenge to get access to the bolts, but became easier once you figure out the tools you need. There was a spring and small wiring harness blocking access to the front bolt, but was able to use a bungee cord to move them out of the way.

 

[DerekE85]

I wasn’t able to get anyone to do the adjustments for me locally so persevered myself. I was encouraged by Sirius completing the job. So had a go ….. and success I now have a fully functional non sticking steering. What a difference the adjustment has made

 

[MikeyH]

After adjusting mine last year as long as l left the windows a little down when the weather was very hot all was well. Went out for a nice longish run over the weekend and it came back on the way home. The wife likes the heater on to warm up her feet. Thought I had cured it but apparently not.

 

[Derek May]

Hi MikeyH. I managed a few weeks ago to do the adjustments and it did cure the steering issue. I had to adjust the ring 4 times in total , after the initial adjustment I felt it was better but still felt it was still a little sticky with the heater on after a about a 5 mile test drive I just continued adjusting a little at a time until I felt all was well
I have now had a trip from central Scotland around the Yorkshire dales and back since the adjustment and the car drives perfectly even with the heater on
Im sure if you persevere with an other adjustment you will get a result

 

[MikeyH]

Hi MikeyH. I managed a few weeks ago to do the adjustments and it did cure the steering issue. I had to adjust the ring 4 times in total , after the initial adjustment I felt it was better but still felt it was still a little sticky with the heater on after a about a 5 mile test drive I just continued adjusting a little at a time until I felt all was well
I have now had a trip from central Scotland around the Yorkshire dales and back since the adjustment and the car drives perfectly even with the heater on
Im sure if you persevere with an other adjustment you will get a result

Yes I will have another go at it at the weekend, it's a pain to be sure. A previous owner had already had a go at adjusting it and someone had been in there and did the hole drilling thing and greasing. In the USA on a forum 10 years ago they where putting gun oil in the hole with quite a lot of success. Might give that a go as well.

 

[Joycey]

If you find it don't work, back out both bolts fully disconnect the connectors, remove the motor and give the screw a clean and regrease. In the 10 years I've had my coupe (Since doing this article) I've done it twice. I've done 90k miles in this time.

 

[MikeyH]

If you find it don't work, back out both bolts fully disconnect the connectors, remove the motor and give the screw a clean and regrease. In the 10 years I've had my coupe (Since doing this article) I've done it twice. I've done 90k miles in this time.

I think that might be above my pay grade