Help, noob with a steering issue

[Beacon101]

Hi people, wondered if you could point me in the right direction. First off, this is my first post, but I have read some great bits of advice given on here, so thank you all and let me start off.

So I purchased my beloved z4 coupe 2007, around 5 months ago and I've been loving it.



However, I have had an issue with steering, tbh, when I first had it it had a mind of it's own lol.

Now, first off, it has still got the run flats on, which I will get off asap, but I wanted to get everything else sorted before shelling out, and ruining them.

So to start, on the MOT I needed new front bushes, which made a world of difference, but its still not 100%. So the next step I thought was to check the tracking. I did this and they couldn't change anything as everything was seized.. They explained that this is because it is open to the elements.... etc etc...

This is the tracking, haven't got the full report as I came away to think first.



And the rear in more detail:



The front, I believe, is the tie rods that need replacing. This will change the toe???. (You can tell I'm mechanical minded) This I'm hoping to get done this week. As for the rear, this will have to wait for the time being as it's not going to be cheap. Apparently the 3 bolts on either side are seized. From what I can gather, these bolts holds the Trailing arms?? and again effect the rear toe??. Also the camber is out. Not sure what is needed to correct this??

If you made it this far thank you. For the question, am I going in the right direction? (for this I mean getting things sorted, not where my car is pointing lol...) 2nd, could the back effect the handling at the front. I.E. if the steering not puka after replacing the tie rods should I keep looking at the front, rather than splashing out at the rear? And lastly has anyone else had these issues. I've read about sticky steering and I dont think it's that. The steering doesn't lock in place, it is just constant corrections and minor odd directional changes.

Sorry for waffling on and thanks again if you made it this far. Any advice will help.

 

[Chippie]

Hi and welcome, good to see a photo of your pride and joy.
I think you are going in the right direction getting the alignment set up correctly and yes the rear will definitely affect the steering, you need to get some penetrating oil on those bolts but be careful around the rubber bushes with WD40 as it damages the rubber, let the lube work it’s magic for a few days then take the car back and get the alignment sorted and checked for any other play in the suspension mounts, then get the tyres changed a misshaped tyre can also cause steering issues.
Good luck getting it sorted and please let us know how you get on

 

[Jl-c]

Hi, and welcome. Yes your alignment is all over the place, couple that with run flats and I’m surprised you are not in a ditch somewhere! Try this stuff https://xcp-protection.com/products/xcp-one/ it runs rings around WD40 which good in its time is now old hat.

 

[Jembo]

.... sounds like my story for my original E85... spent a fortune on polybushing, drop links, RTAB’s/RTAL’s, tie rod ends, lollypops, Bilstein shocks, alignment, Michelin nonRFT tyres... each making an improvement every time & awesome in the end, but still not perfect.

The two final solutions are the steering collar adjustment (which wasn’t known at that time) or buy an ///M

If you have a go in an ///M, you’ll understand

 

[Beacon101]

Thanks all for the replies. Took the car in yesterday to get the front end sorted and after replacing the inner and outer tie rods and all seem good. Tracking bang on at front and steering is loads better .

Just onto the back end now. Got some XCP from B&Q as it was cheaper than Amazon, so I will give that a go. Hopefully this sorts it.

Thanks all again for your advice and I will keep you posted.