Is the steering column lower joint serviceable?

A

Any1else

Member
Have a bit of resistance in the steering in the car and instead of feeling "sticky" it feels a bit "gritty" (if that doesnt sound dumb). I have tried the sticky steering fix, changed the tyres and replaced the shocks and while the car feels a lot better and more stable on the road I still have this grittiness in the steering. It was noticeable when I was getting the 4 wheel alignment done and the wheels were on the shaker plates and you could feel the resistance in the wheel.

My focus is now drawn to the steering column lower joint and I was wondering if anyone knows if the Hardy Spicer joints on it are serviceable? I want to take it off and inspect the lower joint because I am wondering if it has lost its grease thereby resisting the input from the wheel. Are they serviceable or do I need to buy a replacement? Can you still get new ones?

Cheers for any help.
 
Hi, Some HS / universal joints have a grease point but these don't, so strictly speaking these UJ's are sealed for life, non-serviceable and no lubrication should be possible. But just as water eventually gets in to UJ's when they are a little worn and expanded by heat from the adjacent exhaust (on a RHD car), then you can actually lubricate them and it can make a difference. I've done it and found that steering felt a little smoother, several others have also so it's worth a try. Don't use WD40 or similar as they flush out existing lubricant, heavy grease will not get in and will just attract grit so best to use a white grease spray or similar, or even an engine oil on a small brush.

At the end of the day if it's notchy and worn replacement is the long term solution and will be a BMW dealer part.
 
Thanks for the reply Ewazix. I thought that the joints would have grease in them and hoped that the issue was caused by them losing that grease in the past 90K miles and 16 years. I have already used white silicone grease on them and found that it made a difference and hoped that an overhaul would be the answer. I will take it off at some point and have a check of it and see if replacement is the answer. :thumbsup:
 
In the end I went and had it replaced and the steering is much smoother now.
However ...

When the car is cold the steering is perfect but when it warms up after a drive, when I turn the wheel to the right I get a sound from the column like two leather surfaces are rubbing together. Its fine with normal driving it is just when I go to park that it is more noticeable. When turning right it seems louder than when turning left.

Anyone else encountered this with their steering?
 
Any1else said:
In the end I went and had it replaced and the steering is much smoother now.
However ...

When the car is cold the steering is perfect but when it warms up after a drive, when I turn the wheel to the right I get a sound from the column like two leather surfaces are rubbing together. Its fine with normal driving it is just when I go to park that it is more noticeable. When turning right it seems louder than when turning left.

Anyone else encountered this with their steering?
Click to expand...
You replaced the entire column part to a new one?
 
Tamir said:
Any1else said:
In the end I went and had it replaced and the steering is much smoother now.
However ...

When the car is cold the steering is perfect but when it warms up after a drive, when I turn the wheel to the right I get a sound from the column like two leather surfaces are rubbing together. Its fine with normal driving it is just when I go to park that it is more noticeable. When turning right it seems louder than when turning left.

Anyone else encountered this with their steering?
Click to expand...
You replaced the entire column part to a new one?
Click to expand...

No, just the lower joint with the two universal joints.
 
If you have a groaning noise from the bottom of the column coming up to the wheel (like a fog horn) try lubricating the white nylon collar at the bottom of the steering column as it exits the bulkhead, again this is simple, as it's a nylon bush I use a PTFE spray.

A rubbing / groan / squeak from the steering wheel can be down to the top slip ring assembly in the wheel, I haven't needed to do this one but is worth looking up on the forum/web if that's your problem. e.g. our friends at bimmerforums.com https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?245961-Steering-wheel-squeak-FIXED-Writeup-w-pics

Culprits I've had on other cars have been a dry steering rack (simple lube job) or the wildcard that was a pain on my old Scooby, dry aftermarket poly-bushes, the things squeaked when turning the wheel at rest and needed ptfe spray every 3 months to save my sanity.

Let us know how you get on :thumbsup:
 
I also have a noise with the steering wheel how it is not bad only happens randomly and only a low hum.

How do I get access to the white nylon collar at the bottom of the steering column
 
psych0e said:
I also have a noise with the steering wheel how it is not bad only happens randomly and only a low hum.

How do I get access to the white nylon collar at the bottom of the steering column
Click to expand...

It's at the bottom of the steering column as it emerges through the firewall in to the engine bay, you will also see the two universal joints on the steering shafts running forward to the rack as well, give the white nylon bush a squirt of ptfe lube or similar, I tend to run some oil in to the UJ's with a brush whilst I'm there. So you are looking in the engine bay, low down on the drivers side :thumbsup:
 
Its a while since I've had a petrol car but underbonnet temperatures on the Z4 do seem rather high, especially on the exhaust side as you might expect. I can see why the steering UJ's suffer.
 
My steering has a moan when I first use it after a layup. It goes away once I get some miles on it. Go for a drive and see if it helps.
 
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