Steering column noise?

Z

zedwheels

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Wonder if anyone can shed some light on a problem with the steering. Its mainly while stationary but can be there after it warms up during tight corners and roundabouts too!
While its stationary and the engine running, if I turn the steering wheel left or right to an extent that puts pressure on then I get what I can only describe as a groaning or rubbing
sound from the column. Have tried spraying the column union joints, no good, all the track rod ends are good, I believe the noise is from within the column itself.
Any ideas, is this going to be a costly jobie... :headbang:
 
Hi, there have been several threads before if you search on steering noise etc one of them being here had some detailed suggestions and links
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34744&p=474326&hilit=+steering+squeak#p474326
 
Cheers mate :thumbsup: I listened to the utube scene and that's exactly the issue. I too took the car into Sytners and all they came with was to replace the whole
column at a cost of £2400. :o Its not after standing idle though this starts after driving a few miles first. I don't like the idea of drilling into the column
but have found a second hand column on ebay, complete for £400, don't know if this is the best way to go I suppose it could end being the same!!
There is more sense on here than in the BMW garage, surely they must have come across this before and found a way of lubricating the offending part. :x
 
Time to get rid Bri, get a nice 1 series vert,:mrgreen:
M

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zedwheels said:
Cheers mate :thumbsup: I listened to the utube scene and that's exactly the issue. I too took the car into Sytners and all they came with was to replace the whole
column at a cost of £2400. :o Its not after standing idle though this starts after driving a few miles first. I don't like the idea of drilling into the column
but have found a second hand column on ebay, complete for £400, don't know if this is the best way to go I suppose it could end being the same!!
There is more sense on here than in the BMW garage, surely they must have come across this before and found a way of lubricating the offending part. :x
Click to expand...

I think that when these steering columns are removed they should have a locking pin inserted to prevent internal damage. If you buy one from ebay, I would check how careful they've been to remove it as £400 is still a lot of money to pay for a dud.
 
Before you start replacing the steering column has you lubricated the right area ?
I have the same noise as the YouTube video after sitting in traffic for an hour.

My BMW Indy is going to lubricate the steering column where it goes through the firewall in the engine bay. By the sound of it it needs to be done from underneath the car.
 
By the way, the previous owner replaced the steering column a couple of Years ago and it makes the noise now !
 
Rob_benton said:
By the way, the previous owner replaced the steering column a couple of Years ago and it makes the noise now !
Click to expand...

I don't bloody believe it!! as Victor Meldrew would say. I bought a can of the silicone spray today, not WD40, and totally soaked the plastic end of the shaft just as it comes into
the engine bay, started it up so I could turn the steering wheel to lock both ways, and then done the spraying again and its stopped the groaning. :D :D
Thing is though I placed the order for the one on ebay last night because I was fed up with the noise and I love my little beasty. Don't you just want to spit when that happens
why didn't I have a go at the spraying first.
Its probably not a proper fix and will return at some point but who knows :!: Didn't realise this is such a common problem.
 
zedwheels said:
Rob_benton said:
By the way, the previous owner replaced the steering column a couple of Years ago and it makes the noise now !
Click to expand...

I don't bloody believe it!! as Victor Meldrew would say. I bought a can of the silicone spray today, not WD40, and totally soaked the plastic end of the shaft just as it comes into
the engine bay, started it up so I could turn the steering wheel to lock both ways, and then done the spraying again and its stopped the groaning. :D :D
Thing is though I placed the order for the one on ebay last night because I was fed up with the noise and I love my little beasty. Don't you just want to spit when that happens
why didn't I have a go at the spraying first.
Its probably not a proper fix and will return at some point but who knows :!: Didn't realise this is such a common problem.
Click to expand...

It's a proper fix if your only problem was dry parts, it fixed mine 2 or 3 years ago and hasn't returned but I do give the various steering joints a squirt twice a year just in case :thumbsup:
 
If the noise you are having is the same as the one in this video you should have a look at this thread.

I had the horrible groaning noise that you can here in the video. I solved it by lubricating the steering rack as described in my post in the link above. It isn't a tough job at all and 6 months later my steering is still super quiet :)
 
I think I have this squeak, no problems with steering etc. just an annoying noise especially when parking.

What grease are people using?

Any pictures of the part I need to lubricate? On the other threads it’s for a different car that’s all.

Thanks

Ash
 
I had this as well, lub'ed as described but ALSO found my tyre pressures were to low which ( don't know why) improved this even further :driving:
 
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