Sticky steering problem. Time to sort it! Help and advice.

Nice write up Ewazix :thumbsup:
Do you know how hot the module can become in use? The ambient temperature BMW tested at regarding the worm gear was 55º C and the internals at a test seemed to go to 80º C. *See below. Obviously we never see ambient temps of 55º C. With these temp rises though they only mention a general increase in torque not the notchiness associated with 'sticky steering'. So as you say it maybe is a combination of issues. I would like to know how a lower column and UJs 'feel' on an effected car out of interest.

*In 2011 the US Office of defects Investigation wrote:
"BMW stated that conditions of “sustained high temperatures, combined with long periods of
intense sunlight” can cause the worm gear within the EPS system to expand causing increased
friction within the system. BMW has evaluated this condition and provided test data showing
the steering effort in a subject vehicle equipped with a complaint EPS system. The nominal
steering wheel torque (without any increased friction in EPS system) is approximately [ ] N-m
(or about [ ] lb-ft)1. The BMW test data were taken during various driving maneuvers at a
high ambient temperature (55º C or 131º F) and during a test condition at an extreme internal
temperature of the EPS system (80º C or 176º F). The largest increase in steering torque
occurred during the 80º C temperature test. At this temperature, the maximum steering wheel
torque (as a result of the increased friction in the EPS system) due to the high heat conditions
was approximately 5 N-m (or about 3.7 lb-ft) "
 
This thread is certainly gaining a lot of attention, shows the reputation this issue has earned! Think Ewazix post is top class, I fully intend to try a few of the less expensive, less extreme measures to try and fix this issue. I am going to start with the grease nipple modification, then probably replace the lower part of the steering shaft and once I have done that, make a decision on the next steps.

Has anyone done the grease nipple modification? Was hoping for some guidance on the right grease nipple to get and where it can be sourced. The guide to this modification says a "long shanked self tapping grease nipple"?
 
I'm pretty sure someone had their sticky steering fixed by reloading the software in the steering ECU. Can't find the thread, but thought I'd put it out there anyway
 
Brilliant Monkey! Did you look at the walkthrough for the work I'm going to do? It's at the link below:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1896932-DIY-Sticky-Clunky-Steering-Fix

He mentions the long shanked grease fitting, self tapping. Obviously the self tapping thing is important, not sure what size of grease fitting.

Either way, any help you can offer would be massively appreciated. Try this method out and see if it remedies the issue!
 
PM sent mate, thanks.

Need to get my hands on a grease gun now and check that I have the right drill bits. The logic behind this job seems perfectly sound, would be nice if it had an impact.
 
Good luck Phil, hope it works. The only thing that gives me doubts is that when a greased-for-life bearing is 'sealed', how does it ever end up running dry?
 
I understand the question Bradders and wish I could give a convincing answer. I suppose there could be some sort of flaw in the design whereby it isn't sealed properly or something along those lines.

I am trying this really off the back of the success had with this work by the guy that drew up the guidelines, just seems like a wise step before considering drastic measures.

Just in case anyone fancies a watch at it there is a video (albeit a bit of a messy one) on where this fix is located.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1csf2ahHS-c&feature=youtube_gdata_player
 
Phil-E30 said:
Brilliant Monkey! Did you look at the walkthrough for the work I'm going to do? It's at the link below:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1896932-DIY-Sticky-Clunky-Steering-Fix

He mentions the long shanked grease fitting, self tapping. Obviously the self tapping thing is important, not sure what size of grease fitting.

Either way, any help you can offer would be massively appreciated. Try this method out and see if it remedies the issue!
Click to expand...

Yeah no problem i will take a look in a bit. I will let you know what size to drill the holes as well.
 
Ok Phil

There is a grease nipple drill and tap set coming your way.

In the kit

1 6mm spot drill This is for giving yourself a nice say 5mm wide indent for the drill to start into. The geometry on a standard drill as you all know dose not like to go where you want it.
2 6.8 M8 tapping drill
3 M8x 1.25 tap
4 Tap wrench
5 3 x M8 nipples.

Spot drill in the correct location, Drill hole , Tap hole , Install the nipple

The correct way to tap a hole without braking the tap or striping the thread can be tricky.

1 Make sure the tap is perfectly straight and aligned to the hole. Turn clockwise until tap starts pulling its self in. At this point you should turn the tap 1 complete turn forwards. And then 1/2 turn backwards to break the swarf. Repeat until the correct depth is achieved. Dont force the tap as it WILL strip the treads. If this happens contact me crying and i can help you fix it but its difficult!!!

!!! The tap must be lubricated with a viscous oil. Clean engine oil will do the trick !!!

When Phil has finished with it and if anyone else wants to try. Contact Phil i am sure he will send it on. If we run out of grease nipples. Contact me and i will send some to you. This set is free to use you just have to pay the postage to the next person. If your happy and it fixes the problem A little forum donation probably wouldn't go a miss :thumbsup:

Monkey
 
Brilliant Monkey, sounds awesome to me. Top bloke.

I will get started on this once the kit arrives with me and I have sorted out a grease gun, a tool I don't have (not like me).
 
No problem all the best with it :thumbsup:

One thing i didn't mention and i will edit the post is. When taping it need to be lubricated. A small drop of any engine oil will work. Just needs to be more viscous than say wd40.
 
When the guy says in the walkthrough to bore the hole with a 7/64" drill bit, are we using the other bits in this kit instead of that?
 
bladeowner said:
There's a servo on ebay at the moment if you want to see what it looks like.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Z4-E85-Power-steering-electric-pump-/171032698225?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27d257dd71
Click to expand...

Just wondering as well, the servo in this link, would it be worth changing this unit to see if it helped the issue? As part of a smaller, less expensive gamble to sort it? Still trying to establish a list of smaller, less expensive avenues to explore before anybody has to resign themselves to buying the dearer full columns.
 
Phil-E30 said:
This is all extremely interesting, the fact that there is such an unknown element to this issue. I suppose I had never thought about the effect temperature has on electrics. When I think about it, why is it getting so hot as to affect the steering electrics? In my experience it is 100% not to do with outside temperature. Since I have owned the car it hasn't been more than 13 degrees over here! It must be the heat produced after driving the car then? It seems mad that heat generated from normal driving is enough to do this!
Click to expand...

It should not be caused by ambient temperature I believe. I owned my zed since July and between July-September we had cases of up to 40 Celsius degrees over here. I had no issues with the steering. However, I use the car mainly at night when max T ' s were 30C and during the day it is parked in a closed covered garage. However, even when I drove it at high T's there was no problem. Today it was a hot day 35-36C and was parked in sunlight for 30 minutes without issues. The whole car got extremely hot. I believe there must be a combination of factors that lead to the sticky steering problem and not ambient T alone. Mine is a 2005 2.0i with 49000 miles on the clock. We need to find a solution to that issue as I have always been worried of that issue even before I bought her. Yesterday on another thread we found this company that reconditions the electric power steering : http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=BMW-Z4-EPS
It would be great if the found a solution, I think we should contact them as well.
 
Phil-E30 said:
bladeowner said:
There's a servo on ebay at the moment if you want to see what it looks like.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Z4-E85-Power-steering-electric-pump-/171032698225?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27d257dd71
Click to expand...

Just wondering as well, the servo in this link, would it be worth changing this unit to see if it helped the issue? As part of a smaller, less expensive gamble to sort it? Still trying to establish a list of smaller, less expensive avenues to explore before anybody has to resign themselves to buying the dearer full columns.
Click to expand...

Yes exactly as we are using an m8 threaded nipple. Just discount that section and follow my guid for that bit.
 
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