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

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Phil-E30

Active member
Hi guys, so I have spent the last week or so reading through various sticky steering threads on this forum and others. After a thoroughly enjoyable, roof down drive at the weekend was tarnished by the awful steering, it is time to address the issue properly.

In my reading I have seen a vast number of possible causes and solutions. What I was hoping was that some of you guys could list your experiences and fixes on here, so that we compile a recent list of this issue. So far I have ditched my run flat tyres and greased the UJs in the engine bay, neither of which have solved my problem.

A lot of people mention hot air blowing in to the foot wells as something that brings about the symptoms, this doesn't happen with me. However, the issue is most definitely related to heat and prolonged use. The most obvious cause of the issue with my car is being driven for any decent period of time, an hour plus of driving will bring about the symptoms. It's the classic notchy steering, seemingly unwilling to move back in to place or out of a straight line without persuasion, persuasion it shouldn't need.

So, if you would share your experience, symptoms, fix (if applicable) and rough cost would be awesome guys. Thought this could prove a useful resource and maybe worth keeping pinned somewhere?

:thumbsup:
 
Some heavy reading , this may help you out http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults.action?searchType=PROD&prodType=V&targetCategory=A&activeTab=2&searchCriteria.model_yr=2004&searchCriteria.make=BMW&searchCriteria.model=Z4&searchCriteria.prod_ids=898770
 
Are u sure its not the control bushes mine were fecked I thought it was sticky steering the car is transformed try rocking your front wheels back and forward there should be bearly any movement mine felt like you could pull the wheel off and it had passed a mot 3 months before with barely any mileage done after that I reckon its why it had a few owners in such quick succession , need to replace run flats but other than that it feels 100% bettter I could not drive with 1 hand on the wheel to change a cd it was so unpredictable , good luck if it is these they are 60 quid plus fitting , cheaper than a steering fix !
Cheers rog
 
Are u sure its not the control bushes mine were fecked I thought it was sticky steering the car is transformed try rocking your front wheels back and forward there should be bearly any movement mine felt like you could pull the wheel off and it had passed a mot 3 months before with barely any mileage done after that I reckon its why it had a few owners in such quick succession , need to replace run flats but other than that it feels 100% bettter I could not drive with 1 hand on the wheel to change a cd it was so unpredictable , good luck if it is these they are 60 quid plus fitting , cheaper than a steering fix !
Cheers rog
 
Cheers for the responses guys, some interesting stuff.

Greasing the UJs has unfortunately not sorted the issue for me, I really hoped it would! I have also changed the wheels and now have non RFTs and although they are infinitely better than the old RFTs, it hasn't sorted my sticky steering.

I will definitely look in to the control bushes, hadn't thought of that.

As for the Servo Control motor unit, I am assuming this can be bought as a separate part from the whole steering rack? If so, how big a job is it to change it and what sort of money is involved?

Appreciate all the help chaps! :thumbsup:
 
I will let you know how I get on Friday. My steering has similar symptoms. I have had an old car with hydraulic power steering and had a similar problem. Turned out o be a rotten sub frame so fingers crossed.
 
Phil-E30, I think you need the whole steering rack if the issue persists.... Stuart Truman and Markeg both had the column replaced on their Alpinas, which have the same rack

EDIT - worth adding that jaxz4 had a part of his steering column replaced by an indy for c.£300 IIRC.... problem solved
 
Think the same to be honest Adamski. The only confusion is, I see some people say new steering column and others saying steering rack. Which is it? Or both?!
 
The steering column is a single part from BMW. A decent technician could probably separate the parts if you could prove what was wrong with yours.

There are three schools of thought:

1) Steering column UJ's. Some have gained temporary relief by lubricating these. Genuine good luck on this being your problem as it's easily done yourself and cheap

2) Inner bearings in the column. Means dismantling the column with the associated labour charges etc and it's going to be investigative work, no guarantee of a fix

3) Steering Column electronics overheating. Seems to be the favourite. The problem is heat related in almost all instances and the replacement columns have a reworked electronics unit.

I'd be interested to hear if replacing bushes etc helps.
 
Number 3 seems to be the one that jumps out a me Stuart. Heat definitely plays a part in my case as the symptoms only arise once the car has been driven for an hour or more. No sign whatsoever of it on short journeys.
 
my issue with "3" is, can heat expand electronics ? what effect has heat on electronics ? It is an issue with heat. With my zed around 21 degrees centigrade which we do not have to often up here .I feel its mechanical, heat making something bigger, making it bind,,,,,the truth is no one knows what causes it . If the bmw techs know they are keeping it to themselves . bcworkz what do you think ? . Bmw have made a report blaming the worm gear http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ACM15556021/INRL-PE10020-42020P.pdf .
 
Gerry said:
I feel one must also consider , is the car a daily driver , weekend hooner or a garage queen .
Click to expand...
Good point if its a weekender it's not so much of a problem.
The main point is then does it do it when cold and all the time then it's probably not the rack and if it does it only when hot or heater on feet and or along run and intermittent then it probably is ?
Cheers rog
 
Gerry said:
my issue with "3" is, can heat expand electronics ? what effect has heat on electronics ? It is an issue with heat. With my zed around 21 degrees centigrade which we do not have to often up here .I feel its mechanical, heat making something bigger, making it bind,,,,,the truth is no one knows what causes it . If the bmw techs know they are keeping it to themselves . bcworkz what do you think ? . Bmw have made a report blaming the worm gear http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ACM15556021/INRL-PE10020-42020P.pdf .
Click to expand...

Overheating electronics will malfunction. You can mess them up through cooling too.
 
Stuart Truman said:
Gerry said:
my issue with "3" is, can heat expand electronics ? what effect has heat on electronics ? It is an issue with heat. With my zed around 21 degrees centigrade which we do not have to often up here .I feel its mechanical, heat making something bigger, making it bind,,,,,the truth is no one knows what causes it . If the bmw techs know they are keeping it to themselves . bcworkz what do you think ? . Bmw have made a report blaming the worm gear http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ACM15556021/INRL-PE10020-42020P.pdf .
Click to expand...

Overheating electronics will malfunction. You can mess them up through cooling too.
Click to expand...

Yep. Sorry to get all geeky (I'm an electronics engineer :D ) but the control module in the steering column will undoubtedly contain a lot of semiconductors (diodes, transistors, etc.) which all rely on P-N junctions to control the movement of charge carriers. No need for an in depth physics lesson but in layman's terms, temperature extremes plays havoc with this process.
 
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!
 
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