Terrible handling, wayward steering - what's wrong?

[PboroRyan]

Hi all,
my 04 3.0 is by far the worst handling car i've ever owned, problem after problem after problem. :headbang: Now i'm guessing that the zed is meant to be a pretty decent handling car, so obviously something is wrong with mine. The steering is wayward, sometimes it pulls violently to the left suddenly, sometimes the steering becomes heavy like it's got no power assistance at all, it's harder to turn right than left, sometimes it wanders, it's just horrific.
So far ive:
replaced the springs with Eibachs
Had 4 new wheels and tyres (pilot sports, brand new)
Both these things i've done out of due course rather than to try and resolve this problem.

I've also:
had 4 alignments at 2 different garages (all hunter)
Replaced the wishbone bushings to polybushed ones
Swapped back to run flats to see if it made a difference
Tried not to set the b*stard car on fire

At the alignment, none of the mechanics found any visible problems with the suspension components. I've started to think it might be an issue with the EPS. What could it be? Steering angle sensor, Steering torque sensor, something in the squib, something to do with the steering column?

This car is really frustrating me as I want to enjoy it but so far it's just been problem after problem, and drives like absolute rubbish. Please someone point me in the right direction.
Ryan

 

[Chris_D]

sounds like your eps is on the way out mate?

 

[PboroRyan]

sounds like your eps is on the way out mate?

What aspect of it? Is it just a sensor that might need replacing, are they replaceable individually, are they integral to the column?

 

[Chris_D]

sounds like your eps is on the way out mate?

What aspect of it? Is it just a sensor that might need replacing, are they replaceable individually, are they integral to the column?

Could be any number of issues stemming from an EPS failure. I'm no expert in this issue but there are a few members here busy with conversions to a hydraulic steering steup who may be in a position to shed some more light perhaps.
Raymond.Harper, MachineMonkey ref:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1366051#p1366051
GuidoK here is also very knowledgable on this particular issue.

There are also a few members who have applied fixes to the 'sticky steering' phenomenon which hopefully is all it might be in your case, otherwise you're looking at an expensive fix including replacement of the upper column I think.
Search for 'sticky steering' on here and at zpost.com and see what comes up.

Good luck

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=78549&start=60

Check out this thread - have a similar (but less 'vigorous') problem with my zed.

Pull the fuse out of the EPS, check if it still happens.

 

[PboroRyan]

sounds like your eps is on the way out mate?

What aspect of it? Is it just a sensor that might need replacing, are they replaceable individually, are they integral to the column?

Could be any number of issues stemming from an EPS failure. I'm no expert in this issue but there are a few members here busy with conversions to a hydraulic steering steup who may be in a position to shed some more light perhaps.
Raymond.Harper, MachineMonkey ref:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1366051#p1366051
GuidoK here is also very knowledgable on this particular issue.

There are also a few members who have applied fixes to the 'sticky steering' phenomenon which hopefully is all it might be in your case, otherwise you're looking at an expensive fix including replacement of the upper column I think.
Search for 'sticky steering' on here and at zpost.com and see what comes up.

Good luck

Thank you! I've extensively researched sticky steering, torque sensor and angle sensor problems and opinions are pretty mixed, I can't seem to pin point what the actual issue seems to be. I'm going to presume its an issue with the column itself as that's what the majority of threads seem to indicate. People have had luck greasing the UJ joint it seems so i'm going to try that first and see if any difference is made! I've just gone for a drive with a bit of cool air blowing into the footwell and didn't notice stickyness or notchiness, but it was only a short drive. Time will tell :rofl:

 

[PboroRyan]

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=78549&start=60

Check out this thread - have a similar (but less 'vigorous') problem with my zed.

Pull the fuse out of the EPS, check if it still happens.

I did have a look through this, yours being a facelift I presumed that it couldn't be the same issue as the column was revised as far as i'm aware. Good shout on the fuse though - does this fuse shut down only the power steering motor, or the torque and angle sensors as well?

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=78549&start=60

Check out this thread - have a similar (but less 'vigorous') problem with my zed.

Pull the fuse out of the EPS, check if it still happens.

I did have a look through this, yours being a facelift I presumed that it couldn't be the same issue as the column was revised as far as i'm aware. Good shout on the fuse though - does this fuse shut down only the power steering motor, or the torque and angle sensors as well?

100% shuts down the electronic motor, as the steering is heavy! Also shuts off the air-con and windows....strange. I'm not sure if it switches off the angle sensor etc, but without the motor, they can't do much anyway