Twitchy Steering sorted!

[Reamesy]

So after reading the excellent post here https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=100725 I was able to restore my faith in the car.

It truly has changed the whole feel. It now feels planted and solid. It only took about 20-30 minutes.

Took it out tonight just before sunset, top down (as always if its not raining); listening to Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical (yes I'm a sucker for classics).

Absolutely loved it. What a car! :driving:

 

[DMike]

Good find! I’ll probably give this a go to add some ”sticky”. My zed has the same steering feel as described in the thread, like driving on marbles at 60+ mph. It began when I had powerflex bushes and alignment done. From what I’ve read toe out misalignment could cause similar behaviour but mine is fine at lower speeds. At 60+ the steering feels nervous, like the servo would be reacting to minor imperfections on the road.

 

[Reamesy]

That is exactly how it felt.

 

[Rafes Dad]

So after reading the excellent post here https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=100725 I was able to restore my faith in the car.

It truly has changed the whole feel. It now feels planted and solid. It only took about 20-30 minutes.

Took it out tonight just before sunset, top down (as always if its not raining); listening to Jim Steinman's Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical (yes I'm a sucker for classics).

Absolutely loved it. What a car! :driving:

This is exactly what I have with my Z4C, your description of driving on marbles is bang on, mine feels like there are servos kicking in to make tiny little adjustments and this very noticeable from speeds above 60mph and quite disconcerting.

Can I ask which direction you turned the spacer ring please because I am getting mixed messages on which will cure what I am experiencing, my head is telling me either of the below could cure/worsen.

Clockwise = lighter/looser (less sticky), Anticlockwise = heavier/Tighter (less free play))

Thank you

 

[Rafes Dad]

I tried clockwise and went to the stop, I'd say about 12-15mm of travel.
Tigthened it up and went for a drive, no improvement (could even have been worse) steering a fair bit lighter so I pulled over at a pub car park and went the other way to full stop anti-clockwise, tightened it up and went for a drive....Bloody awful, steering is very heavy/stiff and has no feel...except for the fact that I could still sense the pulling of the 'servos' like the car is tramlining more so than ever, it felt worse.
I pulled over to another pub car park...loosened and turned clockwise again to about the mid-point between full anti-clockwise and my initial starting point (I marked the spacer before I started) and went for a drive.
This was a vast improvement, not too heavy and not too light, there is still a very slight sense that there is external input to the steering but I think I can live with it now...time will tell.

Next thing to do is get rid of the LandSail tyres, they can't be helping at all...I have some Michelins on 224's coming my way at the end of the week and once fitted I'll go for a 4 wheel alignment check.

I bought the car a few weeks ago and slowing ironing out issues and tarting it up, DSC pump next on the list...

 

[DMike]

Did you gents snap any photos of the column and where the adjustments are? Joycey’s thread clearly show the adjustment on a column out of the car, but in situ?

 

[Reamesy]

I tried clockwise and went to the stop, I'd say about 12-15mm of travel.
Tigthened it up and went for a drive, no improvement (could even have been worse) steering a fair bit lighter so I pulled over at a pub car park and went the other way to full stop anti-clockwise, tightened it up and went for a drive....Bloody awful, steering is very heavy/stiff and has no feel...except for the fact that I could still sense the pulling of the 'servos' like the car is tramlining more so than ever, it felt worse.
I pulled over to another pub car park...loosened and turned clockwise again to about the mid-point between full anti-clockwise and my initial starting point (I marked the spacer before I started) and went for a drive.
This was a vast improvement, not too heavy and not too light, there is still a very slight sense that there is external input to the steering but I think I can live with it now...time will tell.

Next thing to do is get rid of the LandSail tyres, they can't be helping at all...I have some Michelins on 224's coming my way at the end of the week and once fitted I'll go for a 4 wheel alignment check.

I bought the car a few weeks ago and slowing ironing out issues and tarting it up, DSC pump next on the list...

Clock-wise makes it weaker. Anti-clockwise stronger. I originally rotated mine by 12-14mm anti-clockwise. This improved the steering at 65-70 perfectly. However low speed was then a little digital. ie. It felt notchy on roundabouts and slow tight turns. I backed it off clock-wise about 4mm and it is now spot on. Hope this helps.

 

[Rockhopper]

The problem you'll find with all this is that when the weather warms up (if it ever does) you'll find the steering goes very stiff if the car has been parking in the sun for a while.