Z3 Rack Swap Problems

[mbc325]

Just finished installing a Z3 rack into the E30 a few days ago and while I was refilling the ATF fluid I noticed a weird stuttering in the steering wheel (the front wheels were off the ground) and a few different spots while turning. I looked outside at the wheels while I was turning it and saw the wheels actually shaking as well whenever I passed over one of the spots. They're both at about 2 and 10 o'clock when turning that it really shudders as well as at almost near full lock.

When driving it it doesn't seem to want to return to center after a turn. I have to manually turn the wheel back to center every time.

I got an alignment and still no change. At speeds the steering is tight and responsive (if not a little stiff), of course I'm not making large turns on the highway either.

Any suggestions?

[BergerNJ]

the wheel not returning to center while driving is most likely worn strut bearings if memory serves correct.

maybe tie rods? take my words as a grain of salt as I am on the early end of the learning curve

I have some steering issues some what similar to yours, when I get my second vehicle I will be garaging my vert as it should be for the winter and working on it, steering rack/pump is most likely going to be one of the many repairs/preventative maintenance since it works fine but I am very anal about things.

scribed.

[801coppertop]

Never deals with this but my thought are maybe binding in the steering knuckle, is it air bag or not? I would check that first....

[mbc325]

Out of town all this week starting tomorrow, but when I get home I'm going to put it up on a lift and do some grinding on the steering knuckle to see if that gets rid of it. I'll let you know how it comes out.

[E30_fiend]

With that particular rack swap, the knuckle has to be ground down AND modified.

Did you do any other work when you did the rack? The strut bearings not being assembled correctly can also effect the turning of the wheels. I had the same problem when I changed my suspension for the first time. I forgot to put the washer between the upper spring perch and the strut bearing.

Something easy to check which could also be your problem. Air in the system could also be your problem. Make sure you dont have any bubbles at all in your reservoir. Turn from lock to lock tons of times. One time, it took me 45 minutes to fully bleed all the air out of the system. The rack was bone dry as well as the new lines and reservoir.

Hope that helps.


Taylor

[mbc325]

I grinded down my steering knuckle down yesterday. Initally after leaving the shop there was actually more vibration (shuddering) in the wheel while turning at speeds under 10mph and there was still no feedback after a turn returning the wheels to center.

After a day of driving on it the shuddering seems to be gone while parking lot driving, the vibration from the steering knuckle binding is gone but the wheels still don't return to center by themselves.

The weirdest part to me is that while the car was on the lift I had a buddy turn the wheel back and forth to see if the shaking in the wheels was corosponding with the knuckle grinding. When the steering wheel was turned, the point at which the wheels vibrated was at a point where literally the steering knuckle was at it's furthest point from making contact with it self. I'm stumped again.