Steering Wheel rattle.

[CrashemUp]

I have an 88 325 IS, over 60 miles an hour the steering wheel rattles terribly, you can hear the rattle through the car also. I just replaced both tie rods, the allignment is fine, all 4 tires are okay and balanced. Any ideas on what could be causing this problem?
I was thinking it could either be motor mounts, control arm bushings, or subframe bushings.
Any ideas guys? I need to figure this out to get this car back on the road.

[b*saint]

Steering column bearings.

[Victell]

If you can FEEL the rattle in your hands or in the seat, then its not the steering column bearings. If you can only HEAR it, then it is.

If you feel it also, then you have a problem else where. Bent rim? bubble on tire?

[b*saint]

Steering column air foil bearings.

[E30Nova]

Jack the car up and grab the tires and try to rock them sideways. I.E., left hand at 9 o'clock, right hand at 3 o'clock, and try to rock it. Then put one hand at 12 o'clock and the other at 6, and try to rock it that way. If there's any movement, the ball joint is bad and you need a new control arm.

Then check the control arm bushings that mount to the frame.

What kind of wheels do you have? They could be balanced perfectly, but if they're universal wheels and don't have the right size hub bores, you may need hubcentric rings.

Matt

[CrashemUp]

You can feel the rattle terrible through the steering wheel, but the car itself doesn't rattle. We are changing out the control arm bushings soon, if that isn't it, we will try the steering column bearings.

Does anybody know where to get the bearings?

[HarryPotter]

You need to check the balljoints also, not just the control arm bushing. This is definitely a possibility. As mine are bad and the THR's didn't get rid of all the vibration. Although I believe there is a bit with THR's as they are solid more or less. I dunno I'm baked right now.

[Victell]

if you feel it that much then its not the steering column bearings, dont waste your money.

swap your front wheels to the back, see if it goes away. if so, its tire/wheel related.

[CrashemUp]

Alright, we changed the rear tires, one was a little bald. Also rotated and balanced.
The rattle has gone down significantly, but you still feel it. You can't hear it anymore just a rattle.

We're gonna replace the Control arm bushings with M3 offset ones soon.

Any ideas on what else the rattle could come from?

[87e30]

Check your ball joints, dude.

[KenC]

There's a huge nut on the steering column under the dash that holds the two pieces together. Get a pipe wrench and tighten it.