strut bearing binding up

[funcrew]

I must have assembled the strut, bearing(top mount) and associated washers incorrectly, because the top mount does not freely rotate on the strut. Can someone post or link to a diagram that shows where the washers go? E36 strut & mount. Edit: The bearing a bit gritty, but turns OK when not installed in the strut. Can a bad bearing turn freely uninstalled, but bind up completely under load?

[KenC]

Big fat washer sits between the bearings cap and the strut.

[einstein57]

check realoem for a diagram. and yes to your second question.

[funcrew]

Big fat washer sits between the bearings cap and the strut.

OK, I had that wrong.

check realoem for a diagram. and yes to your second question.

That's what I was afraid of. I'm going to throw in a set of new bearings and fixed camber plates I was holding in reserve for when I buy your Euro 316 slicktop in a few years.

[Hellabad]

Pic number 7 in my gallery at the bottom of this post. very FAQ

[einstein57]

OK, I had that wrong.



That's what I was afraid of. I'm going to throw in a set of new bearings and fixed camber plates I was holding in reserve for when I buy your Euro 316 slicktop in a few years.

Its already going to have full coilovers and camber plates installed.8)

[funcrew]

Pic number 7 in my gallery at the bottom of this post. very FAQ

Yes, very nice - Thanks. I'll order up top washers and caps.

[bmwstudent]

I must have assembled the strut, bearing(top mount) and associated washers incorrectly, because the top mount does not freely rotate on the strut. Can someone post or link to a diagram that shows where the washers go? E36 strut & mount. Edit: The bearing a bit gritty, but turns OK when not installed in the strut. Can a bad bearing turn freely uninstalled, but bind up completely under load?

yes a bad bearing can turn freely with no load and bind up completely under load

[funcrew]

yes a bad bearing can turn freely with no load and bind up completely under load

Thanks. I replaced the Previous Owner's gritty E36/M offset strut bearings (relocated studs) with nice new E30 bearings and fixed camber plates. Smooth as silk now.

[tjmonsen5]

What was the feeling of your strut bearings binding up? Right now my steering is easy hard easy hard easy hard. It does not return to center, it gets stuck wherever the wheel is turned at that moment.

It is VERY hard to turn the wheels by hand, while the front end is jacked up off the ground. This must be hell on my steering pump. While turning the wheels by hand, its easy hard easy hard. Kind of a thump thump thump feeling if I turn them quickly. Any ideas?

[jlevie]

That could be strut bearings, or it could be ball joints, tie rods, or even a bad rack. And it is possible that the flex joint in the steering column is bad.

[tjmonsen5]

I tried to disconnect the flex joint from the rack, to try and isolate the problem. I pulled the bolt out completely, used pry bars and could not get it to slide off. Whats the secret? A torch?

I looked at the strut bearings while a friend turned the wheel. They appeared to roll smoothly.

I checked with pry bars, no significant play in any balljoints, tie rods seem fine as well. No play in the wheel when shaking it by hand.

[Hellabad]

I looked at the strut bearings while a friend turned the wheel. They appeared to roll smoothly.

Don't look at the strut bearings when your friend is steering, FEEL them.

Close your eyes like Yoda, and FEEL the strut bearing.

I will bet you also have an incorrectly assembled suspension. I wouldn't have put it in my FAQ if it wasn't a very frequently asked question.

[tjmonsen5]

Don't look at the strut bearings when your friend is steering, FEEL them.

Close your eyes like Yoda, and FEEL the strut bearing.

I will bet you also have an incorrectly assembled suspension. I wouldn't have put it in my FAQ if it wasn't a very frequently asked question.

Ok, i will feel them instead.

Not sure what you mean by incorrectly assembled suspension, the car is 100% stock. The tough steering showed up just a few weeks ago, been perfectly fine for the last 4 years that ive owned the car.

[Hellabad]

Ok, i will feel them instead.

Not sure what you mean by incorrectly assembled suspension, the car is 100% stock. The tough steering showed up just a few weeks ago, been perfectly fine for the last 4 years that ive owned the car.

If so, then we can assume it is correctly assembled. I would just pour about a tablespoon of motor oil right down into the strut bearing.