Late model airbag steering coulum nut help

[sonomabimmers]

My previous E30 had similar symptoms that were cleared by tightening up that nut -- it was pretty loose. Before you go tearing out the rack, my recommendation would be to get yourself that 32mm wrench and spend two minutes tightening the nut. If it works, you've saved yourself a lot of time and money. And if it doesn't work, you're out two minutes, and now you have a 32mm wrench that you can also use to take off the fan when you change the timing belt -- it's also 32mm.

thanks a lot man i went and bought the wrench and unfortunately the nut was tight so no go. i bought a rack. but yes as you mentioned i have a fan clutch wrench now, i never mind buying a tool more the merrier

[Dave_G]

My previous E30 had similar symptoms that were cleared by tightening up that nut -- it was pretty loose. Before you go tearing out the rack, my recommendation would be to get yourself that 32mm wrench and spend two minutes tightening the nut. If it works, you've saved yourself a lot of time and money. And if it doesn't work, you're out two minutes, and now you have a 32mm wrench that you can also use to take off the fan when you change the timing belt -- it's also 32mm.

[sonomabimmers]

[QUOTE=nyChris;4615628]

[QUOTE=mpowerful;4615640]

That sounds like the rack.

thanks a whole lot guys for taking the time. r3v never lets me down:o

[Kershaw]

That sounds like the rack.

[sonomabimmers]

You don't say specifically where the play is. Specificity is important.

Is it rotational play in your steering wheel? If so, it's probably the rack. Could be the flex disc as mentioned though.

Is it play in the whole steering column, are you moving that side to side? If so, something is probably broken.

flex disk has maybe 100 miles on it. and if i grab my steering wheel and turn it side to side like a clock there is a dead point where they play is about 3/4 inches of side to side play with out the wheels turning. i just replaced the whole flex disc unit the whole coupler. I'm thinking its the rack? and to answer i guess it would be rotational play as its the wheel not the whole column assembly. thanks for responses everyone

[Kershaw]

You don't say specifically where the play is. Specificity is important.

Is it rotational play in your steering wheel? If so, it's probably the rack. Could be the flex disc as mentioned though.

Is it play in the whole steering column, are you moving that side to side? If so, something is probably broken.

[sonomabimmers]

Agreed

worth a shot before i spend a whole day and 250$ on a new rack. any suggestions on why i have play in my steering then. I've replaced damn near every component. thanks!

[nyChris]

Thats probably not where the play is though.

Agreed

[sonomabimmers]

Righty tighty, lefty loosey. Moving the nut towards the steering wheel end of the column will apply more tension on the spline, firming it up.

your the shit man shoot me the paypal i gotta hook you up.

[sonomabimmers]

Thats probably not where the play is though. Check the flex disc on the shaft under the hood. Probably is toast.

literally just replaced that whole unit not just the flex disc but whole join it was extremley toast. me and my mechanic played with it a lot yesterday and decided its probably from the rack. but we also grabbed that big nut and i tried to just crank it with my hand didn't seem like anything happened but when i drove home the cars steering was way tighter idk. so i wanna crank on that bolt bout to go buy a 32mm wrench. really don't wanna put new rack in :hitler:

[nyChris]

.awesome so tightening it would just firm it up then? and i tighten normally to the right ?

Righty tighty, lefty loosey. Moving the nut towards the steering wheel end of the column will apply more tension on the spline, firming it up.

[mpowerful]

Thats probably not where the play is though. Check the flex disc on the shaft under the hood. Probably is toast.

[sonomabimmers]

That nut provides tension on the shaft. Loosening it will allow you to slide the top portion up and down the splines on the bottom portion.

.awesome so tightening it would just firm it up then? and i tighten normally to the right ? shoot me your pay pal if you want to collect a little helper fee i appreciate it.

[nyChris]

That nut provides tension on the shaft. Loosening it will allow you to slide the top portion up and down the splines on the bottom portion.

adding: That shaft slides up and down so you don't get impaled by the steering column in a front end collision.

[sonomabimmers]

bump 51 views and nothing. ill paypal someone a helper fee if they know what they are talking about