My son is traveling thru Sea / B Ham / Vancouver BC and might need help...

[LateFan]

For some reason my Flash player won't load a video….I'll fix that.

But yes, the top of the strut binding issue. I'm almost certain we put the big washer on the drop hat in the correct place because we read about this very mistake by others. The top strut mount / bearings are new as well. It has H&R sport springs and E90 drop hats.

I did the same google when this started, and I was about to send him to an auto parts and spray the U-joints. I pulled the lower dash shrouds and checked the column bolts last week. Everything seemed fine.

I'm wondering now if it's in the valving at the rack valves, or dirty fluid (how did I not remember to flush that??), or some binding in the gear teeth. It does have 175k on it, so things could be just wearing out. It seems odd that it would come up in about a week.

I think he's calling Elite in Ballard right now to see if they can look at it. They're leaving for Vancouver in the morning. 4 kids plus bikes plus stuff.

Thanks!

[nando]

I just saw this. he's probably long gone by now, but let me know if he's still in the area.

[LateFan]

Well, he's headed thru Bellingham to Vancouver tomorrow AM. Thanks for the offer - I'll see what he says about the shop in Ballard.

[LateFan]

He's at Elite in Ballard - they're looking at it now.

EDIT…..$120 just to look at it…...

[hankolerd]

Well I am bit late, but Group 2 Motorsports is just across the bridge, I would have recommended them sooner but didn't realize... $120 just to pop it up on the lift to take a gander that seems a bit excessive, unless they are going to be digging into it a bit. That said, $120/hr is the going rate here in Seattle.

[LateFan]

Oh, I like Group 2. I have an old Alfa and I know those guys. Shit…I just searched independent BMW shops and got that Bimmer-something list and saw Ballard.

Also, our friend Gord'n Perrott runs the Land Rover shop in Ballard, Lamorna Garage - he's right up the street. He used to mess with rally cars - he could have looked at it too. Maybe I'm not doing this right...

They were going to send a tech out to drive it and replicate it……there are no freeways near Ballard….

EDIT - sounds like they think it's worn seals in the rack. Needs to get hot before it starts leaking pressure. "Shall we replace that for $1000 sir?" I was about to suggest we put in a reman E36 rack when he got back anyway. I'll see if they can just flush the fluid and refill and he can limp home.

[LateFan]

Likely the seals are leaking pressure the hotter it gets, ports might be getting clogged. Flushing might make it worse, they say, so we'll leave it as is. I put in regular PS fluid instead of ATF to top it off before he left - maybe I made it worse.

We will plan on putting in an E36 rack from rackdoctor when he gets back. He should be fine, just has to pay attention and use some muscle if it gets tight.

Only charged us $82 to check it out and drive it, so that was nice.

Thanks all!

[DrJosh]

Glad it got sorted out. Hope he has a safe trip home.

[LateFan]

Thank you.

[LateFan]

Home. 1500 mile adventure. All good. E36 rack planning underway.