Steering play issues

[coldweatherblue]

My car has a little less than an inch of steering play at dead center.

I have replaced the entire lower suspension including the rack/tierods/controlarms, all bushings, etc.

I had a shop take apart the column and look at the coupler and they said it was "fine" but didn't replace it.

The car handles great but the excess play annoys me.

I read this thread: http://bimmertips.com/sloppy-e30-steering-fix/

about tightening the coupler screw.

The problem is my car ('89 325i) does not have the same column and there is no coupler nut. Just a smooth round brass appearing tube that is larger and diameter that the one pictured and goes straight from the ignition area through the firewall.

I'm not sure if it's a replaced column or if I'm missing something.

The wheel nut is tight, it's an mtech 1 wheel.

I have a feeling it's probably still the coupler but was just curious if anyone is familiar with the steering column I have and if there is a way to tighten that nut.

To borrow from another thread: this is what my car looks like, rather than a ujoint then splines into the firewall its just a smooth tube. yes I know twss.

[earthwormjim]

Pop the hood and watch the coupler as you turn the car when it is stationary. If it is the coupler, you'll see the rack side lag behind the firewall side.

What replacement rack did you use by the way? Stock E30 racks are not exactly tight, especially on center.

[coldweatherblue]

Hi, thank you for the reply. It's a re-manufactured E30 rack. The steering is fine but there's about an inch or so of "dead space" at center. I wouldn't mind as much if it were just vague but the dead space tells me this is something that can be fixed.

I did my front brake pads/rotors today and while under the car took a look at the coupler. I can turn the coupler side to side by hand with the wheel "ignition locked" with about the same amount of play I feel in the wheel so I'm pretty sure the couple needs replacement. It's annoying the shop told me it was good.

Do you have any ideas about the supposed "coupler nut" accessed from the interior by the firewall? I would like to see if tightening this has any effect but my car does not seem to have this nut.

[earthwormjim]

My car is a European model, so the steering column was completely different, I didn't see the dreaded nut inside the car that everyone was talking about.

My play was due to the rack itself, and the coupler. I replaced my rack with a remanufacturered E36 one, and the Ireland Engineering urethane coupler. I have zero play in the steering system now.

[coldweatherblue]

Just an update:

So I actually got my car back from the shop last week (before making the OP) after getting the M20 refreshed for the past 2.5 months. Long story, but the engine needed rings/HG.

It ended up being kind of an ongoing saga at the end; I was using my motorcycle as primary transportation in freezing rain over winter and after the head was back on the car it was another two or so weeks before it was finished. They would tell me it'd be ready the next day, then I'd call and they'd say, "Oh we had to order an oil cooler gasket" or something. This went on for about 2 weeks.

Finally the shop owner (who is a neighbor) promised it would be ready the next day. Important because I had to work 4 night shifts in a row with lows in the 20s and rain/snow most days (had already done enough of that on the bike). The next day I called and they said it needed a power steering hose because of a leak and would be another 4 days (over the weekend). The car had a minor leak for the last few years but I never had to put any fluid in it so didn't think it was a big deal and just asked to pick the car up.

Anyway, I think they gave me the car back without putting PS fluid in the rack. They probably took the rack out to drop the oil pan, hose was leaking, didn't fill it back up, etc Maybe the master mechanic doing work on the car didn't give the "ok" to give it back, who knows.

Today I put a belt on to assess the leak, filled it with fluid and went for a drive, the play was nearly gone. The leak is now quite bad (not sure if it's from sitting over-winter or something involved in the refresh) and the hose does not hold fluid. So I took the belt off and took it for a drive without PS, just like it was when I made the OP.

Much much better. There is still a minute amount of play so I do think the coupler probably needs replacement at some point but it's barely noticeable even without PS.

The coupler has a barely noticeable amount of play without PS and even better with PS. I kind of like driving it w/o PS however went ahead and ordered a complete PS hose kit from pelican to install next week.

Just hope the rack I put in 6 months ago will last after driving it the past ~100 miles w/o fluid..