Dealer is replacing the lower steering shaft

only1harry · 11-25-2015, 01:17 PM

Would anyone know which part is the "steering shaft"? Can you point me to a drawing/diagram?

Last year the Dealer replaced the lower shaft U-joint because of a clicking noise I had in the steering wheel (and free play). Well the free play in the center has been getting worse and the Clicking noise came back. Also the steering is very loose and I have to turn it much more than before to have the car turn. It's taking almost twice as much turning on the steering wheel...
So now the adviser called and said they are replacing the "lower steering shaft". First he told me the "shaft" and I asked him the "drive shaft"? He said no, lower steering shaft. Can someone please point me to a diagram so I can see what this part looks like? What would cause the steering shaft to go bad?

I would like to see what it connects to, because I had the car at Rogue Engineering the other day for something else and had them listen for the clicking noise when I turn the steering wheel left or right at the center. They said it was coming from the Rack itself, and that the rack would probably have to be replaced. I am wondering if the Dealer is trying to temporarily fix a Rack issue or implement a workaround, and they are not addressing a real Rack issue, or avoiding it while the car is under the CPO warranty.

Thanks,
Harry

andrey_gta · 11-25-2015, 01:25 PM

Could be this:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_1616
or this
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_1515

Sidewinderpb · 11-25-2015, 01:56 PM

It's the shaft with the u-joint located directly under your chargepipe. Will fix clunk, won't fix play. Trust me, I've been fighting bmw for over a year.

only1harry · 11-25-2015, 01:58 PM

Thanks! I had found these 2 as well, and I am not sure which one they are dong. I have printed out both and will have them tell me which one they replaced.

The drawing I am looking for is the "bigger picture" that hopefully shows what they connect to. I have a feeling it is not the steering column. I think it is the "lower joint assembly" which they had replaced last year. Something is causing the lower joint to go bad on this shaft, and I was hoping to find a diagram to show me exactly what the bottom joint connects to", and how everything ties in.

Does anyone know what the lower shaft/joint connects to in this link?
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_1616

I am thinking whatever it connects to is the culprit. Why would this lower shaft joint go bad twice in 1 year? They need to look at the other piece it connects to which is causing it to go bad, IMO.

Thanks!
Harry

Sidewinderpb · 11-25-2015, 02:00 PM

It's the first link that Andre had posted btw

Is that u-joint in the picture what you're referring to? If so, yeah there's something with them. I had mine replaced and then replaced again a month later because it started clunking again.

only1harry · 11-25-2015, 02:26 PM

I bet something is causing that U-joint to go often. What does it connect to?

BlueMax16 · 10-17-2022, 09:05 PM

Wow - this thread is really old but appears to be exactly in line with my issue. Stiff steering.
Independent European trusted shop says $1055 to replace "Lower steering shaft assembly". Posts that suggest white lithium lube seem to be a too-simple fix. Willing to pay the $$ for my trusty 2011 127K 328Touring. But really? a steering shaft assembly goes bad?

Insights?

11-25-2015, 01:17 PM	#1
only1harry Second Lieutenant 41 Rep 257 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335i xDrive Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Dealer is replacing the lower steering shaft Would anyone know which part is the "steering shaft"? Can you point me to a drawing/diagram? Last year the Dealer replaced the lower shaft U-joint because of a clicking noise I had in the steering wheel (and free play). Well the free play in the center has been getting worse and the Clicking noise came back. Also the steering is very loose and I have to turn it much more than before to have the car turn. It's taking almost twice as much turning on the steering wheel... So now the adviser called and said they are replacing the "lower steering shaft". First he told me the "shaft" and I asked him the "drive shaft"? He said no, lower steering shaft. Can someone please point me to a diagram so I can see what this part looks like? What would cause the steering shaft to go bad? I would like to see what it connects to, because I had the car at Rogue Engineering the other day for something else and had them listen for the clicking noise when I turn the steering wheel left or right at the center. They said it was coming from the Rack itself, and that the rack would probably have to be replaced. I am wondering if the Dealer is trying to temporarily fix a Rack issue or implement a workaround, and they are not addressing a real Rack issue, or avoiding it while the car is under the CPO warranty. Thanks, Harry __________________ 2011 Space Grey 335i xDrive E92, Sport Pack/Premium/Winter/Navi rolling on 342's. 2019 Accord Sport 2.0T 10-sp.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-25-2015, 01:25 PM	#2
andrey_gta Brigadier General 316 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	Could be this: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_1616 or this http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_1515 __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-25-2015, 01:56 PM	#3
Sidewinderpb Banned 327 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: 2017 340i xDrive 6mt Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: CT iTrader: (7)	It's the shaft with the u-joint located directly under your chargepipe. Will fix clunk, won't fix play. Trust me, I've been fighting bmw for over a year.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-25-2015, 01:58 PM	#4
only1harry Second Lieutenant 41 Rep 257 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335i xDrive Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Thanks! I had found these 2 as well, and I am not sure which one they are dong. I have printed out both and will have them tell me which one they replaced. The drawing I am looking for is the "bigger picture" that hopefully shows what they connect to. I have a feeling it is not the steering column. I think it is the "lower joint assembly" which they had replaced last year. Something is causing the lower joint to go bad on this shaft, and I was hoping to find a diagram to show me exactly what the bottom joint connects to", and how everything ties in. Does anyone know what the lower shaft/joint connects to in this link? http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_1616 I am thinking whatever it connects to is the culprit. Why would this lower shaft joint go bad twice in 1 year? They need to look at the other piece it connects to which is causing it to go bad, IMO. Thanks! Harry __________________ 2011 Space Grey 335i xDrive E92, Sport Pack/Premium/Winter/Navi rolling on 342's. 2019 Accord Sport 2.0T 10-sp.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-25-2015, 02:00 PM	#5
Sidewinderpb Banned 327 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: 2017 340i xDrive 6mt Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: CT iTrader: (7)	It's the first link that Andre had posted btw Is that u-joint in the picture what you're referring to? If so, yeah there's something with them. I had mine replaced and then replaced again a month later because it started clunking again. Last edited by Sidewinderpb; 11-25-2015 at 02:10 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-25-2015, 02:26 PM	#6
only1harry Second Lieutenant 41 Rep 257 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335i xDrive Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	I bet something is causing that U-joint to go often. What does it connect to? __________________ 2011 Space Grey 335i xDrive E92, Sport Pack/Premium/Winter/Navi rolling on 342's. 2019 Accord Sport 2.0T 10-sp.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-17-2022, 09:05 PM	#7
BlueMax16 New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2011 Bronze 328xi Wagon Join Date: May 2013 Location: NC, PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328xi [0.00]	Lower Steering Shaft Assembly replacement Wow - this thread is really old but appears to be exactly in line with my issue. Stiff steering. Independent European trusted shop says $1055 to replace "Lower steering shaft assembly". Posts that suggest white lithium lube seem to be a too-simple fix. Willing to pay the $$ for my trusty 2011 127K 328Touring. But really? a steering shaft assembly goes bad? Insights?
	Appreciate 0 Quote