Steering issue

relative4 · 05-19-2019, 09:40 AM

'07 E90 335xi auto. Lately it's developing a minor problem with the steering wheel being hard to turn for part of the rotation, with the peak resistance when the wheel is at about at the 2:00 position. If you turn the wheel lock-to-lock with the car running and stopped, the 2:00 resistance will happen on about 2 of the rotations. The sensation is sort of like if the shaft were bent or misaligned so that it pushes against its bushings, bearings, etc. at that point in the rotation.
Anybody know how to diagnose and address this? Thanks!

gbalthrop · 05-19-2019, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relative4

'07 E90 335xi auto...If you turn the wheel lock-to-lock with the car running and stopped, the 2:00 resistance will happen on about 2 of the rotations...

Since it happens at a certain position of steering wheel (and Lower Steering Shaft with U-Joint at either end ;-) one of those U-Joints getting stiff would be my first SWAG. You could try different wheel position adjustments to rule that out, but can't imagine that's the issue.

I would get BOTH front wheels off the ground (easy to turn wheel w/o power assist and test with engine off. Better, with helper turning wheel, visualize the lower column joints, or even feel as slowly turned in "binding" position (2 o'clock) for any play or movement.

George

dpaul · 05-19-2019, 12:30 PM

Seconding Gbalthrop's suggestion.

The lower steering column has an unorthodox double joint at the bottom - I've had that fail, giving a problem similar to the one you describe.

FWIW, it was very difficult to separate that joint from the steering rack. If there's a trick to it I'd like to know.

riczon.335i · 05-19-2019, 12:54 PM

same issue i had recently, i replaced the steering shaft u joint and problem went away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by relative4

'07 E90 335xi auto. Lately it's developing a minor problem with the steering wheel being hard to turn for part of the rotation, with the peak resistance when the wheel is at about at the 2:00 position. If you turn the wheel lock-to-lock with the car running and stopped, the 2:00 resistance will happen on about 2 of the rotations. The sensation is sort of like if the shaft were bent or misaligned so that it pushes against its bushings, bearings, etc. at that point in the rotation.
Anybody know how to diagnose and address this? Thanks!

andy_06xi · 05-19-2019, 03:02 PM

I had this issue a couple of years ago. I sprayed WD40
followed by grease on the u joint (you can barely see it
from the top, used one of the "straw" applicators on the
sprays and pointed in general direction) at various
wheel positions. It got stiff again
about a year later, so I reapplied. Still good as of now.

I expect I'll eventually have to replace the joint.

05-19-2019, 09:40 AM	#1
relative4 Major 611 Rep 1,272 Posts Drives: '08 335xi E90 MT stage 1+ Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	Steering issue '07 E90 335xi auto. Lately it's developing a minor problem with the steering wheel being hard to turn for part of the rotation, with the peak resistance when the wheel is at about at the 2:00 position. If you turn the wheel lock-to-lock with the car running and stopped, the 2:00 resistance will happen on about 2 of the rotations. The sensation is sort of like if the shaft were bent or misaligned so that it pushes against its bushings, bearings, etc. at that point in the rotation. Anybody know how to diagnose and address this? Thanks!
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05-19-2019, 12:30 PM	#3
dpaul Lieutenant Colonel 654 Rep 1,893 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335xi, 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Boston iTrader: (3)	Seconding Gbalthrop's suggestion. The lower steering column has an unorthodox double joint at the bottom - I've had that fail, giving a problem similar to the one you describe. FWIW, it was very difficult to separate that joint from the steering rack. If there's a trick to it I'd like to know.
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05-19-2019, 03:02 PM	#5
andy_06xi Second Lieutenant 74 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (1)	I had this issue a couple of years ago. I sprayed WD40 followed by grease on the u joint (you can barely see it from the top, used one of the "straw" applicators on the sprays and pointed in general direction) at various wheel positions. It got stiff again about a year later, so I reapplied. Still good as of now. I expect I'll eventually have to replace the joint.
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