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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > Steering wheel off center after powersteering rack removal



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      07-17-2018, 07:32 PM   #1
jeff_91121
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Steering wheel off center after powersteering rack removal

I installed downpipes this weekend and unbolted the power steering rack and pushed it forward to get more accessibility for the job. Nothing was disconnected from the wheels or the steering linkage, just unbolted the 2 bolts from the rack and slid it a few inches forward, installed the DP's and slid the rack back and bolted it in. The front tires were on ramps, I didn't touch the steering wheel until the pipes were installed and the rack rebolted to the subframe. Now the steering wheel is maybe 5-10 degrees off center toward the passenger side. Any ideas how this happened and if so, how to correct it? I just got new tires and had an alignment performed by the local BMW dealership a couple thousand miles ago so I am pretty sure the alignment is not off and the wheel was centered before I did the downpipes. The car goes down the road just fine, no issues except for the steering wheel not being straight which just annoys me.
Any ideas?
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      07-17-2018, 09:22 PM   #2
Biginboca
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My guess would be there’s enough play in the 2 rack mounting bolts to allow a slight shift in the racks position. (As in the rack is not in the exact same place it was in before even though you bolted it down.)

You could loosen the rack bolts and move the rack a little to center the wheel then retighten, or adjust the tie rods, or forget diy and get an alignment if it really bothers you.

I would just try loosening the rack bolts a few turns and moving the rack and tightening again.
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      07-18-2018, 07:18 PM   #3
jeff_91121
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Thanks, I will try loosening the bolts and see if I can shift the rack.
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      07-19-2018, 06:36 AM   #4
robthewrench
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A re-alignment can fix this, if you don't have any luck shifting the steering rack slightly.
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      08-05-2018, 07:11 PM   #5
jeff_91121
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I did end up loosening the bolts and trying to shift the rack. There is very little play side to side but there is some play front to back. I shifted it as far as I could to the drivers side, which wasn't very much and re-torqued the bolts. It didn't make any difference in the wheel being off center slightly.
I'm going to live with it, I am going to be doing some suspension work in pretty soon and will have it aligned after.
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      10-01-2018, 05:14 PM   #6
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You would be suprised how much the front to back play of the rack effects the steering wheel being centered and how much it changes the front wheel alignment.
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      10-01-2018, 05:33 PM   #7
ctuna
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Maybe off by one or two teeth .
Although I though it was keyed.
tie rod adjustment is the typical way
to center a steering wheel.
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