I recently ran out of time to complete repairs on my E53 4.8is (RHD) and after slaving under the hood for a considerable amount of time replacing the valley pan, assorted gaskets, expanding coolant pipe I'd had enough and decided to take it to the shop for the alternator bracket leak.
The shop said that they'd drop out the subframe to get access and I'd have the car back at the end of the day. At the end of the day they called me and told me that the job is more involved than they'd thought (which I found surprising because they are a very highly rated independent BMW shop), and they'd be removing the two drive shafts to the front wheels.
When I got the car back the following day they said they'd dropped the subframe, taken off both of the front drive shafts to access the bracket, replacing any seals/torn boots along the way. I was ecstatic to have the car back but once I got in and gave it a drive around the block I noticed the steering wheel has a slight clunk / notch in it at certain points.
Outside the cabin which is very well insulated, when you turn the steering wheel (especially if the car isn't moving - i.e. there is a considerable load on the steering rack), there is a fairly substantial "THUNK" sound.
So I took it back and had them take a look at it. They made sure all the work they'd done was ok - double checked all the bolts etc and then the guy pulled me into his bay and had me feel the steering rack - where the tie rod goes into the rack (i.e. where the boot is), has a very distinct "notch/clunking" in it when turning the steering wheel, on the right side of the car.
Now they're telling me I need to take it to a power steering specialist to get that dealt with.
Additionally, I noticed later on that the steering wheel was not pointing straight ahead when the car is going straight anymore (although the car doesn't pull to one side all).
I honestly can't remember if the steering was like this before it was taken in or if I am being unreasonably critical because of having someone else worked on my car. But I am VERY anal about such small things and I feel as though I'd definitely have noticed if the steering wheel in my car wasn't pointing straight ahead when the car is going straight!
Obviously I can't say with 100% certainty whether or not this shit was broken BEFORE I took it into the shop... the shop are adamant nothing they've done can cause this.
Could dropping the subframe (or any other work described above) caused the symptoms of knocking/banging steering wheel and steering wheel pointing off-center like that?
10-24-2018, 08:10 PM
Subframe/Steering Question
Linear Mode
