Steering rack question
 

I have read many times that the 3 bolts holding the steering rack to the car can get loose and should be tightened.

Does anyone know where these bolts are located and how they are accessed?

The pics below are from BMWfans. I presume this is the steering rack?

http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/MTI1NTQ2X3A=.png

Also, I changed my tie rod ends yesterday, and while I was there removed the tie rod boot and examined the actual rod before putting the new rod end on. I grabbed the rack just where the tie rod bolts into it, and was able to move the rack forwards on its mounts by about 2cm I grabbed it and wiggled it. Is this normal or is this the signs of loose bolts?

:wow:

There should be no movement of the rack, apart from the in-out movement of the tie rods when you turn the steering wheel of course. The body of the rack should be firmly bolted down !

Thats what I thought. I would like to get it tightened but where the hell are the bolt holes?

That would be a diagram of a steering rack. If you look near where the rack meets with the sub frame near the boots there should be a mounting bolt on both sides of the rack.

James

hello mobilejo
do you have a noise because of this ?

Hi,

I went out and checked last night, and the steering rack feels tight to the chasis - I could not replicate what I did the other day which makes me question what I did to discover what I was sure was some movement. Although last night I checked with both wheels on the ground, which would keep things much more taught - I need to do it with both wheels in the air to really check.

Anyway, my problem is that when the engine is off and I wiggle the wheel, I get that infamous clunk in the steering system.

But much worse than that, when the engine is on (i.e. power steering system running) and I turn the wheel, I feel the wheel ever so slightly catch on something as I turn it. Its like a series of catch/release/catch/release/catch/release in quick succession as the wheel is turning. It almost feels like the wheel is kicking back as you turn it. You can feel the same thing when driving too, but its faint unless you're on very smooth road. Can't hear anything over the engine noise but can feel it.

I have the same problem along with some other members. We're describing it as a "click" when you shimmy the wheel at slow speeds; it is inaudible and only felt through the steering wheel.

Thats the one. I had some luck in eliminating the click while stationary and at slow speeds by using the turkey baster method to extract and replace my power steering fluid. After 4 cycles of extract/refill/drive around lock-to-lock/repeat and using 1 ltr of dextron III ATF fluid, in total, the click has completely disappeared when stationary. I still get it slightly on long sweeping bends at high speeds though (50mph +/-). Hopefully, by doing further ps fluid changes, I will eliminate it altogether. My ps fluid was really dark brown, the new stuff is transparent red. At the moment, the stuff in my reservoir is a mixture of the 2 so there is clearly a large amount of old fluid still in there :dunno:

maybe I should replace my fluid too..will try this

Yeah try it definitely, I bought another litre and did 3 more flushes today with lots of driving between. Now the fluid in there looks about 90% new and the mild click click click i could feel (but not hear) on long sweeping bends seems to be gone.

I have replaced every single bush and balljoint in the front end chasing it, and the car was feeling solid but that 1 annoying click was always still there. It took me a while to even start looking at the steering system and the fluid was the first and simplest thing on my list as it was so cheap relative to changing parts out. Im glad I didn't buy a new rack first!