Tight Steering
 

I know i'm still learning my 4.8is, but I wanted to make sure this is just the way it is. My steering is generally nice and easy. The way power steering is supposed to be. At highway speeds, I think it feels a bit tighter....which is fine. At low speeds, most of the time, it's pretty light. But every now and then, it's a bit tight when making turns from a slow roll (like making a left turn out of the intersection, or slow down to make a right turn. I'm thinking that maybe at those time I brake a little hard and it activates the sport mode and tightens up. But I don't recall. Thoughts?

Oh, I have the air suspension and aftermarket wheels if that matters. The wheels are 18s. And like I said, this doesn't happens all the time.

Maybe change out the power steering fluid. My 4.8is, 2006, requires pentosil for the fluid, which is really green. When I pumped out the old fluid, it was really brown. I did it once so far, but plan on doing this process two more times, maybe more. No issues with steering, just decided to freshen it up. Check your fluid. It is usually neglected.

Mine has a simular issue. It has developed tight spots in the steering wheel rotation. It's boarder line un-safe! My fluid is correct level, but looks brown. Idk if fluid change would help me or not.

Does anyone know where it should be drained from? Any pics?

Thanks,

I believe the recommended procedure is using a turkey baster, taking some out, filling it up to the top, going for a drive, coming back, and taking another baster full out, and topping off.

Do this process quite a few times over a few days and I believe using about 2 quarts worth should get most if not all of it out of the system.


I'm going to do this process myself since I have some noises every now and then from my steering (no leaks though), so I think some fresh fluid would help me.

Guys, do some searches. I ran into a couple a few months back. People have reported those dead spots, and PS fluid change improves this a lot. Even the first time you get the reservoir empty and new fluid, you will feel a difference.

Instead of turkey baster, a $10 hand pump, like those used to pump trans fluid back into the car will work great to get the old fluid out.

I bought a quart of pentosil, did the empty fill thing ones, and I am sure it will last me at least two more times.

Oh yeah, make sure you put the right fluid in. My car, has a green sticker on the PS cap, CHF 11S ONLY. So no ATF. If you put in ATF, you shot yourself.

^ I will do this tomorrow and report back

Good call slick, and yes great recommendation to read your cap, mine on my 2003 does say "ATF oil only" so I will be stopping by Autozone or something and get some Mobil 1 ATF to pump in.


Does anyone know the capacity of our PS system?

Ok, I ended up just trying it last night. I think this is the power steering fill/resivor... lol.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/23debe8e.jpg

When I opened the lid, it was low, and smelled burnt and kind of sweet, like sugar.
I used this hand pump to suck out all the fluid in the resivor...

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/60c5b674.jpg

Then I filled it up with new, started the car and did full right to left turns, over and over and over again. I repeted this untill I had replaced 2 quarts of the ATF with new.

The steering is sooo much better! Not perfect.... But I'd say 95% better! So I'll put a few miles on it and continue the process untill fluid looks fresh.

Thanks for your help guys!

Not sure of exact capacity, but I know from reading previous threads that 2 quarts will be more than enough to do this more than 4 times.

I am pretty it will take more than two fills to get it to clean up.

What Jordo did is fine.

I didn't want to do it a few times right away, because I don't like stressing the steering while standing still. So I did it once. Drove around for a week. Did it again last night, fluid looked like shit again. And remember pentosil is crazy green. Like this face color, :D. So that tells me that it mixes quite well. Going to keep doing it till it stays green after a week.

Oh and it is just too easy to do with a pump and an empty beer bottle.

Sounds good man! Makes me excited to do mine now, you just emptied and refilled the reservoir each time right?

Maybe i'll do a little more than 2 quarts over the course of a week to make sure it is all fresh!

Thanks guys. I love this forum. Lots of great input from people that actually experience the problems.:thumbup:

Just buy a can of liquid wrench and spray it to #5 on the diagram that should cure the tight steering.
RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.6is STEER.COL.-LOWER JOINT ASSY

Thanks Petener999. Because your answer is so different than everyone else's, I wanted to point out that this does not happen all the time. It's intermittent. Sometimes at making right or left turns, it's tight. Most of the time it's fine. However, because I'm thinking of the "performance" aspect, it may be normal when coming off hard braking. I know the engine reacts differently after hard braking. I was just wondering the tight steering was a by-product of the vehicle thinking I'm trying to enter performance mode.

Not really. I had the same issue with my steering tightening up a few weeks ago. I brought a can of Liquid Wrench, which contain a grease lithion base and spray on the steering knuckle. Try it you'll thanks me later.

Cool. Just so happens I have some liquid wrench already. I'll let you know.

Remember to turn the wheels right/left a few times. Good luck!

So I had posted that I changed out my steering fluid with great results. Well... Some how some way... My results went away by the morning. I have no clue how or why it was better after replacing the fluid....

Anywho... I sprayed the joint as stated above... AND NOW I HAVE RESULTS! Hands down no question, the stiffness is in that lower joint. AND it has been 3 days and 100 miles later and it's still like new!

The part prolly should be replaced.. Right? I looked it up. About $200 and a little hard to reach.... Looks like I'll keep some LW in the X!


Thanks guys!

Can someone please tell me the location/how to get to the steering joint so that I can spray some grease onto it? As I'm having the same problem with the steering on my E53 diesel

^ I'll snap a pic and post it tonight when I get home. It's pretty easy.

Can't wait :2thumbs:

:thumbup: Liking this thread! though i dont have this problem will be doing the procedures before it happens!!!!

Me neither

Guys. Open hood. Look on the drivers side. You see the steering column shaft coming out of firewall, follow it toward front and you will see the steering joint. Lube that up.

I could not locate the steering joint. any photos or drawing please?

I will try to remember to snap some pics.

Look at page 2 post #12.

I think that the steering joint you're talking about is part on the steering lubrication fluid cycle, and it already has fluid path inside. Is that correct?

If not, then how can I grease it? is there a specific nipple for this?

Go to any auto parts store and buy a can of Liquid Wrench, then sprays it ON the steering joint. Remember to turn your wheel right/left a few times.

Ok pal, I got your point now. I'll need to remove the under-engine cover, and spray the fluid on the steering joint to get rid of dirt. Is that all?

But I'm in doubt if this could solve the tightness.

Is there other ideas? (excluding oil level / replacing pump/ tire pressure).

Thanks.

You don't need to remove anything, just open your hood look down to the right side of your engine bay, and you will see the steering wheel shaft and joint.

"I'm in doubt if this could solve the tightness."

I had the same issue with my steering wheel tighten up and a few sprays of Liquid Wrench no more tightness. Try it! You'll thanks me later.

Ok pal, I'll try to find it (still prefer a photo) and spray it. I'll let you know. Thanks, you're great :)

Ok here you go. Front driver side (Left when sitting behind steering wheel).

Wide Shot. You see that joint looking thing?
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T...25283%2529.JPG

Closeup. Look above now, you will see where it is.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E...25284%2529.JPG

Enjoy.

Buy Escalade for lighter steering...

Thanks pal, I really appreciate it. I'll do this tomorrow & let you know guys.

No Prob. Finally remembered to take pics. And yes, escalade steering is very light.

Today I checked it and guess what? It was covered by dirty grease & compact sands (I live in Saudi Arabia where sandstorms are common).

By turning the steering wheel I could easily identify that the squeezing sound is coming from this universal joint.

The mechanic told me that this universal joint got some play/backlash and therefore spraying with liquid wrench only won't fix it; it should be replaced.

To ensure myself more, I washed it out with hot water jet and suddenly the squeezing sound and tightness just disappeared!

Tomorrow I'll have it replaced and yes; The steering's universal joint is the reason behind my tough steering.

Thanks pals, you're scientists :)

I'll bring photos tomorrow.

for all that are experiencing this tight steering issue, is this problem all the time or just intermittent?

Some people have spots of tightness, some all the time. I think my steering is too light honestly.

Great news Nezar. Let us know the condition of the joint in comparison to new one once removed. I didn't think those pinned joints could fail.

Full story here
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tml#post874425

My steering has been doing the exact same thing off and on so tonight I'm going to change out the oil and spray the joint. I know pretty quick if that solved the problem. Sometimes it gets so hard to turn it's definitely NOT safe but once you get it moving it turns back and forth like it should. So strange!! I'm optimistic the two suggestions will solve these problems.

thanks guys.

Before I had a chance to change out the oil again, I bought a can of liquid wrench while I was driving around during the day and sprayed the steering nuckle. It worked amazingly and yesterday evening and today so far it has worked flawlessly.

I'm still going to flush the power steering fluid with fresh stuff just to take care of it though.

THanks Guys.