Best Way to check steering Tie Rods

david powell

Hi all,

I wondering what's the best way to test steering tie-rods? I some times feel like my E36 follows ruts in the road, especially where they have removed a road marking and there's a dip.... Also i can sometimes feel cross winds more than i think i should.

I tried jacking up the front end, and with the steering lock on checking for play, there did seem to be some, I'm wondering how much should naturally be there? Especially on the passenger side, it seemed like the Inner joint of the tie-rod joint had play in it. Is this the best way to check?

The TieRod ends, out at the steering knuckle, seem fine...

How often do these need to be replaced?? every 50->100K??

Regards

Seth Brundle

Have you standard suspension? What tyres have you?

david powell

Yep all standard suspension components... changed both ball joints as one was going bad, last summer... Also changed the rubber bushings at the rear of the wish bones at the same time...

I did feel there was a bit more play in the passenger side wheel.... I'm sure it's normal to have a small bit of play in the steering rack... It did feel like there was play in the joint closest to the steering rack, but it's covered with a gator/boot so it's hard to see...

AMurphy

I don't know any cheap, sure-fire way of checking the items you mention, as there are so many parts and linkages in series, it could be any of a multitude. Unless it is so worn you can detect the play in the joint by feel.

therefore you are pretty much forced to change the ball joints first, as they are/were the most solid, and hence the most likely to have wear, rather than the rubber bushings, which are more "grey" in deterioration, unless completely shattered.

On a heavy vehicle 100K is a good point to change all these wearing parts.

Lex Luthor

David, I wouldn't expect you to see any play in steering rods. Don't worry, they are not as expensive as you might think. The ball joint section of both my rods had play in them last year on my 523i (E39) , but were ok at the wheel hub end and I got both rod ends from BMW for €130 + €65 to replace them at a local independent BMW specialist. Add re-alignment costs to that afterwards. My mileage was at about 110k.

I'd also be checking your front wishbone bushes on the control arms for any wear as that can cause the symptoms you might be experiencing.

If you are up near the 100k mark and you don't think any of the above have been changed, it might be time to consider getting them all done at once.

Give OTTO a call in Ranelagh...thay might do the parts cheaper than the dealers. I found the dealer cheaper for the rods, but OTTO cheaper for the control arms & bushes, even though OTTO supplied genuine BMW parts, but without the logo.

Have a look at this site:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?PHPSESSID=1ead2770cc8bad7f131fda77f662bc0c

type in your last 7 digits of your VIN # and look around for the parts you think are needing replacing. the site is american but you'll get a feel for the prices and they supply part #'s so when you call BMW you can use those numbers.

david powell

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies, yep I'll change them out this weekend, provided i can get some where to do a re-alignment afterwards... GSF have the 2 tie-rods for about 60 euro.

I did talk to a mechanic who used to work at a dealer-ship and he said they would normally "feel" for play in the "inner" joint through the rubber boot, while someone was shaking the wheel.

"as they are/were the most solid, and hence the most likely to have wear", Didn't think about it this way, but yea i could only imagine the forces involved, going over bumps/pot-holes at speed....

Thanks again,
I'll let you know how i get on....

kikel

Would love to hear an update on this.
My e36 seem to act in a simialar way. Could be dangerous to someone else driving my car.

Lex Luthor

david powell wrote:

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies, yep I'll change them out this weekend, provided i can get some where to do a re-alignment afterwards... GSF have the 2 tie-rods for about 60 euro.

I did talk to a mechanic who used to work at a dealer-ship and he said they would normally "feel" for play in the "inner" joint through the rubber boot, while someone was shaking the wheel.

"as they are/were the most solid, and hence the most likely to have wear", Didn't think about it this way, but yea i could only imagine the forces involved, going over bumps/pot-holes at speed....

Thanks again,
I'll let you know how i get on....

Just make sure you call a dealer and get a price from them for the rods and compare the 2. Are the GSF ones OE?

For alignment, use Dave McCann in Blanchardstown. He has the equipment for weighting your car for alignment....a requirement for BMW's.