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I thought my mechanic cheched that stuff Teag. Apparently he didn't or he would have informed of the the play in the tie rod ends and not let me buy a pair of upper strut bearing which i did not need AT THIS TIME.

I replaced the steering rack mounts less than two months ago. Atleast I think that's what they were! I think the horizontal pay is coming from the ball joint in the tie rod end just like u said. Are these replaceable of do I have to buy the whole tie rod assembly?

About the springs man, I decided to ride with my stock height for now till I get all this knocks out of the window. Plus I'll like to see how larger wheels 15" (alpinas maybe) look with stock height. I will go for springs that lower the car such that it is LEVEL, front to back and not the lowered front, raised back (like them Neons). Either way, Teag u are assured I won't tamper witem. Not when I'm gonna be daddy soon. I'll get springs professionally installed if need be!!!!!

Thx Teag.

Klaus

I went underneath the car today thinking this can't be that bad. I have to troubleshoot electrical circuits which are much worse!

Turns out that I have a play on the rod that turns the wheels, the rods that have some rubber shield about 6 inches in lenght protecting them; tie rod maybe? In the Hayne's manual for the 320i, it's the predominant rod with the rubber sheild that looks like an accordian on Fig 11.3 page 172. Futhermore, there's play only on the side I experience the knocks and no play on the other side.

This might explain the knocks during breaking, but what explains the knock over bumps? That I still have to figure out.

Klaus, 81 e21 iS
In Search of why e21 shimmer

Whats up man ,

Didn't you just have your mechanic check all that stuff out ?
Well If you replace the lower control arm don't forget to at least inspect the tie-rod ends , thats what they call them in the states .
They also have aball-joint like the lower control arm that can develop excess play .
But the knocking that you are experiencing is most likely your steering rack mounts .
They hold the rack to the front subframe and get rather soft and squishy when exposed to oil leaks and stuff .
When they deteriorate the rack will develop more side-to-side play and can also develop a up and down movwment as well .
The side-to-side movement will cause a knocking and this may be what you are experiencing .

Hey also don't try to mess with your springs yourself , didn't we go over all this with you not too long ago ?

Teaguer

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