Loose Steering (archive)

After months of fruitless checking for problems in the steering and front suspension, I finally decided to just ignore everything else and adjust the toe in myself. All of the front suspension parts are (now) new and the loose steering has persisted despite all other attempts to resolve the problem.

The good news, the steering is much better. I simply adjusted the tie rods by an equal amount on both sides, gradually increasing the toe-in. First adjustment, definite improvement but still a bit too loose. Second adjustment, almost back to the way I remember the steering 100,000 miles ago. Third adjustment, no, I don't think so as this would probably create adverse wear on the front tires. Although the car had been aligned, I don't think that the shop works on very many BMWs and perhaps their specifications are not that accurate.

The bad news, my steering wheel is now 90 degrees off. Maybe it is just time to take the car to the stealer and have him align the front end, set the steering box tension, and adjust the steering wheel. This, however, feels like admitting defeat since I have never had to take the car to the stealer in my four years/126,000 miles of ownership. Maybe it is just frustration since after I had packed everything up and was walking around the car, I could hear a distinct buzzing sound coming from the right rear. I looked underneath and, by pushing on the gas tank, I could temporarily stop the buzz. I am afraid that the fuel pump is starting to fail (it is the original pump). Oh well, something else to fix next weekend. (wouldn't it be nice to have just one weekend where you didn't have to fix something?)

Regards

Alex Lynch
1992 735i 189,000 miles (the money pit)
1972 2002 187,000 miles (a much shallower money pit)

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