Sticky steering unstuck & other developments

J

jaxZ4

Active member
South Lanarkshire
I've mentioned to a few folk that I've suffered from sticky steering when car is warm and heater on fairly high - on dual carriageways and motorways etc. it can indeed be quite unsettling so given that we're heading to Europe early June I thought I would see about a fix.

As usual the forum's been a great resource with some easy greasing fixes to full blown dealer steering column/ dashboard removal swaps at some staggerings costs (£1,500 or so).

Following a chat with my local ex BMW chap he seemed pretty knowledgeable re sticky steering across the BMW range inc Z4s and was confident that a redesigned steering column (well a section of) is the solution.

So it was ordered and fitted today at a total cost of circa £300 - not too bad but I know I'm unlikely to feel much difference most of the time but certainly didn't want sticky ness kicking in at autobahn speeds in June - so not tested it yet but I did have a play around with the old part which my chap let me see and demonstrated the end which goes and you can feel it - the feeling is precisely how the steering wheel feels whilst just moving the section concerned so I'm very hopeful this is a long term fix at a fairly reasonable cost.

Next job is to remove my SMG multi function steering wheel with fully integrated Parrot (Unika) controls so it can be sent to Jack at RoyalSteeringWheels for a refurb and M like beefing up a little.

Also moved my Parrot display to dead centre of airvents which seems to work well - pics to follow.
 
would be interested in some more details around this, in case mine ever goes... at the moment i regularly grease mine up, and don't have a problem :oops:
 
markeg said:
i regularly grease mine up :oops:
Click to expand...

I tried greasing mine but couldn't really access it easily enough to make a difference - my man suggested that as it is a sealed unit that external greasing might not be of much benefit - not sure if it's different in the Alpina mind.
 
I'm very curious as to how the the design was improved. Can anyone shed some light? The current design has potential to bind slightly at certain points in it's rotation, but it's very common in steering systems because it's simple and cheap.
 
nfarmer said:
Yes please more details eg part number of replacement element
Click to expand...

x2...... as last time I was home the steering felt a bid odd and maybe the onset of this problem :(
 
I don't have part number but i'll post some pics over weekend.


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Glad to hear you got it sorted for a reasonable price Jack, and certainly glad it was under £1k.

Will look forward to seeing your new steering wheel if it's done in time for Applecross :driving:
 
bcworkz said:
I'm very curious as to how the the design was improved. Can anyone shed some light? The current design has potential to bind slightly at certain points in it's rotation, but it's very common in steering systems because it's simple and cheap.
Click to expand...

I can't find the post at the moment, but someone previously pasted in a BMW technical bulletin which said the problem was due to over-tight tolerances within the column and gears which bind when heated. This makes sense I suppose but is contrary to the common belief that a control module on the column goes wobbly when it warms up which I've always been doubtful about. My own theory (and nothing more than that) is that any binding in the column or the lower UJ's is sensed as resistance by both the driver and the assistance sensors, who up their inputs. Once resistance in the system is 'broken' the column turns too rapidly, the driver and assistance react by reducing their inputs or correcting the other way, it sticks again and so it will go on in a series of jerky movements.

Anyway like you, I'd be interested to hear what part of the column was changed in this case.
 
Sorry for delay in getting back. I agree with logic in last post and my guy believes the heat from engine / manifold etc. is the cause and the redesign has different compound or something. As he was very aware of both problem and recommended official cure this all seems sensible. I have a few dodgy iphone pics to upload. Its the section of column with knuckle at either end - the section which is also telescopic to give reach adjustment


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Try these

http://img.tapatalk.com/5f918d22-987a-a61f.jpg[/IMG

[img]http://img.tapatalk.com/5f918d22-989a-b66b.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Great pics...threw me for a minute because my steering shaft does not come through a heat shield...then it dawned on me that I'm looking at pics of a RHD car...LOL On the North American Car the shaft is one the other side...no heat shield. The shaft and U joints are the exactly the same though. Lubing them certainly made a big difference to the steering....no more stickiness, easier to turn and very smooth.
Thanks
 
It would be great if this actually confirms the cause of the problem - I too have read the sticky steering attributed to a few different things!

So is the problem the shaft and the sleeve it sits in where it goes through the firewall?
 
Mangozac said:
It would be great if this actually confirms the cause of the problem - I too have read the sticky steering attributed to a few different things!

So is the problem the shaft and the sleeve it sits in where it goes through the firewall?
Click to expand...

In my case, spraying lube into the U joints shown in the picture has eliminated my steering having a tendency to require some extra force to move off center and it has made the steering feel smooth again. Is that a coincidence? Maybe but given the number of different sticky steering complaints and fixes I have read, I think there is more than one cause for the sticky steering feel.
 
Wow ok. Surely that isn't the general issue though, otherwise BMW would simply lube up the U-joint rather than replace the entire steering column?

I've never noticed and notchiness/stickiness (touch wood) but I'd like to think that with my mechanical and electronic skills I'd be able to fix it if it did occur ;)
 
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