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DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: Voluted on March 17, 2009, 12:30:14 PM

Title: Allignment or Power Steering Issue?
Post by: Voluted on March 17, 2009, 12:30:14 PM

I recently replaced tie rods, sway bar links, and control arms on the front end and had an alignment done. I noticed that after the alignment the car is much harder to steer around corners, but more importantly, the steering wheel will not correct itself back to center if i let go of the wheel after a hard turn. It will stay in the same position unless i counter steer with force.

The car doesn't pull in any direction on the road from 0-200km/h and if you let go of the wheel the car will continue straight. However, there is a slight shimmy in the wheel at highway speeds and like i said, the wheel requires significant counter steering after a turn to get the car going straight again.

Did i get a shitty alignment or is there another issue like the PS pump?

I did not own the car when the steering was working properly so i have nothing to compare it to.

Title: Allignment or Power Steering Issue?
Post by: tjts1 on March 17, 2009, 04:03:45 PM

Sounds like an alignment issue to me. Try this.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/Borrowed/home_toe_in.htm
You should have about 1/16" toe in.

Title: Allignment or Power Steering Issue?
Post by: Voluted on March 18, 2009, 06:12:11 PM

It's still pretty cold here and i don't have the materials or time to make something like that at the moment so i would rather just get it realligned if that is the issue. I talked to my friend that balanced the tires and he reminded me that one of the rims was pretty bent from the P.O. hitting a curb or something. He told me it barely balanced and he marked the rim in case there were any issues. Turns out i mounted that tire on the front of the car which explains the steering wheel vibration at high speeds.

I should add that under hard breaking the wheel does not move at all.

Would any one with a power steering pump delete be able to tell me how their steering reacts typically?

Title: Allignment or Power Steering Issue?
Post by: B318M42W on March 18, 2009, 10:35:55 PM

an easy way to eleminate the power steering factor is to simply remove the belt and take it for a test drive... yes a little more force is required to turn at low speeds but the feeling is about the same at 60+ km/h.