Author Topic: M-Tech I Wheel Wobble - Bushing Size?  (Read 4060 times)

bmwman91

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M-Tech I Wheel Wobble - Bushing Size?
« on: November 18, 2012, 03:26:30 PM »
I have had an M-Tech I steering wheel in my car since 2006. Prior to that there was the stock airbag wheel. It never has really fit quite right in that I can't tighten the main nut down too much...too tight and the wheel hub binds on the turn signal switch parts, which is no good. Leaving it loose enough so that it won't break the little pieces for the turn signal means that it can wobble a little on the splined column, though.

I have read here & there that you need some bushing to correct this, but I have never really seen much detail on that. The column has a big spring/washer/clip ring thing, which is what the wheel hub compresses when you tighten the nut down. Essentially, it would be nice to get rid of the spring thing altogether and just put a sleeve bushing in there. I am not sure if that is an option though.

Anyway, who has installed one of these wheels and found a way to have NO wobble in the steering wheel? When I say woble, I mean "put your hands at 3' and 9' and push with one hand and pull with the other and the wheel moves a little." Thanks!

06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
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DRTE30

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M-Tech I Wheel Wobble - Bushing Size?
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2012, 12:06:18 AM »
You should look at my thread on just this topic.  Located about five or six down from yours currently.  I ran into a similar issue that was easily solvable which is outlined in the thread.

Though, it seems that there were several different steering wheel spline lengths for these cars.  I had the airbag steering wheel, so I pulled that off and retained metal spacer and one washer.  Steering column
I'm actually going to pull my wheel off in the next day or so to swap out my cluster for a German one. At that time, I'll reconfirm the order of the parts.

DesktopDave

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M-Tech I Wheel Wobble - Bushing Size?
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2012, 07:57:27 PM »
When I swapped my airbag wheel out, I pulled the steel sleeve bushing from under the wheel.  After I tightened it back up I noted that mine was loose too.  I don't recall if I reinstalled the bushing in front of the wheel (under the nut & washer) or if I used two bushings.  Cured it perfectly.  I also had to fit non-airbag stalks, the airbag versions end up too close to the rim of the wheel.

I did the same thing to my '82 633CSi - the 533i 'sport' 3-spoke wheel needs a bushing both in front and behind the wheel to fit properly.
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DRTE30

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M-Tech I Wheel Wobble - Bushing Size?
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2012, 03:02:14 PM »
I just went and had a look. So trash what I said above.

Steering column