Author Topic: Steering Knuckle? (Read 3220 times)

eric16v · « **on:** July 01, 2008, 04:38:45 PM »

Hi, does anyone know if the steering knuckle (that connects the steering colomn to the rack) from an '87 325is (non airbag) will fit onto a '91 318is with airbag. the one on my 318is has alot of play in it and makes a clunking sound everytime i hit a bump. i have access to one from a 87 325 thats why i ask. thanks

bmwman91 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2008, 05:28:43 PM »

It is highly doubtful. I know on non-airbag cars, you need to modify the knuckle to fit an E36 steering rack, and I definitely did NOT have to modify mine when I did it.

Are you sure the play is in the knuckle? Usually, the play is in the (crappy) steering rack our cars came with as it wears. I would think that the knuckle would either be in one piece, or completely broken, at least from my observations of it.

Quincy56 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2008, 06:32:14 PM »

I would check you ball joints and tie rods first. Chances are it is not the rack.

I think the knuckle is the only thing different in a non-airbag rack and one with, but I'm not sure. I did put a non-air bag rack into my air bag e30. Side by side they were identical, but I used the knuckle from the air bag car.

nickmpower · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2008, 10:38:41 PM »

the splines on the airbag column are different

Quincy56 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2008, 05:24:07 AM »

They were not different on my 92 E30 from our 89 E30. Maybe on some airbag cars they are, just my experience says they are the same.

HaNasich · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2008, 06:26:40 AM »

if you have the newer style steering column, than you can easily rebuild it to stop that play / knocking.

i had this problem too in my steering column, i than saw (on the E36 rack conversion guide in R3V or E30Tech) that there are two types of knuckle.

the later one can be rebuilt since it has bolts instead of rivets.

anyhow - once you take it apart you can see that bushing #4 is missing / way-out worn out and causes the free-play in the knuckle.
than you can simply by a new one from a dealer / make new one using some ocolon or fill the gap in with some silicon (this is what i did)
after this - no more free-play / knocking and steering feels great.

Ron.

eric16v · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2008, 11:35:32 PM »

thanks for the info guys. looks like i gonna need to take a closer look to see which knuckle i have.