Very Light Steering (too vague in the straights).

Fad3.In · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2004, 07:20 AM

Well,lately my steering has lost much of the feeling it used to have and to be more precise it s now much lighter in straight line motion...
Any ideas ?!? What should I check out ?!? Other than that the car feels normal.
Also,What kind of joints should I ckeck out ?!?
Thanks for any help...
BTW,the car is an E30 318i (non cat,pre'88 model).
A3TeRnuS.213

Fad3.In · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2004, 07:20 AM

Someone suggested that i should check out/change the "rubber coupling between the two steering column uni joints".Can a Haynes manual help me do it myself or the dealer should do this for me ?!? Is it expensive ?
A3TeRnuS

sovann · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 01:29 AM

hehe, that was me at r3vlimited

Have you had a look under the hood and found the part I was talking about?

According to my Bentley manual, if the rubber coupling is stuffed, you have to replace the entire steering double uni joint.

It might not be the problem tho - wiggle the steering wheel around centre and see if you can feel the rubber coupling moving excessively or even knocking (mine knocks a little)

EVOIIIM3 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2004, 08:20 AM

You don't have enough "toe in" or caster, these will make the car feel light when you are going straight.

Fad3.In · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2004, 11:40 AM

EVOIIIM3 can you be a bit more specific please ?!?
sovann thanx for the tip-the problem is that i have the "other" manual (Haynes) and I m not sure it covers this subject.From a quick search i didnt find any mention of the "steering double uni joint"...Any more help ?!?
A3TeRnuS

Fad3.In · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2004, 05:46 AM

The problem gets worse as the speed increases.At 80mph a very little movement of the steering wheel upsets the whole car...Its like the steering becomes ultra fast and the front end of the car becomes ultra pointy.I just dont get it!

sovann · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2004, 11:45 PM

That sounds like a toe problem - not enough toe in, as EVOIIIM3 said. Get a wheel alignment and see how it goes.

Fad3.In · #8 (**permalink**) 03-15-2004, 03:09 AM

Yeah,I got a wheel alignment and all is normal again...thanx and sorry if I m a ballbreaker sometimes

A3TeRnuS

Fad3.In · #9 (**permalink**) 03-27-2004, 04:43 AM

Terror Update: Its 10 days since the front wheel alignment and things started to deteriorate again...I suspect there s something more to it...Any ides ?!? Could I check/fix the alignment myself ?
A3TeRnuS

rayz · #10 (**permalink**) 03-27-2004, 07:51 PM

get wider tires maybe? i just went from 195's to 215's and it feels alot more stable.