 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  07-22-2009, 05:19 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 |  Steering Wheel Freewheels on Column
I think I am luckier than I realize.
On my way home this evening getting out of a parking spot, I'd turned the wheel to a full lock position and was holding it there when the car rolled back a bit into the spot.
Immediately following that, my steering wheel seemed stuck and when I finally got it turning again, it felt like the wheel was off-centered and quickly enough, I saw there was some play in the wheel at the center position.
When I got home and parked, I turned the wheel from lock to lock then tried to see if it would continue turning - it did and now just spins on the steering column.
I'm going to spend some time with the bentley manual but wanted to get your opinions on what I may be looking at replacing. |  |  | | 07-22-2009, 05:26 AM | #2 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
Does it still turn the wheels? Sounds like you may have a busted U-joint on the steering shaft or perhaps it slipped off of the steering rack spline. If you need any parts, LMK I have it already disconnected and ready to pull off of my M3 parts car. These pics might help:  upper joint:  middle joint w/rubber flexdisc:  lower connection @ steering rack:  *note- these pics are of my Ti's linkage. I painted some of the parts black because they were corroded.
Last edited by cooljess76; 07-22-2009 at 05:41 AM. | | | | | 07-22-2009, 05:42 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 |
Nope, doesn't turn the wheels at all.
In the morning I'll be able to remove the steering wheel and see if the problem is just at that point. | | | | | 07-22-2009, 05:46 AM | #4 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
Quote: Originally Posted by zboot  Nope, doesn't turn the wheels at all. | cool, check the parts I pictured, you should be able to reach through the window and turn the wheel while looking down into the engine compartment. If this shaft is moving, your problem is somewhere in the engine bay, if it doesn't move, then you know the problem is in the steering column. Like I said, I have anything you might need, so don't worry. Hopefully it's just a loose bolt or something though. | | | | | 07-22-2009, 05:54 AM | #5 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
BTW, it should be an easy fix. Man, you're lucky it didn't happen while you were driving  | | | | | 07-22-2009, 02:43 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 |
Hi, I've figured out the problem. It is the rubber flex-disc. It's started to shred and is only connected to upper steering column by one bolt. I'm guessing the process started some time ago, but reached the first breaking point (no pun intended) when I was getting out of that stop and I probably ripped it off that bolt when I was doing the lock to lock thing in my driveway. Guess this is what I get for not fixing the power steering - I'm too strong for my own car. Anyway, I'll order the part then spend a rocky afternoon on my stone gravel driveway replacing the part. Thanks Jesse - your pics and suggestions helped save me a lot of time. Even though I do have to take the steering wheel off at some point to swap out my cluster for an m3 cluster, that wasn't on the books for July    
Last edited by zboot; 07-22-2009 at 03:22 PM. | | | | | 07-22-2009, 06:42 PM | #7 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
Kickass bro! Yeah that part shouldn't be expensive and it'll be better to replace it with a new one. Glad I was able to help you out. FWIW, you don't need to remove the steering wheel to get the cluster out. I've taken mine out several times and never removed the steering wheel. | | | | | 07-22-2009, 06:54 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 |
wow, good thing that happened in a parking lot!!! __________________ -Jeff
 | | | | | 07-22-2009, 07:04 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76 Kickass bro! Yeah that part shouldn't be expensive and it'll be better to replace it with a new one. Glad I was able to help you out. FWIW, you don't need to remove the steering wheel to get the cluster out. I've taken mine out several times and never removed the steering wheel. | I also did this... but snapped one of the plastic ears off during removal...  Just take your time with it. __________________ 11/97 Base  328Ti
| | | | | 07-22-2009, 07:09 PM | #10 | | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Philly I also did this... but snapped one of the plastic ears off during removal... Just take your time with it. | Absolutely, take your time. Mine came out in one piece, it helps if you have the key in the ignition and the steering wheel unlocked. | | | | | 07-22-2009, 09:59 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cooljess76 Absolutely, take your time. Mine came out in one piece, it helps if you have the key in the ignition and the steering wheel unlocked. | Cool, I guess I'll take care of that while I wait for the flex-coupler to come in. | | | | | 07-25-2009, 06:01 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 |
Good news, I got the part, did the replacement, and things are back to normal. . . as normal as they can be with my car | | | | |
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