 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 405,595 Views | |  |  |  | |  01-31-2005, 05:30 PM | #1 | | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 12 |  Power Steering Problems
Alright guys and gals, here's the deal: My '97 ti is experiencing a partial loss in power steering. It's not as hard to steer as it is with the engine off, but it's not easy either. The problem is worse when it's really cold, but it doesn't go away when the temp is high. I've replaced the pump already with a spare unit I had laying around but the problem persists and I'm not looking forward to having to preplace the rack.  Any advice or previous experience here would be GREAT! Nate |  |  | | 02-03-2005, 01:01 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 120 |
did you check the belt tension? Fluid Level? | | | | | 02-03-2005, 03:31 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Colyumbia S.C. Posts: 101 |
THERE IS A FILTER IN THE RESIVOR. IT IS MADE INTO IT SO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING. Good time to replace the hoses while your there, they are famous for leaking. flush the system while your there. | | | | | 02-03-2005, 10:42 PM | #4 | | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 12 | It's the rack...
Yeah, I made sure that the fluid was topped off after I blead the system. I have since narrowed it down to the rack after doing some more research and looking at the other tell-tail signs. $350 remanufactured unit with a core return, not bad.
If anyone is curious, here are some signs of a failed rack:
Black or very burnt looking fluid (rack seal deteriation)
Stiff steering that's worse when cold
System still works, but not well
Leaking boots (obviously) __________________  Beware you Young Punks! Youth and Talent are no match for Age and Treachery... | | | | | 12-10-2005, 10:14 PM | #5 | | Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 11 | how'd the repair go?
nate,
Just wondering how you made out with the rack replacement since I'm facing the same repair myself. Any lessons learned to pass along? I have the rack and am going to replace the pump and the hose from the pump to the rack. I already replaced the resevoir. How long did it take you to do the repair and did you need any special tools at all? Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks! | | | | | 12-11-2005, 03:21 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malden, MA Posts: 672 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by natebracing Yeah, I made sure that the fluid was topped off after I blead the system. I have since narrowed it down to the rack after doing some more research and looking at the other tell-tail signs. $350 remanufactured unit with a core return, not bad. | www.theeurodepot.com has the racks for about $95 dollars, and no core charge...........I believe they have them new for $279. Worth looking into, and BTW what the hell is going on with all the racks going bad, your the 3rd including me, in like the past few weeks.  I hope it not a curse like all the ti's getting rear ended, from ye olde mailing list. __________________
"Power Rules, Smooth is Fast, Late Brake if you HAVE TO, But Always get the Inside Line.......and Fear No One." | | | | | 12-11-2005, 06:11 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 121 |
this is crazy... I think the same deal is just starting to creep into my car (fluid is dark, small losses over a week or so...) Odd to see a rash of them.. | | | | | 12-11-2005, 05:34 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malden, MA Posts: 672 |
Quote: | Originally Posted by snuggz this is crazy... I think the same deal is just starting to creep into my car (fluid is dark, small losses over a week or so...) Odd to see a rash of them.. | It is kinda wierd. However I think I'm seeing a partern here......what year is your car? Mine is a 97 and the person who started this thread also has a 97........see the patern! __________________
"Power Rules, Smooth is Fast, Late Brake if you HAVE TO, But Always get the Inside Line.......and Fear No One." | | | | | 12-14-2005, 05:56 AM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 121 |
yeah, I've got a '97 active. weird... | | | | | 12-14-2005, 06:05 AM | #10 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
man, glad i have a 96!  __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 12-14-2005, 12:50 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Malden, MA Posts: 672 |
I dunno what the hell is going on, but does anybody know in more detail what the symptoms for a bad rack are? __________________
"Power Rules, Smooth is Fast, Late Brake if you HAVE TO, But Always get the Inside Line.......and Fear No One." | | | | | 12-16-2005, 04:26 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 121 |
Well, since E36s use ATF for PS fluid, it should be red... if it's black, it means your seals are worn or shot... which means your rack is going/gone. Noisy steering or whining at full lock is a giveaway. I just got back from TN to buy an S52 from Hellrot332ti (97' I believe) and guess what, when we yanked the engine his fluid was black too... | | | | | 03-29-2007, 11:39 PM | #13 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 2 |
natebracing ..did replacing the steering rack fixes your problem? | | | | | 03-30-2007, 12:19 AM | #14 | | Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 58 |
i also noticed all of your with probs in the rack also live in areas ( like myself) with very cold winters, and relatively hot summers, im sure this has to have some effect on the rate of deterioration of the seals to some degree. | | | | | 03-30-2007, 02:19 PM | #15 | | Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 12 |
Hey guys... I sold my bimmer about 10 months ago, but I have no problem answering your questions. I did replace the rack with a reman. unit along with a new hoses. The replacement wasn't bad at all (although, I'm pretty good at spin'n wrenches) and I don't recall having to use any special tools. A good tip is to mark your pressure hose (I used orange paint) so you don't mix them up when re-installing them. The LAST thing you want to do is connect the hoses backwards. After replacing the rack, all of my steering issues went away.
A tip for everyone is this: As with most Bimmers, there are certain problem areas. We've all had to replace or at least heard of problems with drive-shafts (u-joints), seat belt crash-tensioners (gives an air-bag warning light), some sort of cooling issue (I replaced a radiator, water pump, and the heater hose outlet on the back of the motor), and most likely a power steering rack. These are simply issues every Bimmer owner has to deal with if you want to own one of these wonderful cars. At the end of the day, they're still extremely reliable cars and I'm guessing that most of you have well over 150,000 miles on your little ti's (I had around 190,000 miles on mine). Things are going to break, wear out and fail, its just going to happen...
By the way, I really wish I would have kept mine... I miss my little blue beast. __________________ Beware you Young Punks! Youth and Talent are no match for Age and Treachery... | | | | | |
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