Removal and installation steering rods (BMW 3 Series E36)

Removal

Remove the wheel cap. Loosen the wheel bolts with the vehicle on the ground.

Mark the position of the wheel disc on the hub with paint. This will allow the balanced wheel to be installed in its original place.

Raise the front of the car and remove the wheel.

(Figure W 4003) Loosen the nut securing the steering tip joint. Press out the steering tip joint using a suitable puller.



Option without steering damper: Release the tension strap and slide off the bellows.

Option with steering damper: Bend back the locking strut.

Caution: Do not use a hammer as this may damage the steering mechanism.

Loosen the steering rod lock nut using BMW tool 322100 or 322110 (on vehicles with steering damper). If a special tool is not available, loosen the steering rod using a pipe wrench or a 32 mm spanner.

Examination

Rotate the steering tip joint in different directions. If it moves easily or if there is play, replace the steering tip joint.

Check integrity and sealing (no traces of grease) cuffs. If the cuff is damaged, replace the steering tip joint.

Installation

Measure the old tie rod. Screw the tie rod end onto the tie rod, maintaining dimension -c-. Lock the tie rod end.



If necessary, clean the steering knuckle joint pin and the seat on the steering knuckle arm from grease.

Check and replace the corrugated cover if necessary

Tighten the steering rod with a new locking nut.



Protrusion "1" on the locking piece enters into notch "2" of the toothed rack.



Tighten the steering rod to a torque of 70 Nm. In workshops, a 32 mm flat spanner mounted on a torque wrench is used for this purpose. Such a wrench can be made independently from a 5 mm thick steel sheet.

Bend the locking piece with a pipe wrench. Caution: To avoid damaging the toothed rack, never bend the locking piece with a hammer.

Put on the corrugated cover and secure it with a tightening strap. Do not allow the corrugated cover to twist.



Insert the steering rod into the steering linkage arm. Tighten the new self-locking nut with a tightening torque of 40 Nm.

Put the wheel on.

Lower the car.

Tighten the wheel bolts crosswise to 110 Nm.

Check the alignment.

(The original text is available on the website: «bmwman.ru»)