[djacinto]

Hey yall,

Was getting back from a drive tonight when i noticed turns had a very small popping noise. Was trying to figure out the cause and how to replicate it when i found that if i turned the steering wheel from center all the way to lock and back around to full lock again, i could hear the pops.

I tried recording but my engine noise seems to drown most of it out. i can't tell if its the busing in the eps but i do feel the slightest difference in steering feel when i turn at stationary due to the popping

here is the video

thanks in advance!

[eluded]

If you crank the wheel back and forth with the power off, does it clunk?

[schernov]

There is a TSB on this

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by eluded

If you crank the wheel back and forth with the power off, does it clunk?

Unsure, let me get back to you on that

[toxik]

this could be your strut mount bearings

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by toxik

this could be your strut mount bearings

You think? I just got new ones when I did my suspension a couple months ago. They were oem febi if I recall

[toxik]

Originally Posted by djacinto

You think? I just got new ones when I did my suspension a couple months ago. They were oem febi if I recall

im probably wrong then, it's just i have slight popping noises and I pretty much traced it down to the strut mount bearings, but mine are still the original ones with 53k miles on them.

i only hear them when im inside my garage and going lock to lock. i unfortunately couldn't hear the noise in your video.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by toxik

im probably wrong then, it's just i have slight popping noises and I pretty much traced it down to the strut mount bearings, but mine are still the original ones with 53k miles on them.

i only hear them when im inside my garage and going lock to lock. i unfortunately couldn't hear the noise in your video.

Yeah it’s quite hard to hear. I’ll see if I can get another person to follow the noise while I try turning the wheel. There’s always the chance that maybe they need another torque down since it’s been a few hundred miles

[djacinto]

alright well toxik I think it’s the steering rack bushing lol.

After some extensive research (see research below) she’s a bit clunky

Fortunately that’s an easy and cheap fix so I’m glad it’s not anything worse

Thanks everyone for the help so far. Will post more info for follow up on install and comparison on parts

View post on imgur.com

[joesid]

I’d rule out the strut mounts based on the sound they made on my car when they went out. The car is lifted in the video I linked below, but they sounded exactly the same when the car was on the ground.

https://youtube.com/shorts/SLoyNi1dYqo?feature=share

[toxik]

Originally Posted by joesid

I’d rule out the strut mounts based on the sound they made on my car when they went out. The car is lifted in the video I linked below, but they sounded exactly the same when the car was on the ground.

https://youtube.com/shorts/SLoyNi1dYqo?feature=share

man i love shops that film videos like that for their clients.

[djacinto]

Hey friends,

So I did the install and the clunking is still prevalent but to a much lesser extent.

I was reading through this thread and apparently someone else had the persistent clunking after as well, see here

After my initial drive, I know I need to loosen the cover a few degrees as the steering is too tight, and won't center after a turn. I don't think that's causing the clunk and I know it's coming through the rack as if I turn the wheel ever so slightly at a stop, i can still hear/feel it come through, just to a lesser extent now

Anyone solve this issue?

[djacinto]

Got around to loosening the rack, still getting a clunking/popping sound. I don’t like it

After further inspection, I believe the splines on the column going into the rack are the suspect. There's a lot of sounds but that is the most apparent.

I have updated my

View post on imgur.com

Taking a look at Realoem, the part number for the intermediate shaft, is 32306791299. there are a few on ebay for cheap so i may try it to switch it out and see if that solves my issue

[JoHnMuir]

I would have a dealer or properly equipped shop use the service manual procedure to set the bushing tension before replacing more parts.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by JoHnMuir

I would have a dealer or properly equipped shop use the service manual procedure to set the bushing tension before replacing more parts.

Good idea. Issue is I’ve got a strong idea it’s not the bushing because when I turn the intermediate shaft, that’s what makes the clunking.

But I agree, diagnosis at the shop is a better idea

[djacinto]

Hello friends,

I have had some time on the lifts with my tech and we looked inside the rack. All of my external bushings seem to be in good shape, no tie rod knock nor anything else to cause concern. I am thinking it is due to the grease I used not being up to spec. The grease BMW uses, is designed for tie rods and steering racks, which can be found here, part no. 83232208093.

It is so thick, it's more like a suspension fluid designed to keep things from moving. The paste i used is more like lubrication so I think the bushing was moving over bumps in the road. We have a couple tubes coming in so I will report once we've cleaned some things out

[djacinto]

Alright so got the car on the lift, and swapped the grease.

Car still steers just fine, but it has not solved the clunk. I took a couple videos and will upload them when i am able to edit the clip to amplify the sound and hopefully make it more obvious.

We are also going to try driving with the sway bar disconnected. the end links seem to be fine but maybe its the bushings.

Will continue doing research!

[toxik]

they have special mechanic microphones that you can mount in small spaces, like in pockets of engine bay or suspension and they may be able to help determine which part it’s coming from. not sure if applicable in this situation but figured i’d mention it

[djacinto]

alright here are the videos i took. if you listen closely, there are some popping, almost plinking like sounds from the driver side area. Could be sway bar end links but I've seen those make more of a dragging noise than a pop

View post on imgur.com

[djacinto]

After doing some more digging, I came across this thread on the m3/4 forums. It seems there was a a similar issue for many of their cars, in the same location. It ended up being their steering rack loosening. While I have tested this, and over tightened, it still popped, meaning I think I have a different issue.

I will test this again since it is fairly simple, but I am also going to test sway bar end links. I will disconnect them and ziptie them to the side, and drive around. I've already ordered new ones since it's probably about time to replace them anyways since I've done majority of the front suspension.

If neither of these are the case, then strut mount would be my third choice. Many seem to have their bearings go out, or have other issues and that's what causes the their clunking

[djacinto]

I finally got the problem solved. Was as simple as sway bar endlinks. Swapped them on a couple days a go and lo and behold, the car drives as good (and quietly) as she did before.

Ended up with lemforder rather than meyle, no reason other than speed of delivery. I know m539 restorations posted some information saying meyle wasn't as good, but in my experience I liked their parts, so like he said, do your due diligence

As for the cause, I assume it's because I lowered the car back in February, causing the endlinks to prematurely wear. There were no visual signs of damage, no torn boots or leaks, simply a decent amount of play which I believe under load would cause the ball within to be popping or make the loud clunk. Regardless, it was only 50 bucks for both sides and an hour of my time so it was well worth it.

For future reference, I will continue to listen as if it was not the endlinks, something else may have caused accelerated or premature wear on the endlinks, causing them to begin failing much sooner. Will hopefully remember to update this post should the time come.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

I’m getting a similar noise from my steering wheel but only when I slightly turn it. I can also feel it in the steering wheel slightly when hearing the noise. Almost like a light tapping sound and feel. Is this what you were experiencing? I’m lowered a bit on Bilstein B14 coilovers.