Steering rack and alignment

insanesam · 03-21-2017, 10:33 PM

I was helping a friend replace his o2 sensors on his 335i the other day.
We removed the 2 bolts holding the steering rack to gain extra room.
We replaced the sensor and put everything back together and now notice the steering wheel is not straight. The tie rods were not touched so I cannot understand why the steering is slightly crooked / alignment out of whack.
Does anyone have an explanation?

thanks

vtl · 03-21-2017, 11:17 PM

The toe won't change but if the rack was shifted then it can definitely cause the wheel to be off centre.

insanesam · 03-21-2017, 11:28 PM

What do you mean by shifted?
The two bolts locate the rack to a specific position on the subframe hence the rack would be in the exact position prior to removal?

vtl · 03-21-2017, 11:49 PM

The two bolts do not locate the rack. There is a small amount of play in the bolts, allowing it to be reinstalled slightly off.

Normally I would say it wouldn't make enough of a difference to make the steering wheel off centre, but without any other information to go on that's all I can guess.

03-21-2017, 10:33 PM	#1
insanesam Private First Class 35 Rep 164 Posts Drives: 335i e92 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Aus iTrader: (0)	Steering rack and alignment I was helping a friend replace his o2 sensors on his 335i the other day. We removed the 2 bolts holding the steering rack to gain extra room. We replaced the sensor and put everything back together and now notice the steering wheel is not straight. The tie rods were not touched so I cannot understand why the steering is slightly crooked / alignment out of whack. Does anyone have an explanation? thanks
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03-21-2017, 11:17 PM	#2
vtl Brigadier General 1508 Rep 3,148 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i MT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	The toe won't change but if the rack was shifted then it can definitely cause the wheel to be off centre.
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03-21-2017, 11:28 PM	#3
insanesam Private First Class 35 Rep 164 Posts Drives: 335i e92 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Aus iTrader: (0)	What do you mean by shifted? The two bolts locate the rack to a specific position on the subframe hence the rack would be in the exact position prior to removal?
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03-21-2017, 11:49 PM	#4
vtl Brigadier General 1508 Rep 3,148 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i MT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	The two bolts do not locate the rack. There is a small amount of play in the bolts, allowing it to be reinstalled slightly off. Normally I would say it wouldn't make enough of a difference to make the steering wheel off centre, but without any other information to go on that's all I can guess. __________________ Build Thread
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