Steering Rack Clunk Noise/Play? 2007 (12/2006 build date) 335i Coupe

Opo · 12-27-2013, 03:10 PM

Hello everyone,

Car is a 2007 335i e92 coupe (12/2006 build date) with approximately 93k miles on it... it HAS the sport package

Power steering fluid level is perfectly fine, although I have no idea when the last time it was flushed/changed was...

I also double checked my steering rack mounting bolts to make sure they are tight as I recently had the rack lowered to install my downpipes (noise was already present BEFORE the install of the downpipes...) bolts are good and tight.

Yesterday I replaced all 4 of my tie rods with brand new Lemfoder units, and I got an alignment this morning.

The car drives & feels fine (other than the steering feeling light). But while going very slow speeds (parking lot speeds) and turning lock-to-lock/getting close to lock sometimes you will hear a clunk noise.

I jacked up the car and you can easily re-create the noise by jerking the wheel quickly, the noise changes tone based on the position of the steering rack. I had a friend with me and we took turns trying to pin-point the noise from above & beneath the car but were unable to do so. The U-Joints on the column visible from the top did not seem to have any visual play in them...

Take a look @ this short video:

I have been doing a lot of searching on these forums and have mostly only found threads related to the steering column lock recall issues.

Also, my steering feels incredibly light compared to my gf's 2008 323i e90 (no sport package) with approximately 45k miles on it. I don't know if it is just a sedan vs. coupe thing? I believe they share the same steering racks so shouldn't steering feel the same...? But there is definitely a night and day difference between my steering vs. her car's steering. This difference is most noticeable @ less than 45 mph speeds.

What else can I test/look into/individual parts to replace? Hoping I don't have to replace the whole rack...

Opo · 12-27-2013, 03:35 PM

So I figured out why my car's steering feels so different vs. my gf's 2008 323i e90 it is because my car HAS active steering and hers does not.

I actually HATE the feeling of active steering.... is there a way I can disable it?

Opo · 01-02-2014, 06:28 PM

Bump, anybody seen anything like this before?

Casca · 01-02-2014, 07:01 PM

Tie rod, control arms, sway endlinks, one of the linkages is loose or broke would be my guess. Safely jack it up, remove wheels and paneling and take a look if you haven't already. Should probably be pretty obvious once you start looking.

raceyBMW · 01-03-2014, 01:22 PM

Active Steering or no, there should be no clunks or play. The rack will feel quicker at slow speeds, that is the main difference.

Not to be an ass, but how did you not know you had Active Steering when you bought it? Its a love or hate thing, I personally love it.

Volasko · 01-03-2014, 03:50 PM

I think it could be your steering linkage universal joint. The joint wears out and develops a slop noise and feel. I have something similar and I recently did a full suspension swap/refresh.

Opo · 01-04-2014, 07:24 AM

It can't be my tie rods cuz I just replaced all 4 with Lemforder units and got an alignment.

I definitely noticed the steering felt way different than my old 2008 335i Sedan and my gf's 2008 323i Sedan but I thought it was just a difference between Coupe vs. Sedan at first because I had never read about the active steering feature up until the other week. Also this car has the sport package and I read somewhere before that sport package has a different ratio rack (don't think this is true now...) so I was chalking up the different steering feel to that+coupe vs. sedan..

But ya now I know.. I don't mind the active steering at very low speeds & high speeds. But at moderate speeds whole cornering the steering doesn't transmit enough road feel for my preferences, I'll get used to it though.

I'll jack the car up again with a friend and take a closer look again at my front control arms/stabilizer arms & their bushings. As well as my sway bar end links & steering U-Joint, it has to be some play in one of these. Otherwise it's play internally in the rack itself which would suck...

It is interesting how the tone of the noise changes totally depending on the position of the rack.. So I'll definitely get in for a closer look.

Seems like having play in the rack itself is not very common on these e9x's

takrdown · 05-14-2014, 10:09 PM

Did you ever resolve this?

mankytron · 05-15-2014, 08:09 AM

Rack play can usually be adjusted on most cars via a adjustment nut on the rack close to the pinion. It pushes the rack into the pinion to take up the free play.

Opo · 05-17-2014, 12:33 PM

No I never solved this.

I looked everything over several times with a best friend who is a diesel mechanic and we are both very experienced with cars (engine swaps, clutches, you name it we've done it).

We came to the conclusion that the play is in the rack itself unfortunately. Steering still feels good while driving but when parking it'll still make an awful clunking noise.
-steering u-joint is good and tight
-all control arms good and bushings good, ball joints good
-sway bar & end links good and good

mankytron - do we have this adjustment nut you speak of on our e9x steering racks? I don't remember seeing anything like that.

mankytron · 05-19-2014, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opo

No I never solved this.

I looked everything over several times with a best friend who is a diesel mechanic and we are both very experienced with cars (engine swaps, clutches, you name it we've done it).

We came to the conclusion that the play is in the rack itself unfortunately. Steering still feels good while driving but when parking it'll still make an awful clunking noise.
-steering u-joint is good and tight
-all control arms good and bushings good, ball joints good
-sway bar & end links good and good

mankytron - do we have this adjustment nut you speak of on our e9x steering racks? I don't remember seeing anything like that.

The adjustment nut is there, on the opposite side of where the pinion comes into the rack. It is on the top side.

Opo · 07-20-2014, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mankytron

The adjustment nut is there, on the opposite side of where the pinion comes into the rack. It is on the top side.

I have yet to try this, but I will be soon and I will report back.

Opo · 09-28-2014, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mankytron

The adjustment nut is there, on the opposite side of where the pinion comes into the rack. It is on the top side.

So I finally got around to trying this. I finally found the adjustment nut - I couldn't see it from the top what-so-ever even with my charge pipe off (maybe because I have the active steering rack..).

Anyways I adjusted it from underneath by un-mounting the rack, pushing it to towards the driver side then I could get a 3/8 ratchet with 17mm socket onto it and adjust it.

At first I adjusted it WAY too tight, took the car for a test drive and the wheel wasn't returning itself after a turn and just generally felt extremely tight but had a weird spot in the middle..... so anyways

I jacked it up again and loosened it back off, checked it out, didn't like where it was so tightened it up again a bit and boom it was perfect.

Lesson here is, don't tighten this thing all the way, just tighten it enough to pick up the slack.

Now my car feels great on the road and no longer makes that awful clunking noise it used to sometimes when I would be parking.

Angelcma · 03-01-2020, 10:14 PM

Hi, where is this bolt located exactly? I think I have this same issue

drymite · 11-13-2021, 06:23 AM

Bump any diys that show this adjustment nut?

justhim · 10-06-2023, 06:47 AM

Hello,
i am in the same boat. I have 5mm of steering wheel play, doesnt seem to be in the u joint. I really love Active steering, but the play is just annoyng me. There seem to be no replacement racks avaliable anywhare even if I would be willing to part with more than 2000 USD.. So could it really be as simple as adjusting the preload on the rack? Anybody else solved this?

The funny thing is that the play is the same regardles of the speed (I would expect less play at low speed due to the faster ratio of the rack).

12-27-2013, 03:10 PM	#1
Opo Second Lieutenant 30 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 07 335i E92 6MT (12/06 build) Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Steering Rack Clunk Noise/Play? 2007 (12/2006 build date) 335i Coupe - new tie rods Hello everyone, Car is a 2007 335i e92 coupe (12/2006 build date) with approximately 93k miles on it... it HAS the sport package Power steering fluid level is perfectly fine, although I have no idea when the last time it was flushed/changed was... I also double checked my steering rack mounting bolts to make sure they are tight as I recently had the rack lowered to install my downpipes (noise was already present BEFORE the install of the downpipes...) bolts are good and tight. Yesterday I replaced all 4 of my tie rods with brand new Lemfoder units, and I got an alignment this morning. The car drives & feels fine (other than the steering feeling light). But while going very slow speeds (parking lot speeds) and turning lock-to-lock/getting close to lock sometimes you will hear a clunk noise. I jacked up the car and you can easily re-create the noise by jerking the wheel quickly, the noise changes tone based on the position of the steering rack. I had a friend with me and we took turns trying to pin-point the noise from above & beneath the car but were unable to do so. The U-Joints on the column visible from the top did not seem to have any visual play in them... Take a look @ this short video: I have been doing a lot of searching on these forums and have mostly only found threads related to the steering column lock recall issues. Also, my steering feels incredibly light compared to my gf's 2008 323i e90 (no sport package) with approximately 45k miles on it. I don't know if it is just a sedan vs. coupe thing? I believe they share the same steering racks so shouldn't steering feel the same...? But there is definitely a night and day difference between my steering vs. her car's steering. This difference is most noticeable @ less than 45 mph speeds. What else can I test/look into/individual parts to replace? Hoping I don't have to replace the whole rack... Last edited by Opo; 12-27-2013 at 03:25 PM..
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12-27-2013, 03:35 PM	#2
Opo Second Lieutenant 30 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 07 335i E92 6MT (12/06 build) Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	So I figured out why my car's steering feels so different vs. my gf's 2008 323i e90 it is because my car HAS active steering and hers does not. I actually HATE the feeling of active steering.... is there a way I can disable it?
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01-02-2014, 06:28 PM	#3
Opo Second Lieutenant 30 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 07 335i E92 6MT (12/06 build) Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Bump, anybody seen anything like this before?
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01-02-2014, 07:01 PM	#4
Casca Captain 44 Rep 642 Posts Drives: E90 6MT Join Date: May 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Tie rod, control arms, sway endlinks, one of the linkages is loose or broke would be my guess. Safely jack it up, remove wheels and paneling and take a look if you haven't already. Should probably be pretty obvious once you start looking.
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01-03-2014, 01:22 PM	#5
raceyBMW king of the hills 112 Rep 2,923 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 w/ESS55, 2001 540i/6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arvada, CO iTrader: (1) Garage List 2001 BMW 540i/6 [8.17] 1994 530i [9.00] 2007 335i Coupe [8.37]	Active Steering or no, there should be no clunks or play. The rack will feel quicker at slow speeds, that is the main difference. Not to be an ass, but how did you not know you had Active Steering when you bought it? Its a love or hate thing, I personally love it.
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01-03-2014, 03:50 PM	#6
Volasko Colonel 726 Rep 2,609 Posts Drives: 06 330i E90, 18 530xe G30 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 BMW 530e M Sport [9.00] 2006 BMW E90 330i [8.28]	I think it could be your steering linkage universal joint. The joint wears out and develops a slop noise and feel. I have something similar and I recently did a full suspension swap/refresh.
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01-04-2014, 07:24 AM	#7
Opo Second Lieutenant 30 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 07 335i E92 6MT (12/06 build) Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	It can't be my tie rods cuz I just replaced all 4 with Lemforder units and got an alignment. I definitely noticed the steering felt way different than my old 2008 335i Sedan and my gf's 2008 323i Sedan but I thought it was just a difference between Coupe vs. Sedan at first because I had never read about the active steering feature up until the other week. Also this car has the sport package and I read somewhere before that sport package has a different ratio rack (don't think this is true now...) so I was chalking up the different steering feel to that+coupe vs. sedan.. But ya now I know.. I don't mind the active steering at very low speeds & high speeds. But at moderate speeds whole cornering the steering doesn't transmit enough road feel for my preferences, I'll get used to it though. I'll jack the car up again with a friend and take a closer look again at my front control arms/stabilizer arms & their bushings. As well as my sway bar end links & steering U-Joint, it has to be some play in one of these. Otherwise it's play internally in the rack itself which would suck... It is interesting how the tone of the noise changes totally depending on the position of the rack.. So I'll definitely get in for a closer look. Seems like having play in the rack itself is not very common on these e9x's
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05-14-2014, 10:09 PM	#8
takrdown Other car was a submarine 96 Rep 702 Posts Drives: i4M50 (waiting), 2013 R56 JCW Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central CT iTrader: (7)	Did you ever resolve this?
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05-15-2014, 08:09 AM	#9
mankytron Private First Class 20 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 335 coupe Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: ontario canada iTrader: (0)	Rack play can usually be adjusted on most cars via a adjustment nut on the rack close to the pinion. It pushes the rack into the pinion to take up the free play.
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05-17-2014, 12:33 PM	#10
Opo Second Lieutenant 30 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 07 335i E92 6MT (12/06 build) Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	No I never solved this. I looked everything over several times with a best friend who is a diesel mechanic and we are both very experienced with cars (engine swaps, clutches, you name it we've done it). We came to the conclusion that the play is in the rack itself unfortunately. Steering still feels good while driving but when parking it'll still make an awful clunking noise. -steering u-joint is good and tight -all control arms good and bushings good, ball joints good -sway bar & end links good and good mankytron - do we have this adjustment nut you speak of on our e9x steering racks? I don't remember seeing anything like that.
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03-01-2020, 10:14 PM	#14
Angelcma Private First Class 36 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW e90 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Hi, where is this bolt located exactly? I think I have this same issue
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11-13-2021, 06:23 AM	#15
drymite Second Lieutenant 39 Rep 242 Posts Drives: 06 330i/06 323i/09 323i/07 335 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	Bump any diys that show this adjustment nut?
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10-06-2023, 06:47 AM	#16
justhim Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Hello, i am in the same boat. I have 5mm of steering wheel play, doesnt seem to be in the u joint. I really love Active steering, but the play is just annoyng me. There seem to be no replacement racks avaliable anywhare even if I would be willing to part with more than 2000 USD.. So could it really be as simple as adjusting the preload on the rack? Anybody else solved this? The funny thing is that the play is the same regardles of the speed (I would expect less play at low speed due to the faster ratio of the rack).
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