Grinding noise on full lock

[E34-520iSE]

Hi Leicesterboy,
Have you re-tensioned or replaced the power steering belt? That can give off come really annoying sounds when worn, and can slip when driving through large puddles of water. I just bought a replacement one for my car yesterday, from euro car parts for less than £4, as mine is making a slight creaking sound. When on full lock either way I can hear my steering pump 'working', that's because the fluid is stalling the vanes, so the pulley starts to slip on the belt.
Oh, when was the last time your steering fluid was changed?

Cheers,

Shaun M

[leicesterboy15]

Thanks guys for all the responses..

Tiger....any chance of a list of components? Do I need to replace the whole arm (that the tie rods are attached to)? Is it just the pitman arm and idler arm or are there other bits? Are they simple nuts and bolts jobs and do I need re-aligning after?

Ferret...so you got a 540i /6 then? Any good? Want to swap your manual box for my auto? Must be a big change from the diesel! Are you skint yet?!!

Shaun - I haven't touched the steering at all (other than tie rods) and I've owned the car for around 18 months. Reading some of the posts on here changing the PAS fluid sounds like a nightmare and scares the **** out of me! Is it really that bad? Are there any good write ups anyone knows of (although i will do a search)? How hard is the belt? I suppose what I could do is retention the belt and see how that goes, if it sorts it then I suppose it means the belt is on the way out.

I am still surprised I have any rubbing though, I bought the car on 18s and had no rubbing, then went down to 17s (style 5s) and now I've got 18in Mpars (reps) but I'm sure they weren't rubbing before. Maybe the new arms and bushes have tightened things up.

I hate not having everything working properly. I'm from the house of 'if it's installed it should work' and it really annoys me when it doesn't, especially now its winter and its dark by the time I get home!

[Ferret]

Ferret...so you got a 540i /6 then? Any good? Want to swap your manual box for my auto?

Not a chance! *Guards 6 speed jealously*

Must be a big change from the diesel! Are you skint yet?!!

It's a hell of a difference - much better mannered as well - pulling away from 25mph in 6th gear is amazing. Though dropping anywhere from £40-£80 a week for the pleasure of driving 150-200 miles is a bit scary...

If I drive it sensibly I can get 200 miles out of £40/$80 petrol - if I drive it like a lunatic (as is becoming more common - I've just discovered the 'long, winding' backroute into work ) not a chance in hell. On the motorway it's doing better MPG than the TDS due to the fact there's no auto box to piss around with the gears all the time - managed to get back from bournemouth last week 110 miles on £14 petrol. Well impressed.

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Andy,glad you like it at last! Measure the steering arm thread protusion, it is possible that in the past it was tracked and now you have all the adjustment on one side,this gives you too much lock on one wheel. even if it catches on one wheel its bloody hard to see the rub.Flush and chane the fluid,can clear the pump of crap.

[leicesterboy15]

better miles from a 540 than a TDS, have you been at the crack again?! In that case I have to swap my auto, at the moment my arse gives me better gas than my car!