Centre Tie Rod... Anyone had success?

[e34.535i.sport]

Hey guys.

Apologies if this looks a bit long... For a long time now my car's been quite noisy when going over small harsh bumps with a slight knocking noise on the front passenger side (LHD). It's also been difficult getting the steering aligned properly recently and the steering has a slightly 'loose' feel. It wasn't showing either symptoms when I bought the car however...

This is what I changed in order to try to fix it (a lot of these needed changing anyway so not a waste of time luckily enough!)

• Lower control arms
• Thrust arms + Powerflex bushes
• Antiroll bar bushes
• Upper shock mounts
• Shock absorbers
• Springs (for lowering springs)
• Tie rod assemblies (Balljoints were absolutely knackered)

And maybe a few more things! Pretty much everything up front is new...

So, a picture on a recent thread brought my attention to the centre tie rod. I checked the 'pitman arm' and 'idler arm' a while back and they seemed solid, but I didn't even consider that the large centre tie rod could be the problem as I didn't know it had it's own ballljoints, and thinking back to how bad the boalljoints were on the tie rods I'm assuming these may be gone by now too.

I had a search and looking at it no-one seems to have ever had much success in changing the large centre tie rod - so I was wondering if anyone has ever changed it for whatever reason and had some success with it?
I've got one on order from GSF and can't wait to get it on. (Sad I know)

I also want to know how easy it is to change? It looks to me like I will need to have the front end completely off the ground - and not use the ramps due to the wheels not being connected to each other for adjustment etc. Is it a case of undoing two nuts, popping the two balljoints and pulling it off?

[whiskychaser]

Garage said mine was shot when they did the MOT a couple of years ago so I let them replace it. Picked the car up just as the garage closed. First corner I came to I nearly put it in a wall as the steering didnt self correct any more! Took it back and they said the problem was because the new one was a different length from the old one. Tracking was therefore out a mile. They corrected it and its been fine since. So get the tape measure out or you might be scrubbing those nice new tyres

[paanta]

Grab the thing and give it a damn hard shake. If it wiggles, replace it. If not, before you touch it I'd try adjusting the lash in the steering box and making sure the big 32mm nut on the steering column is in good shape. Those two things are the most likely culprit for loose feeling steering.

If you have to, the center link is pretty easy to replace if you have a ball joint puller (pickle arm will probably trash the TRE's). It shouldn't be too bad.

Also, make sure the sway bar end link bolts are nice and tight. Mine were rattling when the car was on the ground but NOT when the car was jacked up.

Good luck!

Hey guys.

Apologies if this looks a bit long... For a long time now my car's been quite noisy when going over small harsh bumps with a slight knocking noise on the front passenger side (LHD). It's also been difficult getting the steering aligned properly recently and the steering has a slightly 'loose' feel. It wasn't showing either symptoms when I bought the car however...

This is what I changed in order to try to fix it (a lot of these needed changing anyway so not a waste of time luckily enough!)

• Lower control arms
• Thrust arms + Powerflex bushes
• Antiroll bar bushes
• Upper shock mounts
• Shock absorbers
• Springs (for lowering springs)
• Tie rod assemblies (Balljoints were absolutely knackered)

And maybe a few more things! Pretty much everything up front is new...

So, a picture on a recent thread brought my attention to the centre tie rod. I checked the 'pitman arm' and 'idler arm' a while back and they seemed solid, but I didn't even consider that the large centre tie rod could be the problem as I didn't know it had it's own ballljoints, and thinking back to how bad the boalljoints were on the tie rods I'm assuming these may be gone by now too.

I had a search and looking at it no-one seems to have ever had much success in changing the large centre tie rod - so I was wondering if anyone has ever changed it for whatever reason and had some success with it?
I've got one on order from GSF and can't wait to get it on. (Sad I know)

I also want to know how easy it is to change? It looks to me like I will need to have the front end completely off the ground - and not use the ramps due to the wheels not being connected to each other for adjustment etc. Is it a case of undoing two nuts, popping the two balljoints and pulling it off?

[e34.535i.sport]

Garage said mine was shot when they did the MOT a couple of years ago so I let them replace it. Picked the car up just as the garage closed. First corner I came to I nearly put it in a wall as the steering didnt self correct any more! Took it back and they said the problem was because the new one was a different length from the old one. Tracking was therefore out a mile. They corrected it and its been fine since. So get the tape measure out or you might be scrubbing those nice new tyres

It was your thread that prompted me to post to be honest so thanks!! I'll check the size when I take the old one off... I'm hoping it's the same size to save messing with the tracking again, but hopefully after this and adjusting the steering nuts it'll be ok?!

[e34.535i.sport]

Grab the thing and give it a damn hard shake. If it wiggles, replace it. If not, before you touch it I'd try adjusting the lash in the steering box and making sure the big 32mm nut on the steering column is in good shape. Those two things are the most likely culprit for loose feeling steering.

Hey thanks! I had the sway bar nuts making noise a while after I changed them too... Tightened them up and they've been sound since (no pun intended!).

I hate to ask because I've read up on this in detail, but you (or anyone out there!) couldn't give me an idiot proof explanation of how to adjust these steering nuts could you please?! I'm embarrassed to say I can't really get to grips with the explanation on Bruno's site... Step by step/pictures would be much appreciated - I don't want much do I? I have a 32mm spanner at the ready!!!!

Thanks in advance.

[Jehu]

Sway Bar Links were the first thing to come to mind about the noise over bumps. Replaced those and it was gone.. tightening wouldn't do it the ends were shot.. easy fix,had them done when I did the upper/lower control arms and tie rods but I left the center,pitman and idler arms in place.. sadly just six months later I'm beginning to feel the warbling again. Feels like a lame ball joint on a control arm... You really wouldn't believe how horribly bad the New England roads are... Two epic Winters with many sub zero days have wrought Hell on the Low Bid Winner Paving .Its F'ing Bloody Hell out there.. Honestly takes a huge chunk out of the pleasure of owning this car..

[whiskychaser]

It was your thread that prompted me to post to be honest so thanks!! I'll check the size when I take the old one off... I'm hoping it's the same size to save messing with the tracking again, but hopefully after this and adjusting the steering nuts it'll be ok?!

Nice to have been use to somebody The centre rod does of course connect to the track rods, the arm off the steering box and its mirror on the nearside (pitman and steering arm resp. on realoem). So you have 4 ball joints to contend with. The 'steering arm' appears to have a rubber bush inside so that might be worth a look? BTW I must be losing it because I'm sure your first post says your car is LHD?

[e34.535i.sport]

Nice to have been use to somebody The centre rod does of course connect to the track rods, the arm off the steering box and its mirror on the nearside (pitman and steering arm resp. on realoem). So you have 4 ball joints to contend with. The 'steering arm' appears to have a rubber bush inside so that might be worth a look? BTW I must be losing it because I'm sure your first post says your car is LHD?

LOL I think it's me who is losing it (If I ever had it!). RHD is what I meant to say! I reckon I am on to something with this one as the outer two balljoints were absolutely hammered when I changed them... So hoping these are goosed too! I checked out the ibush on that arm you mention a couple of months back and it was firm as you like... Keeping fingers crossed!!!

[RX7guy]

I replaced my center tie rod myself. It's just as easy as doing the outer tie rods.

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35069

[Scott C]

e34.535i.sport

I looked the list of things you changed - where did you tighten the steering column nut? - I strongly suggest doing that before you order your center link!
Symptom is slop in steering and clunk when moving wheel back and forth while not moving. It is an easy fix, takes only time.

Scott