Noisy steering rack

[E3OAB]

Evening gents,

Before I start it's an 88 318i Auto without PAS. Basically the steering rack makes a crunching noise when turning at low speed, although it rarely does it at high speed. It seems like it's the steering lock, which has been playing up since I got the car, but I'm not sure how I'd go about removing/replacing this.

Any help that you guys could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Adam.

[daimlerman]

Do you mean the ignition lock on the steering column?
Remove steering wheel
Lower column shroud off
Column switches off(two screws to each,note the brown earthing wire)
There's a security screw in the bottom of the lock,this will require a centre punch and hitting stick to get it moving,or Mr Angle grinder to cut a slot for a screwdriver.
Remove the ignition switch from the back of the lock(two tiny plastic tabs need holding in with a small screwdriver)
Slide lock unit off column,note the order of any washers,springs and spacers.

[E3OAB]

Yeah I do, sorry!

Do you basically mean this write up after I've got the ignition barrel out?

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ition_Lock

[daimlerman]

Yeah I do, sorry!

Do you basically mean this write up after I've got the ignition barrel out?

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ition_Lock

You can do that bit with the casting on the column,my post refers to removing the part shown from the column.
TBH,turning the key causes a plunger to drop out of a register on the reverse side of the wheel,so if you are getting a rubbing noise in this area it may be the upper column bearing,is there play from side to side on the wheel?
When you hold the wheel does it move within the column?

[E3OAB]

Nope it's pretty firmly in place. It's not so much a rubbing as a crunching with slight resistance, like it's trying to lock as it would when you turn the car off and remove the key.

[daimlerman]

Nope it's pretty firmly in place. It's not so much a rubbing as a crunching with slight resistance, like it's trying to lock as it would when you turn the car off and remove the key.

That sounds like the plunger in the lock is playing up,take the steering wheel off and work the key to see if it goes all the way down into it's hole.

[E3OAB]

Okay cool. Will report back tomorrow.

Cheers DM.