stiff steerin on my 1986 316 [ no PAS fitted ]

[Dazzlin]

I was wondering if anyone can help, the steering on my car is VERY stiff. Ive disconnected the track rod ends but still the same ive also lubed the u/j om the column but same. Any ideas

[Rtaylor2208]

Possibly a stupied question but is it stiff with the front wheels raised off the ground?

[Dazzlin]

yes it was

[bodger]

you need to remove the linkage and you will be able to tell whether the rack is stiff or the steering spindle

[Brianmoooore]

you need to remove the linkage and you will be able to tell whether the rack is stiff or the steering spindle

I take it he already has: "Ive disconnected the track rod ends but still the same ".
If the column itself it hard to turn, then there isn't a lot it can be.
The ball bearing near the bottom of the column is known to dry up, but I've never known one make the steering significantly stiff.
Does the horn work properly as the steering is turned?

[Dazzlin]

no it doesnt strangely enough, does this mean its the bearing ? . if so do i need to remove the column? appreciate your help people.

[Brianmoooore]

The earth path for the horn button is through this bearing, so problems with it cause an intermittent horn. Try WD40 squirted up from the engine compartment, and see if that loosens things up.
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/T ... pin_upper/
Column has to come out to change the bearing, but a clean up and re grease has always worked for me up to now.

[Andyboy]

A quick way of dealing with it is to drill a small hole in the outer column tube, and then fire some engine oil from an oil can down the hole. It finds its way down into the lower column bearing and frees it up. It's worked a couple of times for me.

[Dazzlin]

cheers guys, i will give it a go next week on my rest days and report back, thanks again !!!

[daimlerman]

I have traced stiff steering to the steery wheel binding on the top of the column stalk frames,adding a suitable washer was a nice,free fix!

[Dazzlin]

steering sorted thanks too you guys, i drilled a hole about 6mm in the outer column and shot some oil in as Andyboy said and hey presto, 15 mins later it was fixed. Thanks again.

[Cloggy Saint]

I like the sound of this, so is it simply a case of putting a hole in the cloumn part under the under dash panel?

[Brianmoooore]

As I said earlier in the thread, I've cured this by squirting first WD40 and then oil up the column from the engine bay, but Andyboy's way sounds a good alternative.