Sharper Steering

[jesmond]

Hi all

I want to have a look at that little hard rubberised doughnut type link in the steering shaft universal joint in the engine bay. They've got to wear out, where they are and what they appear to be doing, bearing quite a load etc. Has anyone renewed it, and where do you think to get a new one, BM?

Thanks in advance of your replies

Paul

[ian332isport]

Paul,

Yes it can be replaced, and all parts are available from the dealer. I think the rubber coupling itself can be found at ECP or GSF, but not the bolts etc.

When originally fitted, they were riveted in place. If you still have the original you will need to drill the rivets out to remove the old one.

BMW supplies some special shouldered bolts to replace the rivets when you fit the new one. You MUST use the correct bolts for this.

Cheers,

Ian.

[jesmond]

Thanks Ian, that's interesting. You mention the original bolts had to be drilled, I thought mine looked as if they are alan key bolts. I could be wrong, but they look similar although a weird size. I remember offering up a couple of standard keys & they didn't fit. One other thing, are those wheels on your motor BBS Hockenheim's? I'm thinking of replacing my original BBS 15's with them. Could you recommend anywhere particularly to purchase. Would 17's be a bit big for a mk 1 sport on Boge sport springs (slightly lower than original mtec springs by about 10ml). Depends on the tyre size as well I suppose, 16's may be a bit more comfortable.

Thanks again Ian

Paul

[ian332isport]

Thanks Ian, that's interesting. You mention the original bolts had to be drilled, I thought mine looked as if they are alan key bolts. I could be wrong, but they look similar although a weird size. I remember offering up a couple of standard keys & they didn't fit. One other thing, are those wheels on your motor BBS Hockenheim's? I'm thinking of replacing my original BBS 15's with them. Could you recommend anywhere particularly to purchase. Would 17's be a bit big for a mk 1 sport on Boge sport springs (slightly lower than original mtec springs by about 10ml). Depends on the tyre size as well I suppose, 16's may be a bit more comfortable.

Thanks again Ian

Paul

Paul,

There should not be any sort of allen bolts on the steering joint. This is a picture of one of the rivets after it's been drilled out.



The top bolt in this picture is what the correct BMW bolts look like. The shoulder under the head is important.



As for the wheels, I think you are mixing up BBS and TSW. My wheels are 17" BBS RC's. TSW used to make the Hockenheim which was a similar design.

Size wise, 16" or 17" wheels are fine on an E30. If you go for a 17" wheel, try to get a light weight one, or it can upset the handling a bit. 16" is generally regarded as the best compromise over looks and handling though.

Ian.

[jesmond]

Thats's brilliant Ian, thank you. I am a tad confused though, as my "bolts" look more like the one in the top pic which has been drilled, i.e. circular head, with what I thought was an allen insert. My bolts don't appear to have a normal hexagnol type look to the head.

Cheers

Paul

[kam-325i]

Chance's are that they are the original rivets, the heads can look like a "Allen" key head.

[jesmond]

Yeh, I think I haven't realised, in Ian's pic's, the bolts with the hexagnol heads will be the new bolts BM supply when you buy the wee doughnut.

Thanks lads

Paul

[Turbo-Brown]

Or you could make an aluminium replacement donut and get rid of the bouncy bit altogether

Really must take a piccy of mine!

[jesmond]

Turbo-Brown, that's interesting, have you done that yourself?

[Turbo-Brown]

I have, will try to post a piccy before I cover it up with exhaust piping!

[Demlotcrew]

Im looking at fitting the LHD rubber unit to the RHD coupling,

THE ALu ones are very cheap 57 Euros



But i dont know if i could live with one of these on a everyday car.

Andrew