E38 steering excess free play

[alijanjan 3]

I recently bought an E38.

the steering seems to have more than normal free play.

firstly, does any one know how much free play is considered to be normal?

i have actually jacked the car and checked the wheels. there is the free play on both front wheels. can easily be noticed

what could be wrong?

thanks in advane

[*Glenn* 854]

Could be steering box adjustment, tie rod end ball joints or centre track rod ball joints...get it checked

[CamB 48]

i have actually jacked the car and checked the wheels. there is the free play on both front wheels. can easily be noticed

WTF - steering box! I remember reading the V8s (540i too) have a box.

http://bmwfans.info/original/E38/Lim/740i-...32/ill-32_0688/

It could be the steering box either worn or out of adjustment (if they can be adjusted - my experience on steering boxes is limited to cars from the 60s/70s before they were generally phased out).

Or it could be a number of other things.

(edit - whoops beaten to it by someone who knows what they are talking about)

Edited February 10, 2009 by CamB

[alijanjan 3]

Could be steering box adjustment, tie rod end ball joints or centre track rod ball joints...get it checked

What sort of cost am i looking for? (max/min possibly) how big a job are these (timeframe)

cheers

(just to be prepared!)

Edited February 10, 2009 by alijanjan

[*Glenn* 854]

What sort of cost am i looking for? (max/min possibly) how big a job are these (timeframe)

cheers

(just to be prepared!)

You need to identify the fault first...then proceed on costing, otherwise your only guessing. 90% of a good job is proper diagnosis first

[alijanjan 3]

You need to identify the fault first...then proceed on costing, otherwise your only guessing. 90% of a good job is proper diagnosis first

Thanks

will take the car to you if you have the time, however it will be end of feb or beginning of march as im now in christchurch and will get back to auckland by then

cheers