Steering sway

[creativeway]

My 528e BMW is wandering quite a bit while the steering is set in
the straight ahead position. Whilst going in a straight line I can 'wiggle'
the steering wheel a fair bit in each direction without it actually having
any effect on the car. All steering and suspension parts except steering box
replaced in the last eighteen months. Can anyone help? I'm baffled?

[craig535is]

how are your rear subframe bushings? play in them?

[creativeway]

Thanks! I'll check it out!

[TJ]

[creativeway]

Not yet. I had to put in a new bushing on my right front side first. My fear is that if I spend the money on an alignment and the play in the wheels is due to a steering box problem then I've wasted $100. ???

[TJ]

I think that an outward toe (tires turned slightly outward) is a possible cause for wandering and poor steering response around the straight-ahead position. You could try adjusting the tie rods yourself a little bit and then drive around to see if it made an improvement. They would need to be lengthened. Just remember how far you turned them so you can adjust them back to the original position if necessary.

Toe is the only adjustment up there though, I'd hope there's some place that will do it for less than $100.

[Ray7er6ers5er3er]

breaks...very common. There's an easy cheap fix for about $8 in parts from Home Depot. Check archives here and on e24 board. If you can't find it e-mail me.

[gomamma]

Just today I replaced yet another front cross member/engine support for that problem. If you don't have a spare weld up the mount and add some little metal pices to form a box to make it stronger. Years ago I tried to add bolts and shims and such but in the end it caused more problems. Best to remove replace/repair and reinstall.