Scary steering after tie rod / center link job…?

[Stuart]

Hi All,

My first post here…..been enjoying the two ETCG YouTube channels for a few months now!

Hope someone can help with a problem I’m having after a DIY job replacing the center link, idler arm and tie rod ends on my 2003 BMW 540i:

The steering is very vague and feels way over boosted in turns or when turning the steering wheel in general and the tires are squirming around (especially over any kind of gravel) like the car is driving on ice.

I’ve double checked that the center link is oriented correctly, the tie rods are installed on their correct left/right sides, all bolts are torqued to spec’…… I’m at a loss.

The only thing I can think of that could/might be causing this is it doesn’t really seem like the tie rode spindles/ball joints are seating up into the knuckle all that solidly…..definitely not tightly enough to require any real force with a ball joint puller to break them loose again.

A really out of whack alignment wouldn’t cause this severe of a problem would it?

Any suggestions??

Thanks!!
Stuart C.

Topic

[Dave Tidman]

An alignment issue could be causing the problem given the amount of stuff you replaced (all with adjustments). An alignment wouldn’t hurt. It almost sounds like the bump steer isn’t set well which could be part of the issue. How are the rest of your bushings, etc.?

You could do the quick check of the toe using the string method and maybe get it close, but caster/camber is a little more tricky.

[Josh]

Stu,

Run do not walk to the nearest service center that will preform a 4 wheel alignment. That is one of the few things a DIY just is unable to do. Preferably prior to your scary steering causing an unfortunate accident.

[Stuart]

Thanks for the replies.

I knew an alignment would be necessary after I replaced the linkage…..just wasn’t expecting the car to basically be undrivable. I figured it would pull, steering wheel might be off center, etc…., but that I’d be able to drive safely enough to the alignment shop.

So, I’m wondering if there might be another issue, related to replacing the linkage, that I could check out before putting it on the road to get the alignment done.

Thanks again.

[Dave Tidman]

Without seeing the car, it’s hard to tell if anything else needs to be checked. It really does not take a big deviation to cause these type of issues. For example, the toe being off just a bit can cause wandering behavior when driving on a straight and level road.Just out of curiosity, did you masure teh old parts and the set the new parts to the measurements when you installed them?

[Stuart]

[quote=”dtidman” post=156244]Without seeing the car, it’s hard to tell if anything else needs to be checked. It really does not take a big deviation to cause these type of issues. For example, the toe being off just a bit can cause wandering behavior when driving on a straight and level road.Just out of curiosity, did you masure teh old parts and the set the new parts to the measurements when you installed them?[/quote]

I did take measurements and thought I’d be reasonably close. I just drove the car (20 miles an hour with the flashers on during rush hour is no way to make friends) to get an alignment. I’ll post the results later today.

Thanks for weighing in guys! Much appreciated!

[Stuart]

Just wanted to post the resolution:

So the car did just need an alignment! I never knew that the toe setting being off could effect the steering/safety to the extreme I experienced after replacing the steering linkage…..now I know.

Thanks for the input guys….it helped!

[Dave Tidman]

Glad the alignment resolved it and you are safely motoring again It is amazing how a few millimeters can impcat teh handling of a car

[Author]

Replies