Steering rack repair - Rattle noise and not so precise steering.

[Captain Chaos]

I've replaced every front suspension component hoping to get rid of the knocking sound and poor steering. The only component that has not been touched yet is the steering rack. When wiggling the steering wheel from side to side with the engine off, it knocks! With the engine running, no problem.

I am at my whit's end at the moment and don't know what to do. Who can rebuild these non-active steering racks?

 

[Solo Man]

What car?

 

[r0ckf1re]

I've replaced every front suspension component hoping to get rid of the knocking sound and poor steering. The only component that has not been touched yet is the steering rack. When wiggling the steering wheel from side to side with the engine off, it knocks! With the engine running, no problem.

I am at my whit's end at the moment and don't know what to do. Who can rebuild these non-active steering racks?

For the F25, BMW sells a repair kit for this issue. There is a rubber bush that gets worn out. The kit was around R1500.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Sorry. BMW E60 530d 2007.

 

[Solo Man]

I had a E46 330i once that had this rattle noise on a fairly good road which drove me crazy. The car had new suspension parts as well as shocks all round. Went to Hi-Q and the one techie said i must put it on the lift. He walked to his tools and tightened the anti-roll bar links and voila, knocking noise was gone! I was surprised that that was the problem. Reminds me of a Volvo CX60 with a similar problem. It was knocking really bad on even a good road. I nearly removed the steering rack for repairs when a guy at a non-franchised Volvo repair shop told me that the anti-roll bar links are shot. Replaced (and seriously tightened) them and the knocking noises were gone! Just my 2c's