Post by Wacko on Apr 27, 2006 10:32:46 GMT -6
I replaced the passenger side outer tie-rod end 2 days ago as it had some play in it. $32 at AutoZombies, I mean Autozone.
When I first got my car in the fall, I had the common vibrations at highway speeds. New tires, driver's side hub/bearing and tie-rod end reduced the problem. Did some other things too. Like new rotors due to brake pulsing. Cleaned surfaces where wheel meets rotors. Torqued wheels. Each of these improved the vibration problem but did not totally eliminate it.
No less annoying was some odd feel or feedback with the steering. Of course, I'm spoiled with the steering in my 325i but I knew something was amiss with the Aurora. The symptoms were as follows. Pull on the wheel at speed and the effort would suddenly get light causing you to turn too far. You would then have to correct. It was almost like the steering had some play in it or the steering rack or the Magnasteer was faulty. It was quite annoying and unsettling at speed to not have that fine level of control.
I replaced the passenger-side tie rod and the car feels totally different now. No more play; the steering effort feels more consistent and the feedback is good. Not perfect but real good. Perfect for me would be a linear increase in effort as you move the steering further off center. But constant effort is better than it was before which was almost random.
Bonus: The vibrations at speed in the steering wheel are almost completely eliminated. I would bet having my wheels balanced on the Hunter road force machine would take it to the next level. But I'm happy with it.
Next project: Get the A/C leak fixed.
When I first got my car in the fall, I had the common vibrations at highway speeds. New tires, driver's side hub/bearing and tie-rod end reduced the problem. Did some other things too. Like new rotors due to brake pulsing. Cleaned surfaces where wheel meets rotors. Torqued wheels. Each of these improved the vibration problem but did not totally eliminate it.
No less annoying was some odd feel or feedback with the steering. Of course, I'm spoiled with the steering in my 325i but I knew something was amiss with the Aurora. The symptoms were as follows. Pull on the wheel at speed and the effort would suddenly get light causing you to turn too far. You would then have to correct. It was almost like the steering had some play in it or the steering rack or the Magnasteer was faulty. It was quite annoying and unsettling at speed to not have that fine level of control.
I replaced the passenger-side tie rod and the car feels totally different now. No more play; the steering effort feels more consistent and the feedback is good. Not perfect but real good. Perfect for me would be a linear increase in effort as you move the steering further off center. But constant effort is better than it was before which was almost random.
Bonus: The vibrations at speed in the steering wheel are almost completely eliminated. I would bet having my wheels balanced on the Hunter road force machine would take it to the next level. But I'm happy with it.
Next project: Get the A/C leak fixed.