E36 Squeaking Steering Column

[Pedro]

Hey Guys, does anyone know how to correct a Swueaking Steering Cloumn on a E36? Also sometimes it stiffen's up on a heavy turn. The E36 has a fair amount of milage, other than that steering fluid is good, and the bottom end is tight. Cheers!

[grant]

Pedro,

from my research it could be dry bearings in the steering shaft or possibly your slip ring is going bad.

[sb_600]

yeah sounds like it could be the u-joint seizing up... happened on my e46. It was able to be saved by lubing it

[Dinanstu]

You can try to spray penetrating oil on the shaft joints, which will temporarily fix it. I eventually had to replace the shaft itself. The U-Joints are sealed and once they go, they should be replaced...

[Axxe]

Yeah, my squeak came back after a year and 40k. If all I have to do is spray it once a year I'm good with that.

[Dinanstu]

Unfortunately, when the u-joint goes, it starts to bind intermittently, during turns, and the oil will have little affect. Hope it last for a while, but when it goes, it goes!

[Axxe]

No, it's not the ujoint that makes the noise, well, at least not the squeaking. The Ujoint gives the rattling to the wheel over bumps, the squeaking is the bottom bearing on the steering column. Spray some penetrating grease (lithium or graphite) generously with a series of straws and you're good for a while. A year for me, I used aerosol chain lube (graphite).

[Dinanstu]

Yes, I misunderstood. That should do nicely...

[Axxe]

Yeah I kinda misunderstood as well. I appears the OP's ujoints are binding as well.