BMW F30/F31 steering rack rattle and noise
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F30 steering rack rattles or binds on uneven roads, what causes it?
The cause is often a worn V-bushing, whose play lets the tie rod bounce. The steering gear's sliding piece can also stick, in which case it does not press the rack hard enough and the steering wheel vibrates.
How is steering rack rattle fixed?
There is a repair kit for the rattle that includes the worn bushing. If the sliding piece has stuck, it is not available separately, so the repair is replacing the whole steering gear. Which one applies depends on the model.
F31 steering feels notchy around the centre, is the rack always the cause?
Not always. The two joints at the lower end of the steering shaft can rust and seize, making the centre area notchy. In that case replacing the shaft part fixes the fault, not the steering gear.
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