E28 ZF Power steering box overhaul?
>I have a 1986 525iSE which has a certain amount of slop on the powersteer= >ing box input shaft. When the steering is turned a quarter of the way fro= >m the centre position, it can be rocked 1″ left and right without moving = >the roadwheels. > >I carried out the usual preload adjustment by slackening the 17mm locknut= > on the top of the steering box and turning the screw in the centre of th= >e nut in 1/4 of a turn. This got rid of the play, but leaves a dead/heavy= > feeling in the centre area of the steering plane. This is BAD – it means you’ve overadjusted – and will destroy the bearings in the steering box.. loosen tonight! The real procedure for setting the bearing preload in the box involves removing it from the car and using a precision torque indicator on the input shaft while adjusting it. There is also (at least on mine) a secondary adjustment for the input shaft end-play which is only accessable with the box out of the car.
