steering box re-seal

[bimmerboy]

can this be done at home? i just want new seals and gaskets(there are 2 right?), i dont think that constitutes as a rebuild does it?

[BLUNT]

it can be done and its very simple. there are 2 seals and a paper gasket. i have part numbers if you need them. i jjst have to dig a little bit

[jerry]

i posted on this subject in the FAQ Construction Forum, with photos.

seals can be sourced at a bearing supply company (about $2-3/ea). there's one paper gasket used on the top cover. i used an OEM one to cut copies from gasket material available from McMaster-Carr and such.

can buy all the seals from BMW for about $25-30 i think.

i did buy a tube of thread sealer that i have yet to try but i think it is a good idea to use on the bolts. kinda pricey at $15/tube at NAPA.

it's not difficult job.

[BLUNT]

heres an excellent write up courtesy of tim abendroth. he was good enough to send it to me when i requested his help.

BMW 2002 Steering Box Rebuild

It all started while I was replacing my front suspension bushings with urethane ones. I also replaced my original ball joints and outside pitman arms which were worn. This improved my steering but it was still a little loose. I decided to check my steering box. It had several threads of adjustments left. I began screwing it the adjustment screw a little at a time. I was able to screw it all the way in without binding. After I finished, my box seemed to be correctly adjusted, but there was no more adjustment left for the future.

I decided to find another steering box with some adjustment left. I bought a used box on Ebay for about $30 and decided to rebuild it. It took a long time to get all the parts together. To start with make, sure the roller axle shaft and the worm gear are good. They are expensive to replace. If you need either one it might be best to buy a rebuild for $400 plus a $175 core. The groves or teeth need to be in good shape with no pits and the shafts need to have a good fit where it fits inside the 2 brass bushings in the lower end of the steering box housing. There is also a brass bushing in the cap where the top of the axle shaft rides. I had to find a good used cap because mine was worn. I replaced upper and lower seals and top gasket. I also replaced both bearings and both races. I don't think replacing all this will give you any more adjusting room with the screw on the top of the box. I think that wear on the axle shaft is taken up by that adjustment so it is not improved with bearing replacement. Having replaced the bearing and races, one side of each bearing rides on the worm gear. My worm gear had some wear where the bearing rides but a new worm gear is about $200. The bearings price is like $46 each from a dealer but 2002AD has an alternate source from somewhere. Their price is $7.42 each . The races are $28 and $19. There are two different races although the bearings on each side are the same. I tried to find oil seals locally that would fit. I got close but could not find an exact match. I ended up ordering them from 2002AD for $10 and $11. I also ordered a gasket for the top cover. I beaded blasted the box and the cover plate and painted them with POR-15 black. The side cover has no gasket . There is a washer that presses the bearing race in and several shims that fit between the box and the side plate. I think mine had 5 shims plus the side plate. I put mine together with the new bearings and races and all the shims. The fit of the worm gear seamed good. There was no play in the worm gear yet it rotated smoothly. I did use a little Locktite gasket eliminator between each shim and the cover plate to prevent leaks.

Print out the three drawings from REALOEM.COM on the steering box for reference.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2583&mospid=47141&btnr=32_0967&hg=32&fg=05

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2583&mospid=47141&btnr=32_0968&hg=32&fg=05

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2583&mospid=47141&btnr=32_0969&hg=32&fg=05

The Haynes Automotive Repair Manual for 2002’s has a good section on steering box rebuilds, staring on page 182.

These are the parts that I replaced.

1) Upper (smaller) Shaft Seal 32111110269 827N 17.6 X30 X7

on side shaft of worm gear - $10 from 2002AD

2) Lower(larger) Shaft Seal 32112670110 28X 42.5 X8

BAD C205 Din 3780 on bottom of steering axle shaft - $11.50 from 2002AD

3) Ball Bearing Cage (need 2) 32112670135 one on each side of worm gear

$46 from dealer $7.42 form 2002AD ?

4) smaller bearing race 32112670132 fits next to spline on worm gear

SKF 355887 $28.75 from 2002AD

5) larger bearing race 32111110268 fits inside next to side cover plate and washer

SKF355 927- original German, RHF BAC2030 English replacement,

$19 from 2002AD

6) Steering Box Cover Gasket 32112670107 about $4

This was my first rebuild of a 2002 steering box but I have rebuilt the steering box on my 1930 Model A Ford. I am amazed at how similar they are.

Good Luck

[BLUNT]

heres an excellent write up courtesy of tim abendroth. he was good enough to send it to me when i requested his help.

BMW 2002 Steering Box Rebuild

It all started while I was replacing my front suspension bushings with urethane ones. I also replaced my original ball joints and outside pitman arms which were worn. This improved my steering but it was still a little loose. I decided to check my steering box. It had several threads of adjustments left. I began screwing it the adjustment screw a little at a time. I was able to screw it all the way in without binding. After I finished, my box seemed to be correctly adjusted, but there was no more adjustment left for the future.

I decided to find another steering box with some adjustment left. I bought a used box on Ebay for about $30 and decided to rebuild it. It took a long time to get all the parts together. To start with make, sure the roller axle shaft and the worm gear are good. They are expensive to replace. If you need either one it might be best to buy a rebuild for $400 plus a $175 core. The groves or teeth need to be in good shape with no pits and the shafts need to have a good fit where it fits inside the 2 brass bushings in the lower end of the steering box housing. There is also a brass bushing in the cap where the top of the axle shaft rides. I had to find a good used cap because mine was worn. I replaced upper and lower seals and top gasket. I also replaced both bearings and both races. I don't think replacing all this will give you any more adjusting room with the screw on the top of the box. I think that wear on the axle shaft is taken up by that adjustment so it is not improved with bearing replacement. Having replaced the bearing and races, one side of each bearing rides on the worm gear. My worm gear had some wear where the bearing rides but a new worm gear is about $200. The bearings price is like $46 each from a dealer but 2002AD has an alternate source from somewhere. Their price is $7.42 each . The races are $28 and $19. There are two different races although the bearings on each side are the same. I tried to find oil seals locally that would fit. I got close but could not find an exact match. I ended up ordering them from 2002AD for $10 and $11. I also ordered a gasket for the top cover. I beaded blasted the box and the cover plate and painted them with POR-15 black. The side cover has no gasket . There is a washer that presses the bearing race in and several shims that fit between the box and the side plate. I think mine had 5 shims plus the side plate. I put mine together with the new bearings and races and all the shims. The fit of the worm gear seamed good. There was no play in the worm gear yet it rotated smoothly. I did use a little Locktite gasket eliminator between each shim and the cover plate to prevent leaks.

Print out the three drawings from REALOEM.COM on the steering box for reference.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2583&mospid=47141&btnr=32_0967&hg=32&fg=05

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2583&mospid=47141&btnr=32_0968&hg=32&fg=05

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=2583&mospid=47141&btnr=32_0969&hg=32&fg=05

The Haynes Automotive Repair Manual for 2002’s has a good section on steering box rebuilds, staring on page 182.

These are the parts that I replaced.

1) Upper (smaller) Shaft Seal 32111110269 827N 17.6 X30 X7

on side shaft of worm gear - $10 from 2002AD

2) Lower(larger) Shaft Seal 32112670110 28X 42.5 X8

BAD C205 Din 3780 on bottom of steering axle shaft - $11.50 from 2002AD

3) Ball Bearing Cage (need 2) 32112670135 one on each side of worm gear

$46 from dealer $7.42 form 2002AD ?

4) smaller bearing race 32112670132 fits next to spline on worm gear

SKF 355887 $28.75 from 2002AD

5) larger bearing race 32111110268 fits inside next to side cover plate and washer

SKF355 927- original German, RHF BAC2030 English replacement,

$19 from 2002AD

6) Steering Box Cover Gasket 32112670107 about $4

This was my first rebuild of a 2002 steering box but I have rebuilt the steering box on my 1930 Model A Ford. I am amazed at how similar they are.

Good Luck

[bimmerboy]

just age, so i think it was leaking a little. couldnt tell what was leaking but something was, and im assuming its the box.

[bimmerboy]

can the top gasket be made from rubber or cork? i think thats what my hardware store has. and is thickness important?

[BLUNT]

dude the gaskets like a buck. if youre going thru the trouble to fix it, wait a day and get the correct gasket. that being said, you can buy paper gasket material at any good auto parts store. i would not run a thick cork gasket if it were mine. i can get you the correct gasket if you can wait a few days. im there everyday

[bimmerboy]

have a lot of small parts i need, will they do that stuff for anyone or just connected people liek you?

[BLUNT]

have a lot of small parts i need, will they do that stuff for anyone or just connected people liek you?

any dealer can help you. just stop by and ask. if you go in with the part number and a smile youll get further. a lot of guys arent versed in 02's so anything you can do to help is good.if you strike out i will toss one in an envelope for you. the part numbers are above in that large post. good luck

[austinmf]

are these parts still available? Could not find them all on 2002AD

[AceAndrew]

are these parts still available? Could not find them all on 2002AD

All the parts are still available. The stupid plastic ball bearings cages are not available through any source other than BMW. I had a bearings specialist look up any and all industrial sources, turns out the original SKF part number indicates the bearings was once used in the aeronautical ind..