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just can back from my PM.

Drove in with a complaint that there was a bit of steering wheel play. It was very easy to move the steering wheel just a bit left or right.
I thought it had the symptoms of a worn steering rack, but it took very little effort to turn the wheel.
We lifted the car up and went looking.

There is a steering shaft with 2 universal joints at either end of a steel shaft. The lower end connects to the steering rack. The top UJ is held onto the upper steering column with a clamp assembly. The bolt was loose causing most of the play, but we found that the universal joints were worn, adding some of the slop.
If one of these UJ let go, you loose steering and bad things happen.

Called Sunset and discovered that this part # 944-347-027-02*4 part is no longer available.
I was able to find a used one at German Auto Dismantlers and ordered it tonight.

If any of you have some slop in the steering wheel, I would check the clamp and UJ out. These cars are getting long in the tooth and these kinds of parts will wear out...only if this one lets go it could kill you.
You can check yours out and tighten it without even removing the engine pan. It's worth a 5 minute inspection.

Brian

Brian,
I've seen this more with 944's. The 968's have the same joints though. I buy used as well.
The first time time I drove my 968TS/RS the joint came off the upper connector. Pretty interesting turning . Felt like bumper cars
Pete

Are refurbed units available? What wears out? Where does one find used?

This is a common problem is E46 BMWs, where it's called a steering coupler, or for some reason I've never understood, a guibo [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img] . I've always wondered why I'd never heard of issues with the similar part on the 968, given the cars' age. Now I have; I'll check mine at the next opportunity.

I replaced mine recently. Got the item from Porsche. Being a RHD the part looks to have a different number. I'm surprised and worried that such an important part is NLA. In RHD cars the steering drive shaft sits close to the exhaust so it tends to get hot and develop problems, so its not an unusual part to replace.

Is this particular U-joint rubber, or all-metal? In the BMW E46, the steering force is actually transferred through the rubber part of the coupler, so it tends to fatigue over time. If ours is all metal, it at least should last a lot longer.

All metal.
Brian

Thanks, and thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention.

If anyone has an old UJ available then I could make copies of it and even post dimensions on the forum. Used to make this style of thing for downhole logging tools. I have my own machine shop business now with my son. If anyone is having real trouble with this part I will do my best to help out.

AJG

It's great to have someone with a machine shop in the group. I'm sure your talents will come in handy on multiple occasions.