Steering center links

[Theotherotter]

The front end on my car has been good. It had a tie rod end with a torn boot on it when I bought it - I replaced that one, and will do the other one just because it had a worn but not torn boot. I drove it 3000 miles to get home and it drove and tracked perfectly - dead straight and hands-free at 90+ mph. The other weekend, in my second drive of the year, I noticed a bit of a shake under certain braking conditions at a certain speed range. It’s a steering/front end shake, not a brake shake. So I’m going to take another look under the front end this weekend for an inspection. But it does make me wonder about the steering center link. I know that these are NLA (if I’m wrong, show me, but I’ve looked). But I see no reason why it should not be rebuildable in principle. Press/cut/whatever old bushings, install new ones once correct bushing specs identified. Has anyone done this?

[Mike W.]

As one who takes pride in doing or even attempting to do what can't be done, I think you're radically under estimating the job here. I'm not actually sure how it's assembled, but it's definitely not meant to come apart. And remember you're dealing with steering here, not like A/C or even an internal engine part, if you lose steering...

That said, maybe, maybe you could go in the back, machine the back off or something since the front is where the load is, but go in the back and replace parts which would then have to be most rigidly resealed. Use E28 parts or something. If the cars were million dollar Ferraris or something, custom work might be in order, but I'm kind of doubtful here. Do it, prove me wrong, but have a backup plan, don't use your only part.

[Theotherotter]

I don't necessarily assume it's something that I could do with tools I have easily available. Rare Parts in California used to have them available, but no longer. It's in their catalog, showing N/A and when I wrote them last year they said they didn't offer it any more. Which is not to say that they wouldn't be willing to rebuild one that was sent to them. It's a steel casting with a pair of ball joints in it and the only real obstacle seems to be sourcing the correct spec ball joint and the R&R. I imagine the joints are a catalog part of some kind.

[528i-1981]

Check with Jim Stansfield at Mesa Performance. I replaced mine last year with an OEM center link and he had a couple aftermarket units available at the time.

[Theotherotter]

Thanks - I'll note that.

[528i-1981]

Just posted the link to one I saw on eBay in the For Sale section.

[Theotherotter]

Thanks!

[Mike W.]

Carl at La Jolla Independent in La Jolla is another possibility, he has a wealth of parts. Good guy too.

[Theotherotter]

Indeed - he had a NOS heater valve when I needed one, but I hadn’t thought of him for this. I’ve only experienced that vibration a handful of times now and I’m doubtful now that the steering center link is an issue. The car got a thorough PPI before I picked it up and that wasn’t called out.

[dutch]

I think Wallothnesh in Germany still sells them. € 150,-