Please help! Steering woes

[tjn]

I have a 1990 525i (recently purchased). I recently replaced all steering related items (center link, tie rods, drag link) and sent it to get aligned. I also replaced the thrust arms, control arms. Now, before this, the car always felt loose in the steering- not tight, but at least aligned and straight, but kind of just 'loose' on the road.
Anyway, I sent it to the shop and for two days they had it and could not figure out why it would not align properly (they would set it- and then it would wander to the left, then re-tighten it- and then it would wander to the right)... At the end, they simply told me that I need a new steering box.
Question is- does this sound right? Why would it be aligned before the shop got it, and now be off track? Might it be the steering pump, or what should I replace here? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[Tiger]

No... that shop is wrong.

First of all... jack up one side of the car and see if you have any plays by wiggling the tires... I don't think there will be any since you replaced almost everything.

What is more likely is your rear ends are loose. Check your dogbones.

[bubba966]

Yup, look at the rear suspension. Dogbones, subframe bushings, etc.

[tjn]

Really?! I never thought the rear end could be the problem... I have replaced alot of parts on bmw's, but never the rear dogbones or subframe bushings- I actually don't even know what/where to look. Can you give me some guidance- or sites to check out on this procedure?
Thanks!

[Tiger]

bmwe34.net is a good place to start...

Even bad rear tires will affect the steering in front... alot of people thinks the front is bad when their rear end is actually steering the car . Don't forget sway bar links... very critical too.

[Ross]

A loose rear will feel a bit different. It feels like it's squirming around under your seat because it is being steered from the rear.

[tjn]

Ok- I am getting confused... When I drive the car presently, it feels okay, but when I let go of the well and the car is steered straight ahead- it will quickly pull to the left- each and every time. Its as if it is not aligned- or aligned to the left. This, on top of the fact that the car has always felt too loose to me. Maybe I should have explained this better originally. Your suggestion about the squirming under my seat I don't feel- it really simply feels like it was never aligned properly and so always pulls sharp to the left now after it was aligned. One other thing- I replaced both steering hoses from the reservoir, and when I replaced the one that leads into the steering box- there was never any fluid around it, or that come out.. Is this odd? Although I drained the reservoir, I expected something to come out or from that hose... but fluid only seemed to come from the pump- and was not wet at all at/around the box.

[bubba966]

Loose on the road is different than pulling to one side.

Check your left brake caliper. If it's gummed up and binding it won't be releasing fully which partially brakes that wheel, which would make it pull to that side. I'm sure that there's other things that can cause it to pull to one side, but that's all I'm thinking of right now.

I'd still give your rear end suspension components a good looking at though.

[tjn]

Okay- thanks... I will look at the rear end no matter what now- and really appreciate that advice.
I just know that from having another e34 before this one- the steering felt much more responsive and tight- but on this car- it just feels loose- and now terribly misaligned. I guess I just don't know what to do with the shop's advice on replacing the steering box- are these usually troublesome? I know they can't be cheap...
I really do appreciate all the help here.

[bad_manners_god]

Problem is DEFIENTLY NOT the steering box. When your letting go of the wheel make sure you are in the middle lane, not the left, (roads are angled to drain water).

Also, if you hold the wheel straight, do you feel it trying to pull left?
-Check Tire Pressure
-Go to a DIFFERENT alignment shop, probably a bunch of mexicans trying to align it thinking it's a Volkswagon