Shaky steering - BMW Forum

Byron320i · 10-10-2005, 06:31 PM

Can anyone tell me what they think could be wrong if my steering wheel shakes at 40mphs then smoothes out and the steering in general is quite vague.

used:

thanks

stracer · 10-10-2005, 06:51 PM

Mine does the same. I just replaced my control arms with meyle metal balljoints and have new tires that i have had balanced twice. not sure why it does it.

Dudesky_E36 · 10-11-2005, 06:39 AM

Check your front control arm bushings, they probably need replacement. Symptoms include undesired front toe changes during cornering, vague and rubbery feel to steering, and exaggerated bump steer over rough pavement. Hope this helps

stracer · 10-12-2005, 11:59 AM

see when i replaced my control arms and bushings i still get it at 40 mph. o well, cause it used to be alot worse

SpooldUp · 10-12-2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky_E36

Check your front control arm bushings, they probably need replacement. Symptoms include undesired front toe changes during cornering, vague and rubbery feel to steering, and exaggerated bump steer over rough pavement. Hope this helps

Sounds like my symptoms exactly... Along with the shaking at 40mph. Funny that speed must generate some harmonic frequency in our cars, since all ours shake around 40mph.

Byron320i · 10-12-2005, 04:30 PM

right. im gonna change the bushes, apparently the 96+ e36 bushes fit and are much stronger.

It that doesnt work there must be something else, BMW's are supposed to be smoooooth!

red325ix · 10-12-2005, 07:16 PM

Check your outer ball joints for play, a lot of the times that is usually the problem, along with the control arm bushings. The outer ball joints can be replaced without replacing the entire control arm, but chances are that if the outers are shot the inners are on their way out as well, which are permanently connected to the CA. Later this week I'm replacing both my CAs and using solid offset bushings and throwing some drilled rotors on as well. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Stracer: did you check your wheels to make sure their properly balanced? you'd be suprised how much it can shake when the wheels/tires arent balanced.

Byron320i: The M3 bushings are much better than the regular e36 bushings. The 95 M3's are offset and the 96+ are centered

stracer · 10-12-2005, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red325ix

Check your outer ball joints for play, a lot of the times that is usually the problem, along with the control arm bushings. The outer ball joints can be replaced without replacing the entire control arm, but chances are that if the outers are shot the inners are on their way out as well, which are permanently connected to the CA. Later this week I'm replacing both my CAs and using solid offset bushings and throwing some drilled rotors on as well. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Stracer: did you check your wheels to make sure their properly balanced? you'd be suprised how much it can shake when the wheels/tires arent balanced.

Byron320i: The M3 bushings are much better than the regular e36 bushings. The 95 M3's are offset and the 96+ are centered

I have had the tires balanced twice. I also had them check to see if one of the wheels were outta round and one was by like 25 %. The norm is pose to be like 10% from what i can remember.

Cruzin 323is · 10-12-2005, 09:05 PM

i might as well add the obvious!!

check tires for bubbles and the rims for bends...

97alpineM3 · 10-12-2005, 09:15 PM

Get a wheel balance first... cheapest... if that doesnt fix it... look into ball joints and bushings and control arms.

Les

hog1014 · 10-14-2005, 04:57 PM

I have the same issue. Took mine in to have the wheels balanced at a tire shop. They said there were flat spots in the tires that are causing the vibration at this speed. I had them rotate the tires & the problem seamed to move from the right front to the left front.
Also it has a different feal with different air pressures, so it does seam to be the tires in my case. Have not tried new rubber yet.