Car Shakes Violently At 50mph

[kassper]

My friends car shakes violently when coming down from a higher speed to 50MPH. It also does it a little but when accelerating, but not nearly as much. His car is a E34 525i. It only does it at 50, and then the rest of the time its fine. Any idea what this may be? Thanks

[Torque]

Originally posted by kassper@Apr 2 2005, 06:04 PM
My friends car shakes violently when coming down from a higher speed to 50MPH. It also does it a little but when accelerating, but not nearly as much. His car is a E34 525i. It only does it at 50, and then the rest of the time. Any idea what this may be? Thanks

[snapback]323965[/snapback]

My car did this when I bought it, and it turned out being the thrust arm bushings... could also be the ball joint at the other and of the same arm.

... and now a couple of years later my car seems to be getting the 'shakes' too.... reason being is that mine were not tightened under load.... so when tightening the new ones make sure the car is put on the ground and then tightened.

[Gomerino]

could even be a loose wheel... check all the studs? wheel isn't bent?

[kassper]

Never thought about that, its coming from the front wheels as the entire car, and steering wheel shake violently. But we're rather confused because it only happens right around 50MPH, and mostly when decelerating, when accelerating it happens, but very very small. i will check the wheels, but if it were to be that stuff I would think it would happen at other speeds.

I just noticed i messed my first post up. It only happens at 50mph, no other time.

[Torque]

Originally posted by kassper@Apr 2 2005, 09:52 PM
Never thought about that, its coming from the front wheels as the entire car, and steering wheel shake violently. But we're rather confused because it only happens right around 50MPH, and mostly when decelerating, when accelerating it happens, but very very small. i will check the wheels, but if it were to be that stuff I would think it would happen at other speeds.

I just noticed i messed my first post up. It only happens at 50mph, no other time.

[snapback]324079[/snapback]

if a wheel was loose, you would hear it bangin' at all speeds...

it's most likely thrust arm bushings and/or ball joints...

i'll get the symptoms on video tomorrow (as i got the same thing and i know it's the thrust arms going south again) so you can see if they match up.

[Gomerino]

probably as torque suggested...... however, had a similar experience after putting my spare on the front of my E30, rode fine till I got on the highway; 50mph + and the car went nuts... turned around, went back home..... took a close look at the wheel and couldn't believe I hadn't noticed before, but the rim was all bent to sh*t...

so, if the wheels have recently been replaced, taken off-put back on, etc... the wheel itself could be the prob.....
.... if this prob came up at random, or just started gradually, torque's prob is most likely your prob.

[kassper]

Thanks guys. I'll pass the info on to my friend. It just started happening randomly, so I guess its the thrust arm stuff, but we'll check the wheels first

[Hoppy's535i]

and god said.... MAY IT BE THE THRUST ARM BUSHINGS!... and it was.

[Desertracer]

Mine does the same at 85k miles.....at 50-55 mph only......can you purchase the bushings seperate from the thrust arm?? or do you have to get the whole arm? easy to replace? Thanx, Nick

[Hoppy's535i]

Originally posted by Desertracer@Apr 5 2005, 12:29 PM
Mine does the same at 85k miles.....at 50-55 mph only......can you purchase the bushings seperate from the thrust arm?? or do you have to get the whole arm? easy to replace? Thanx, Nick

[snapback]326043[/snapback]

yes you can, i purchased mine from the dealer. if i remember correctly i had to have mine pressed at a local mechanics, but is rather easy to do

[cheezy]

i had the same problem (95 540i). just replaced the thrust arms and the problem
is solved. if u do the work yourself it will be cheaper to just change the bushings,
however if your'e paying a mechanic you might as well change the whole arm.
the reason being, by the time u pay your mech. to cut out the old bushing and press in the new one - u can have a new arm complete with a new ball joint.
i replaced mine both left and right for $200 plus $150 for labor.
check eurowebparts.com
also i used the arms from the 750i(beefier)

[Torque]

Originally posted by Hoppy's535i+Apr 5 2005, 07:23 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hoppy's535i @ Apr 5 2005, 07:23 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Desertracer@Apr 5 2005, 12:29 PM
Mine does the same at 85k miles.....at 50-55 mph only......can you purchase the bushings seperate from the thrust arm?? or do you have to get the whole arm? easy to replace? Thanx, Nick

[snapback]326043[/snapback]

yes you can, i purchased mine from the dealer. if i remember correctly i had to have mine pressed at a local mechanics, but is rather easy to do

[snapback]326216[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]
yeah they are easy to press if you have a 2 ton press at home...

[Scotty Dangles]

If it isn't the thrust arm is could be an wheel that isn't properly balanced. This could be fixed by simply balancing your wheels.

My 94 530i shakes like a son of a gun right now at 50MPH ever since I had my summer rims and tires installed, I'm getting my tires balanced next Friday.

Scott

[cheezy]

Originally posted by cheezy@Apr 7 2005, 05:57 PM
i had the same problem (95 540i). just replaced the thrust arms and the problem
is solved. if u do the work yourself it will be cheaper to just change the bushings,
however if your'e paying a mechanic you might as well change the whole arm.
the reason being, by the time u pay your mech. to cut out the old bushing and press in the new one - u can have a new arm complete with a new ball joint.
i replaced mine both left and right for $200 plus $150 for labor.
check eurowebparts.com
also i used the arms from the 750i(beefier)

[snapback]327790[/snapback]

for all u do-it yourselfers u can rent a press from pepboys/strauss/advance auto
etc...

http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/maintenance/...n/upper_arm.htm

check this link for step by step