gr4h4m Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Hi all, I'm looking for a suspension specialist to get to the bottom of my issues. I have had the car on a hunter machine at my local place three times this year but I only have one of the prinouts. (Buckley tyres, Buckley, North Wales) I have had the following parts replaced in the last 12 months: - front Brake reaction bushes (powerflex) - Steering rack twice as I have had a faulty one - column joints replaced. - Wheels replaced Im running an 8 inch front and a 9" rear. - running Avon ZZ3's I use the door pressures - Eibach pro kit at I snapped a front spring in the middle, luckily this was done during the night on my drive... The car doesnt feel planted at high speed it on the motorway. You can feel a lot of the road vibrations in the floor and a little via the steering wheel. The car will tram-line esp when entering or leaving the ruts in the inside lane. The car doesn't always track straight it will pull to the left, but some times it will track straight, I think the road camber effects the car quite a bit. I nicked the rear tyre side-wall at the weekend and I had the two rears changed and I had an inner rear lip stepped/ worn the rest of the tyre has about 4mm across the tread and worn evenly, it scared me a bit because I would never had guessed unless I put my head under the car and I dont want to risk a blow-out in the future... I understand this wear is common? I mostly drive on the motorways and do about 24 k per year. I'm looking for a place that I an take the car to a sort the issues once and for all. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr4h4m Posted December 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 The rear tyre wear was like this link just not as bad. http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/ind...?showtopic=6572 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 The front wishbone compliance bushings are a classic for this, pm me a contact number and i'll explain how to test these. In addition the "gray shade" castor area on the printout means this wasn't measured which is a shame but typical. The work that's been done "although incomplete is fine" but there's two major reasons for your complaint that's not been explored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Rear trailing arm bushings are another concern Please wait a few moments for Video to Load! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phipck Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 wow, that really puts the importance of well maintained bushes into perspective! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr4h4m Posted December 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Tony Thanks for the call today nice to talk to someone who isn't afraid of the problem.. I tried to shake the rear wheel with the car on the ground and couldn't really feel anything. I jacked the car up and used a 18" small bar in the carrier and it would move without too much pressure. this "turned" the wheel in and out. Now I'm not sure how much thee should move but it does allow the wheel to turn which must be helping the car to turn and feel unstable esp on rough roads. Like most things until you have experience with component wear its hard to tell. I did try a vid but I just moved the cam insync with the bar so it doesn't show much plus its too dark. I have put a pic up of the one of the rear tyres starting to show the edge wearing. I presume this is too much camber or the rear bushes? This was the best tyre and had been on the car for the shortest period of time. The rest of the tyre is quite even at about 4mm. Tony, what would the quote be if I had the rear bushes changed and a full Geo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Answer your mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Team wim..... The reason i keep asking for a contact number is on this car there's some very easy reasons/ fixes, so i'm trying to ensure that there's not an easy solution before Graham travels all the way to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr4h4m Posted December 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Tony, I drove my wife's Z4 into work today, and I know here front bushes are going, I noticed the feeling is totally different. - The wife's car wanders but the steering wheel doesn't. Hover there is hardly any vibration unlike my car. - My car pulls left and right but the steering wheel is moved or tugged, I also find my self some times turning slightly left or right to keep it in the straight line. Have you found the poly bushes being too stiff and transferring vibration and not giving, so forcing the wheel to over? I'm starting to think they were a bad idea. I have found one other post on BMWLND someone complaining that the poly was too stiff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 They are definetly stiff, even more so in the cold weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr4h4m Posted December 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 ok as an update I went back to Buckley Tyres where I had the geo done and asked for my last printout which I then discussed with guys there and they offered to re-check it as the settings looked out to me. (See old second steering rack) I stayed with the guy and asked for less rear camber, this was dictated by the passenger side rear adjuster which is at its max positive setting. ( if thats the right word) the drivers side was then matched, I asked for the caster to also be recorded. I have driven the car back about 8 miles and the car feels more neutral buts its hard to explore the handing in these conditions... I will know on the 50 mile drive to work on Monday.. I have the car booked in to switch the bushes back to BMW OEM spec next week. I will see what its like as spending all this cash before Christmas doesn't impress the wife much.. Anyway data below: Old settings Today's new settings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Better.... My ideal target for the rear camber would be -1 degree 35', but if the adjuster is maxed it's a done deal. I'm not concerned with the castor positions although being fussy i would reduce the front camber a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr4h4m Posted December 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 I presume the springs has changed the max amount of adjustment and the fact they wont all be the same from new, I also presume the only fix to this would be a custom threaded arm. I was shocked when I was watching him how much the the wheel moved you could see it as he was turning the spanner.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 19, 2010 Report Share Posted December 19, 2010 That movement give you an idea how much the cars weight is moved at the tyres contact patch. I would monitor the wear before considering adjustable arms, reason i say this is the springs have a higher rate than OEM so you can afford a deeper camber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr4h4m Posted December 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 Well just as an update I have cancelled the bush replacement on the car, the handling has returned its got to be a good 85% better. There is still a slight tram-line effect in the heavy ruts, however the pulling to the left, steering wheel vibration has gone. In fact I cant believe its so much better after that last Geo. I would love to get down the WIM in the future and have some of the front camber dialled out. I have been so paranoid I went out after I got home and recorded the tyre pressures too, 31.5 psi front and 37.5 psi rear I understand that these will bee effected massively by the -5 deg temp. Going to work this morning it was -11 at 09:30 am. Just wanted to update this thread so I can plot any issues. touching wood I'm a happy bunny so far.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Excellent news, i like it when things work out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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