E30 feels unstable

[bmbartlett]

I was driving doing about 80-90mph other day, on a track of course and my e30 felt quite unstable and didn't feel very safe, almost top heavy kind of feel, it's lowered 40mm on spax springs and all bushes etc look in good nick and good tyre treads. Any ideas? Is this normal due to age of car abd just used to modern cars? O and it's a 318i 1989

[Morat]

Did you have the tracking checked after the springs were fitted? What wheels/tyres are you using?

[HairyScreech]

no its not normal, something out of alignment. same issue i have with mine at times, so sick of it im getting the whole thing measured soon.

[Brianmoooore]

Toe out will cause this feeling. An E30 should feel a lot more stable and responsive than any modern car!! That's why we drive them.

[bss325i]

Toe out will cause this feeling. An E30 should feel a lot more stable and responsive than any modern car!! That's why we drive them.

No!

[psychochild187]

Toe out will cause this feeling. An E30 should feel a lot more stable and responsive than any modern car!! That's why we drive them.

not driven any of my e30s then
lol


did eveything get tightened up ok when the kit was fitted
any strange sounds?

or just the car following the road ?

[HairyScreech]

its tricky to make a car responsive AND stable, the laws* of dynamics say its just not possible, a car that turns well will always have more of a tendency to turn, especially if this is achieved via quite radical geometry on a road car.

toe out will cause a front end wander at speed, especially on a bumpy road. as will increased camber as its a camber thrust thing.
the car will now have more of both, as thats simply what happens when you lower this form of suspension.

also you dont mention any dampers being fitted with this kit, if so theres your problem right there.


(well not really Laws, more sort of rules of thumb that are hard to get around)

[gareth]

i'd be looking closely at the rear subframe bushes...

[DanThe]

i'd be looking closely at the rear subframe bushes...

My thoughts exactly

[bmbartlett]

Cheers for response. I've been over everything making sure I did everything up tight. Weekend I'm going to jack car up and inspect rear subframe bushes, if bad are they a bad job to do? No haven't got round to getting wheel alignment yet, my local place charges £50 for a 4 wheel alignment and he said he will do the camber etc, I told him it's not adjustable but wouldn't have it and charges £30 for 2wheel. Is it worth extra for 4 wheel and also what's the going rate? Cheers guys

[Brianmoooore]

The going rate for steering alignment is a length of string, a tape measure and some small pieces of assorted plywood.
For camber: two 400mm lengths of batten, a nut and bolt, a couple of long wood screws, a small spirit level, the tape measure again, and some maths tables or a decent calculator.

[bmbartlett]

String is stretchy so can't be that accurate can it?

[Brianmoooore]

It needs to be stretch to work! I can assure you that this method is totally accurate, and is used by workshops throughout the land and by many professional race teams.

[HairyScreech]

damn you, i was just about to say its what we use on most race stuff.

[xavi1980]

Brian where do you live? i could visit you for tuition lol, ill pay!

[George]

Toe out will cause this feeling. An E30 should feel a lot more stable and responsive than any modern car!! That's why we drive them.

Brian, you are my shining light in the dark, confusing and scary world of E30 ownership but I'm going to have to pull you up on that one!