Steering a bit shaky under braking? Any ideas

[mrjonchandler]

Hello All,
My steering is a little bit shaky under braking, the car has had new discs and pads, what else should i check out? It's a 318is 1990. Any help appreciated!

[blingsta]

welcome to the zone mate !

if discs n pads have been changed, another thing might be that 1 caliper is working better than the other, bent/buckled alloy, worn joints n bushes.. u would really need to get it on a ramp and check the bushes etc... whens the next mot due ?

[Duke137]

I've got the same sort of problem on my IS (1990) but mine is like a pumping action under braking so I know its not worn joints/bushes. I am replacing discs and pads as a matter of course and overhauling the calipers whilst I'm at it. Hopefully that will solve the problem for me.

PS Welcome to the zone

[mrjonchandler]

Cheers guys, yeah i need to get it in the air i guess, how can you tell if the bushes/joints are worn though? MOT is due now.

[freynolds]

I had a steering wobble under braking before and assumed I had warped the discs or something but it was fixed when I replaced my control arm bushes. The bushes looked old but not fully knackered (they were on the MOT advisory list though) but the new ones gave the steering and braking much more directness and stability.

See here for extra help if you think this is worth doing: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=146528&

[Saga]

Cheers guys, yeah i need to get it in the air i guess, how can you tell if the bushes/joints are worn though? MOT is due now.

Visual inspection of the CABs (damage or tearing) and ball joints, see if you can detect play by hand.

Check your steering tie rod ends also(?)

[nicey]

Have a look at part number 08 on this link, even though it might look ok, they go soft and dont perform well, maybe look at a poly bush version as a replacement.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=31&fg=05

Hope this helps

[Daf318is]

Control arm bushes are quite likely to be the cause. I've had this in the past and know others who have also. It's not a difficult job at all.

[lloydp]

If something in the braking system was f**ked, you should feel it through the pedal as well. Most likely bushes (I've got the same to sort on mine).

[Chris]

That'll be your lollypop bushes then. 20 years on they start to get a bit ropey.

Replace them with the M3 eccentric jobbies for a firmer feel and slightly more camber for better turn in, etc.

Chris