Steering Wheel shaking

[beany_man]

Hi Guys/Gals

New Member here,

BMW convertible e30, 320i
17'' alloys
mtech kit
black and cream leather trim
scorpion exhaust


Just had my car serviced and put new brakes on the front wheels as they were squeelin like a pig, but now when driving over 40mph the steering wheel shakes like made even when cruising at 80pmh +,
my Mechanic has balanced all the wheels and said this should sort it but guess what it hasnt
even the brakes are still sqeelin after being serviced 4 days agao

Please can anyone help as this is starting to do my head in, i dont even feel like driving the car its so bad

i have read it could be rear sproggett which i know i havent got on the rear wheels

Please please please can anyone help


Many thanks in advance
Dharmjeet Dhaliwal
AKA
Beany_man

[Martinaston]

Its your rear spigotts.

[Martinaston]

If you know what might be causing it then why don't you try that ?

[jamesroools]

i had a very similar problem on my convertible, turned out to be a fcuked steering rack, but dont go changing it as its expensive and maybe a waste of time, if you've got a powersteering fluid leak, then replace it, common e30 fault unfortunatley

[TOURINGDADDY]

first things are the most inportant ones WELCOME TO THE ZONE

second this could b a number of probs, ie balancin,spiggot rings, bushes, and the most deverstatin bent rims and as 4 the squeelin they prob need de glazin and lubin up

[Bob_S]

mine shakes like a behatch too it's my rack tho saying that I have been given a 316i e36 rack so that will go on when i can be arsed making the UJ

[TOURINGDADDY]

start with the cheepest thing first balincin but dont go back to the garage that done the work try another garage and watch them do the work and ask them to check and make sure that the spig rings are in place and located properly (thats some thing u then dont have to check)

they can also check ur wheels 4 any bends too

[TOURINGDADDY]

if this dont cure the prob then find ur self a bmw specialist and get the bushes looked at

[johno]

i also have a shake in steering turns out to be a bent wheel which is a bitch as they dont make kahn rsr 17 " anymore so im looking for some replacement cheap lol

[johnono]

i get shaking at about 63 mph, and stays up to 70 then she goes dead calm, but i have a short diff so she screams at 4 - 4 1/2 which isnt funny

i did have a squeeky wheel at v low speeds, upto and away from lights and stuff, it turned out to be the bearing, and noticed an odd litle grumble when under load

changed both and now i can feel the smoothnes through my brake pedal

[karlp]

If a shake occurs through the steering wheel it is usually something to do with the front wheels, steering rack etc.
If the shake is through the WHOLE car then it is usually something to do with the rear of the car.

So before you start jumping it be sure where the shake is.

Karl

[Wilson]

As touringdaddy says cheapest things first, after balancing at a "different place", the spigots are a very common thing, and if you say you haven't actually got any then I'd say it is very likely to be that. what centre bore size are your 17's, the bore on e30 is 57 - 57.1 mm

[tjd200]

when you say 'new brakes' - did you change the discs?
If so, I'd start there... bad/dirty installation could be causing the shake & squeal...

[motorsport]

Not running BK171 Alpina reps by any chance, very common that these cause steering wobbles.

[telski789]

dont forget to have your tracking checked!!!

[johno]

not just front wheels mate my bent 1 is on the back shakes like hell from about 80 to 95 mph

[peejay]

I agree with everything that has been said, Sometimes when the wheel is off the spigot ring comes off with it. I've had one go missing before cos the clumsy git changing the tyre didnt notice the ring had fallen out of the Wheel!

But two or three other things just to upset the applecart, so to speak, Prop shaft 'o' ring (referred to also as the "doughnut") can become miss shaped. AND sometimes tyres can develop blemishes/cuts/bulges on the outer or inner wall that will cause play in wheel. As the tread wears down and if the air in each tyre is different on each side. Worth checking.

Finally, and then I'm off.....are the wieghts still in place ater last balancing act?

Hope you can sort it soon buddy.

Peejay.

[peejay]

AND.....as for squeaky brakes that happened to me also, turned out to be very cheap & hard pads used. Although I paid top price for 'em !!

You live and learn eh...

Peejay

[beany_man]

hi guys/gals


cheers for all the feedback, i have just orderd some spigot rings from halford,

I dont think its my wheels or tyres as they are only 4 weeks old

as for my brakes sorry i didnt make it clear i changed my pads i bought something called magnex or something like that...

if its not the spigot rings causing the problem then im just going to cry...

so watch this space for the outcome....

[Wilson]

cheers for all the feedback, i have just orderd some spigot rings from halford,

No probs..... I had new spigot rings, the inside measured 57.1mm when I placed them on the hub they still felt v.slightly loose. when driving after fitting, the wobble was still there very very slightly!!! I took the spigot rings off again and literally wrapped 2 layers of ins tape around the bore on the hub, squeezed the spigots back on and all is now perfect!!!!!

[dazleeds]

how much are halfords spiggots?? i need some for mine too

cheers Daz

[Wilson]

BTW beany_man, what wheels you got on there then??

Have you put any pics in the photo gallery yet?

[beany_man]

Wilson,

did this stop the vibration of the car and the movement of the steering wheel at low and high cruising speeds


Sorry no pics yet but im working on that

Halfords said that it would be arround 30 pounds for the spiggot kit

[Wilson]

Wilson,

did this stop the vibration of the car and the movement of the steering wheel at low and high cruising speeds

Car doesn't have any vibration/wobble whatsoever after the spigot + tape trick... Its what worked for me, however I'm not promising results as shakes can be a no. of things as many people on here know!

[beany_man]

Can anyone tell me were you get your spiggott rings from as i have a feeling halford might be wrong


and what size do i need because every company i call and say 57.1mm they always ask me to take the wheel off and measure something else

i have 17'' alloys called Panther, which halford no longer have in production, i have been told its a multi purpose wheel as it has about 10 nut holes

sorry to be a pain guys but its F*****g anoying

[Wilson]

Just did a search and first company i came accross is rimstock, they state BMW E30 as 57.1mm, as pasted below!

Speak to Rochford tyres, they have the size wrong on there fitment guide, but that is an error!!, they new about it, and supplied mine.. dont know price, they were free cause I bought the wheels there!!

I'm having difficulty thinking how to explain... ANYONE???



BMW 3 Series E30

Year: 86>91 P.C.D: 4x100
Bore: ø57.1 O.E Size: 14x6 e35 & 15x7 e25
Size Offset Wheels Tyres
15x6.5 18 MONZA M-SPORT 205/55x15
ZETA
15x7.0 15 205/55x15
P-RACE1 P-RACE2 P-RACE3
16x7.0 15 RVRII MONZA M-SPORT RVO 205/55x15
POPSTAR HAWK2 P-RACE2
17x7.0 15 MONZA M-SPORT 215/40x17
ZETA P-RACE1 P-RACE2 P-RACE3

[beany_man]

Hi,

just had my spigott rings put on from halford, the car drives like a dream now

but for some reason my brake lights dont work, i hope its just a switch becoz it aint the bulbs or fuse

it would just be easier to write all my problems in a list, so here they are

no brake lights,
sqeaky brkes after new pads,
only getting 25 miles out of 10 pound petrol, full tank about 200 miles,
computer light for brake is always on and coolant but they are fine and recently topped up in service,
automatic aerial snaped of, is it possible to get a very small 1 like its always down

so here are my problems, if you could shed any light on any of these subjects i would be greatfull as always

Just had some pics done on new phone k750i 2meg camera of the car so they will be on here shortly i promise

cheers again

[johnono]

beany man, welcome dude.

squeeky brakes, coppergrease em or they will drive you mad.
brake lights, check switch by pedal, wires to brake calipers (mabey they got yanked as the brakes were done?)

25 miles is lame, check you dont have a leek on the fuel line, or a hole on the filler pipe. also mabey on the tank itself, can u smell petrol when u start up?
the computer light may be conected to why the brake lights dont work, and the coolant sensor, in the cap may be loosly conected, have a poke around there

as for the aerial, well u muppet i guess u wont be doin that again!

good luck with it , keep us posted!

[Brianmoooore]

beany man, welcome dude.

squeeky brakes, coppergrease em or they will drive you mad.
!

Think someone ought to point out that the coppergrease goes on the back of the pads, between backplate and piston.
Would probably still stop the squeal though if applied to the front.
brake light bulb check light will always be on if the brake lights don't work (duff switch, or out of adjustment), because the "first time you press the brake pedal" test function won't work.
Coolant light is the sensor itself - get the right one - there are two different which work in opposite ways.

[johnono]

cheers bri!, thats 2 for 2 now, im begining to cower in your exelence mate

[Martinaston]

Do your new pads have the wear sensor installed ?
and have the dampening springs been put in ?

Brake light switch may just have come unplugged or need adjusting.

Poor fuel consumption may be linked to running problems if you have any.
If not then it's your injectors that need cleaning/replacing.

Computer lights (check control ?) could be dry solder joints in the instrument cluster or worn water level sender.

And finnaly the aeriel. A coathanger works fine and can be bent into any shape you desire.

Suddenly old BM's dont seem so appealing

[Wilson]

Hi,

just had my spigott rings put on from halford, the car drives like a dream now

Thats good, glad its sorted, I hate shakes and wobbles!!!!

Think someone ought to point out that the coppergrease goes on the back of the pads, between backplate and piston.

Good call! was thinking that myself!

[beany_man]

cheers guys il try them all later


but for my fuel i cant smell or see any leakes at all, it maybe time to get someone check it over for me ....


il keep you posted on the outcome of the brakes light and squeakes

[e30-320i]

i had really poor consumption when i got mine it turned out to be the two main fuel lines in the engine bay had perished.if yours look old and cracked it could be this

[Wilson]

i had really poor consumption when i got mine it turned out to be the two main fuel lines in the engine bay had perished.if yours look old and cracked it could be this

It was really difficult to notice also.... really fine jets of fuel were pissing out!