A MECHANICAL QUESTION FOR THE TECH-HEADS

[JAMZ]

Sup guys..

K this is the deal...im getting my steering rack done tomorrow as its got play in it and jumps all over the place when i hit small pot-holes or over cats eyes on M-way and stuff...

I got this Shaking/juddering when travelling (sometimes)..their isnt really a rule when it happens but will allways be there at speed..basically my car should be alot more smoother than it is..Its like avibration through the car,not just the steering wheel..

the wheels have all just been balanced and they 'say' there fine,maybe the steerign rack is the problem but i got a feeling its not the answer to my troubles,im not that lucky with cars EVER

I know im not the only person to have this so im hoping someone couls shed some light..you know whats it like,i got a good relationship with my mechanic,more like friends then 'a mechanic' so he will do me favours but this could be a number of things...

weve had it up on a ramp and he checked the obvious things without taking anything apart,gearbox etc etc..all seals are intact,engine mounts etc etc..

Could it be the alloys buckled? but wouldnt that show up when there balancing tyres?

Any ideas please guys so i can then pass em on to my mechanic so he can check them first...

Cheers

Carl

[Andy325i]

there is lots to check dude:

Ball joints
track rod ends
front wishbone, rear bushes (worth replacing with powerflex if you drive it hard anyway)

Other stuff to think about:

rear subframe bushes
excessivly worn wheel bearings (unlikly)
Lumps on tyres
Front top mounts

sure there is more, but that will give you a good start


Andy

[JAMZ]

Most of that has been checked already Andy which is starting to steer me towards Gearbox or Propshaft...

Im not that mechanicaly minded,i know the basics not much more.but im sure he said he checked the prop and it was fine,in fact everything he checked which is obvious when checking it up on a ramp he said was better than what he exepected for a '91' car

He hasnt been on a run yet with it,so im hoping once he has the time to do that he will be able to pinpoint it..

Carl

[Brianmoooore]

My money's on control arm bushes.

[jaymo]

I have the same problem and its the Ball Joints, I just CBA to change them as in Cornwall its hard to get to 85mph where the vibrations are and its not going to get significantly worse quickly. Its my Summer Grant project!

[stappin]

Wheel bearings? easy to check jack the car up and pul on the top of the wheels and see if any wobble. Might just need the castle nut tightening or worst case replacing...

[JAMZ]

Guys thks for the input,its not the wheel bearings...

The reason i say this is that i forgot to put one inportant factor..

There is no sound attiociated with this shaking/vibration...no grinding,no low or high sound,nothing.runs smooth apart from this problem

as far as im aware:

It isnt Running gear,tyres etc etc
It isnt anything is the way of bushes and easy stuff you can check and poke at from underneath when car is on ramp..subframe bushes,front bushes,engine mounts all that type of stuff has been checked..

the only thing we found from this check was the steering rack which is getting sorted...it might be the cause,but i doubt it.

So its something we cant get to without taking things apart..i.e gearbox

Im hoping someone else has this problem so they can enligting me,i know it can be a number of things BUT weve cancelled alot of the ''could be'' things out..there is only a certain more things it could be now..

of course it will be more the most expensive one and the most time consuming right?

Carl

[stappin]

What about top mounts, by the way wheel bearings dont always make noises or vibration if they are fooked. I've done loads of them

[x-works]

If the vibration you describe comes into the car at a specific speed each time
ie 40-50 60-70.... then it could well be to do with the propshaft. Does the rubber "donut" at the gearbox end have any slight cracks in it or does the rubber look perished. Does the carrier bearing half way along the propshaft have any lift or play in it. Does the joint at the diff end have any play or movement in it, is it free to move in all directiond without being knotchy. For most of these checks to be done thouroughly the prop will have to be removed from the car. You might also try changing the rear wheels to the front as if these are what is causing the problem it will be a lot more noticable when they are or the front. A blown rear shock absorber can also give a nasty vibration up through the floor of the car till it's spotted.

[TOURINGDADDY]

Me personaly would say that it is the lower arms mate.

[Simon]

I have the same problem and its the Ball Joints, I just CBA to change them as in Cornwall its hard to get to 85mph where the vibrations are and its not going to get significantly worse quickly. Its my Summer Grant project!

What E30 do you drive mate, saw a couple of nice E30's in Cornwall last week, one was a nice Cab with an M-tech kit, and private plate.

OK back on topic!

[JAMZ]

Daddy...

how you fancy yer chances of diagnosing my problem

Carl

[TOURINGDADDY]

i'll ave a look 4 ya mate if u can get to paulsgrove (colesbourne rd)
pm me if u need more details or me mobile no is on the lpg tred

[JAMZ]

Its in Tomorrow to get the rack re-con'd,should have it back Thursday..maybe il phone yer and pop round maybe Thur or Fri evening..

Im at Lovedean-Cowplain way...10 mins tops.

If thats good for you?..

Il contact yer if its a defo Thursday daytime,or text yer mobile

TBH..i was hoping someone with E30 knowledge could drive it to compare and give me a verdict on it..Always handy,typical i dont know anyone else with a E30..whats the world coming too..n00bs!

Cheers m8

Jamz..

[TOURINGDADDY]

no prob mate

[jaymo]

I have the same problem and its the Ball Joints, I just CBA to change them as in Cornwall its hard to get to 85mph where the vibrations are and its not going to get significantly worse quickly. Its my Summer Grant project!

What E30 do you drive mate, saw a couple of nice E30's in Cornwall last week, one was a nice Cab with an M-tech kit, and private plate.

OK back on topic!

Its A red 1986 318i, nothing to special. Prob not me cause my car lives on a military base during the week.

But Yeah quite right Back on topic.

[Simon]

Its A red 1986 318i, nothing to special. Prob not me cause my car lives on a military base during the week.

But Yeah quite right Back on topic.

Ah OK, prob not then, I passed Culdrose a few times, always looks busy there!

[jaymo]

yeah its a busy ol place!

[Karan]

lower arms balljoint/bush methinks,,,,,,

or prop....

[JAMZ]

They've been checked Karan..

Propsahft im not so certain as it doesnt shudder when puling away..only when i get to certain speeds..although that isnt uniform as these speeds range from 30 to 80+ and theres no rule to them..

Geez i hope its the steering rack...

***on 1 knee and prays to the E30 GOD***

Carl

[Sooty]

Have you checked for warped brake discs?
Couple of guys on the American sites have had this problem before.

[JAMZ]

**UPDATE**

All 4 wheels were buckled

Sub frame bushes were farked and track joints

Diff Bush nearly perished

**CURE**

4 brand new 17'' ALPINA reps

All bushes are soon to be changed...

Diff Bush,we will use a Z3M bush as im changing it anyway,stock everything else

Vibration has stopped since wheel change at low to med speeds,still there at high speeds,guess thats due to everything else that hasnt been changed YET

But its getting better..slowly but surely

Carl

[320Touring]

glad you have identified the causes mate

been watching this thread and hoping you got the shakes sorted cos there's nowt worse than a car you aint confident in

still, once all the work is done it'll be good for many a year to come