Skittish / Loose front end

[andrewbuch]

Guys,

What would cause a car to feel like the front end is loose or skittish? When I go over corrugation & Imperfections in the road it feels like the front end is not attached to the ground. Looses steering feel and feels like I am going to loose control. also feels this way sometimes when cornering.

Thought maybe its shocks but got them checked and was told they are fine. Also thought it was the bad tires I had on the front, but don't have them anymore and its still doing it..

2000 E46 318i 142000Km

Cheers

Andrew

 

[BMW M]

Lowe control arms and bushings I would say is the probable culprits...

 

[Spy007]

Steering ??????

 

[Coisman]

imp:
Allignment maybe, or even lower control arm bushes
Tie rod ends, get someone at Hi-Q or some place to check it out for you.

 

[WyKiD]

Too much speed, apply brakes before entering corner.....(sorry just had to).

 

[moranor@axis]

has it always felt like this or is it something new...
i found when i 1st got my car that the front had bad grip but recently i increased the front camber to the max you can get with stock suspension i have way more grip in the front now
if it is an erratic problem that is not always there have all the rubbers checked

 

[Jandre]

My uneducated guess would be lower control arm bushes.

 

[akash]

Control arms, they tend to go quite quick on the E46, My friend replaced his three times in one year on his E46 325ci

 

[freerider]

LCABs for sure.

 

[andrewbuch]

Will check the bushes next week when I have it jacked up to install my Short Shift kit & new linkages

 

[andrewbuch]

Checked them today, they dont seem worn. Could not notice any movement on the control arms when trying to move them with the car jacked up..

 

[Matt Q]

FCAB's

Front Control Arm Bushings for sure

Also check your front springs and your tire pressure (could have been too high)

 

[Beast_Power]

Could be the tyres themselves (What tyres and size do you have on), also possible that your front shocks are on their way out !

 

[andrewbuch]

Tires were toyo 195 65 15 now got yokohama 205 65 15. No change in the feel. Also had the shocks checked and was told they are fine.

 

[Beast_Power]

Tires were toyo 195 65 15 now got yokohama 205 65 15. No change in the feel. Also had the shocks checked and was told they are fine.

Are these the ADVAN Sport Yokohama's ?

 

[Coisman]

imp:
When last did you do shocks???
Also check the shock tower rubbers and bolts, make sure everything is as it should be.
Or maybe its that your motor is to small and lite to keep the nose on the ground. :dunno:
Might even be too much weight in the boot...
go dump some of those bodies you hiding in there... :mmm:

 

[andrewbuch]

Tires were toyo 195 65 15 now got yokohama 205 65 15. No change in the feel. Also had the shocks checked and was told they are fine.

Are these the ADVAN Sport Yokohama's ?

They are the Yokohama DB decibles

---

Don't know when last shocks were done.. Not since we have had it (got it last year Jan). But had them checked the other day & was told they fine.

 

[JpRoux]

Friend had a similar problem, he replaced his bushings + Balljoints and it was Kapow fix :wave:

 

[andrewbuch]

Will be getting the control are bushes replaced.. Spoke to the mechanic today, said I think its that.. So will get it done anyway to see

 

[Shiroo]

Had my Control Arma and bushes changed and still has that knocking noise, took it to a back to the same guy yesterday and suggested it could be my Engine Mountings.

Should I change the mountings or was I just ripped off with CAB