Sensitive Steering Wheel

SHEEDI · 02-15-2011, 02:29 PM

i recently replaced front shocks, front control arms and bushing, did alignment and after that i feel my steering whel is very sensitive on bumps, it juggls on bumps and also my car pulls to right and left on uneven roads; i am not sure if it is normal or something wrong with my car. should i get alignment again? Please help.

3002 tii · 02-15-2011, 03:01 PM

i feel like the steering on our cars was sensitive from day 1 so i'm assuming you think it's gotten progressively worse while you've owned it?

SHEEDI · 02-16-2011, 07:23 AM

hey Dubbedown; i am second owner of the car and when i bought this car, the lower control arms and bushings were shot and steering wheel ws not that responsive and because of shot bushings and control arms the front tires were wornout from inside. so i recently replaced control arms, bushings, front tires and after that i feel the diffrerence and steering wheel is more responsive. the cars runs fine on smooth roads,no issues but the steering wheel pulls to right and left on uneven roads and i am not sure whats wrong with the car..any help will be much appreciated

vachss · 02-16-2011, 08:24 AM

What are your before/after alignment settings? Did toe-in decrease a lot? Neutral toe or slight toe out can give a darty steering feel.

3002 tii · 02-16-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soomro

hey Dubbedown; i am second owner of the car and when i bought this car, the lower control arms and bushings were shot and steering wheel ws not that responsive and because of shot bushings and control arms the front tires were wornout from inside. so i recently replaced control arms, bushings, front tires and after that i feel the diffrerence and steering wheel is more responsive. the cars runs fine on smooth roads,no issues but the steering wheel pulls to right and left on uneven roads and i am not sure whats wrong with the car..any help will be much appreciated

you sure you're not experiencing tramlining? if you're running low profile tires (which all of us do), then the car will easily pull on uneven roads, especially during the colder temps if you are on summer tires.

edit

FYI: Tramlining is the tendency of a vehicle's wheels to follow the contours in the surface upon which it runs. The term comes from the tendency of a car's wheels to follow the normally recessed rails of street trams, without driver input in the same way that the train does.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramlining

Huz-Z · 02-16-2011, 09:00 AM

Tramlining is greatly reduced by replacing the stock run flat tires with conmventional tires, such as the Hankook Ventus V12.

SHEEDI · 02-16-2011, 09:36 AM

I am not sure about aligment stats but I have 225/50ZR -16 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, rear tires are few months older and front tires are a year old.

3002 tii · 02-16-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soomro

I am not sure about aligment stats but I have 225/50ZR -16 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, rear tires are few months older and front tires are a year old.

I doubt it's your alignment if these issues aren't present on flat surface roads. Did you notice these issues were worse during the winter months? If so I still stick to tramlining... I had issues even on my old VW which were 225/45-17 all-seasons.

SHEEDI · 02-16-2011, 10:34 AM

That is correct, i feel more tramlining in winter. in summer i have more control and steering wheel is hard.

Swashplate · 02-16-2011, 11:09 AM

I would give that wheel a slap and tell it to shape up.

3002 tii · 02-16-2011, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soomro

That is correct, i feel more tramlining in winter. in summer i have more control and steering wheel is hard.

so what you're describing is natural then...

WAMz4 · 02-17-2011, 10:11 AM

What your describing sounds exactly how my car drove off the lot. Now that your back to "new" its back to "normal", especially if you still have the OEM run flats.
DUMP the run flats like almost everyone else here and get a tire repair kit for the trunk.
You may still notice some pulling on very bad roads, but youll be amazed at the difference on every day city streets.

SHEEDI · 02-17-2011, 10:24 AM

hey WAMZ4, Since i got non-RFT tires, where to get tire repair kit?

3002 tii · 02-17-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soomro

hey WAMZ4, Since i got non-RFT tires, where to get tire repair kit?

Tischer & Leather Z used to sell a kit, else just look for the spare tire from the e60 (5-series). And then purchase a jack kit separately. I did that for a while but later sold it as I didn't want to lose any trunk space.

WAMz4 · 02-19-2011, 03:06 AM

BMW dealer sells one too, But Slime kit at Autozone is the same thing without the crazy price - http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...r-Kit/_/N-259b

02-15-2011, 02:29 PM	#1
SHEEDI Banned 602 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	Sensitive Steering Wheel i recently replaced front shocks, front control arms and bushing, did alignment and after that i feel my steering whel is very sensitive on bumps, it juggls on bumps and also my car pulls to right and left on uneven roads; i am not sure if it is normal or something wrong with my car. should i get alignment again? Please help.
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02-15-2011, 03:01 PM	#2
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2285 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	i feel like the steering on our cars was sensitive from day 1 so i'm assuming you think it's gotten progressively worse while you've owned it? __________________ Follow for latest mods
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02-16-2011, 07:23 AM	#3
SHEEDI Banned 602 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	hey Dubbedown; i am second owner of the car and when i bought this car, the lower control arms and bushings were shot and steering wheel ws not that responsive and because of shot bushings and control arms the front tires were wornout from inside. so i recently replaced control arms, bushings, front tires and after that i feel the diffrerence and steering wheel is more responsive. the cars runs fine on smooth roads,no issues but the steering wheel pulls to right and left on uneven roads and i am not sure whats wrong with the car..any help will be much appreciated
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02-16-2011, 08:24 AM	#4
vachss Captain 55 Rep 815 Posts Drives: Z4 Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ventura County, CA iTrader: (1)	What are your before/after alignment settings? Did toe-in decrease a lot? Neutral toe or slight toe out can give a darty steering feel.
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02-16-2011, 09:00 AM	#6
Huz-Z Brigadier General 851 Rep 4,057 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0si, 328 XDrive, X5 35i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Tramlining is greatly reduced by replacing the stock run flat tires with conmventional tires, such as the Hankook Ventus V12. __________________ Huz-Z BMW Z4 3.0si Roadster. Montego Blue Metallic. Premium and Sport Package.
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02-16-2011, 09:36 AM	#7
SHEEDI Banned 602 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	I am not sure about aligment stats but I have 225/50ZR -16 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, rear tires are few months older and front tires are a year old.
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02-16-2011, 10:34 AM	#9
SHEEDI Banned 602 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	That is correct, i feel more tramlining in winter. in summer i have more control and steering wheel is hard.
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02-16-2011, 11:09 AM	#10
Swashplate Major 111 Rep 1,351 Posts Drives: in Anger. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Newcastle, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2009 Mercedes ML320 ... [0.00] 2013 BMW M5 [0.00] 2007 BMW M Coupe' [0.00]	I would give that wheel a slap and tell it to shape up. __________________ Gone (2006 STI, 2008 EVO MR, 1968 Mustang) AFE Intake/Euro Cats/CSL Headers/Sportline CSL/H&R Springs 1217/1815 !!! BOILER UP !!!
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02-17-2011, 10:11 AM	#12
WAMz4 First Lieutenant 45 Rep 384 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0si Roady Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Denver CO iTrader: (0)	What your describing sounds exactly how my car drove off the lot. Now that your back to "new" its back to "normal", especially if you still have the OEM run flats. DUMP the run flats like almost everyone else here and get a tire repair kit for the trunk. You may still notice some pulling on very bad roads, but youll be amazed at the difference on every day city streets. __________________ The Internet said it. I believe it. That settles it!
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02-17-2011, 10:24 AM	#13
SHEEDI Banned 602 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	hey WAMZ4, Since i got non-RFT tires, where to get tire repair kit?
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02-19-2011, 03:06 AM	#15
WAMz4 First Lieutenant 45 Rep 384 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0si Roady Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Denver CO iTrader: (0)	BMW dealer sells one too, But Slime kit at Autozone is the same thing without the crazy price - http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...r-Kit/_/N-259b __________________ The Internet said it. I believe it. That settles it!
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