Suspension/Steering Noise when turning right

[ShortE36]

Just ordered the tranny mounts from BimmerSpecialist.com and should get them in sometime next week. I just ordered the OEM ones. I figured they lasted this long - why not? I don't plan on doing any track time or anything so it's not an issue for me. So I will certainly get under my car as soon as I get them so I will fill you guys in if that fixed the issue or not.

[ShortE36]

Just wanted to post an update, sort of, on the topic. I haven't yet gotten around to installing the new mounts but will probably next weekend. I did get new tires. General Ultimax HP - love them! Anyway - the noise seems less intrusive now with the new tires on or at least it seems to not be as intense as it was. It's still there - there's no doubt. Now I can almost pin point it to more on the right side. And my right tranny mount seem to be the one that was failed. Not sure if there's any correlation there but we'll see once I get them replaced. So sorry for the long delay - not that any of you are anxiously awaiting an answer on MY problem.

[elchicano]

I may be far off from what the other guys have said but i too had something like this. For me it turned out to be my fronts stuts were worn and had to be replaced. This stoped the noise and also stopped the CEL light that had been turning on. I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to check the struts see if they need replacing.

[ShortE36]

That's an interesting theory as well because whenever I go over a significant bump or join in the road, I hear an extra thud other than the suspension/tire noise. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks man.

[elchicano]

Yea it took me a while to figure it out to because for some reason one of my struts was dead and not the other. So after i replaced both of them it was good to go. I would also check the springs, there's a member here who said that the end of the springs may break. Probably a chunk of a spring broke causing this noise to continue.

[ShortE36]

Just got back from about a 20 mile roundtrip journey in some really heavy rained and some washed out roads. I've got brand new tires on the car which I can't express how much I love but I actually started hearing the sound as I went through a few puddles but only moving the steering wheel minimally, maybe a degree or two. Hmmmm...

[ShortE36]

So another problem has surfaced that may or may not be related. I've got tranny issues as I'm not even sure if the thing has fluid in it but it pops out of 1st gear every so often so for the most part, I take off in 2nd. Now I'm finding that after a minute or so of driving, the ASC light comes on. I'm not pushing it hard or anything but obviously something is screwed up somewhere.

[BimmerBum]

Considered a wheel bearing?

[ShortE36]

The noise isn't speed sensitive at all. It's only apparent when turning right. Whether under acceleration or just cruising or coasting in neutral. It's like my tire is rubbing but it's more mechanical than that. It sounds like my diff is going but it's perfect when i'm cruising along the highway or going straight or making a left turn. The car handles great. It's just hard to troubleshoot. Maybe'll ill put a clip of it up on youtube and post it here.

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by ShortE36

The noise isn't speed sensitive at all. It's only apparent when turning right. Whether under acceleration or just cruising or coasting in neutral. It's like my tire is rubbing but it's more mechanical than that. It sounds like my diff is going but it's perfect when i'm cruising along the highway or going straight or making a left turn. The car handles great. It's just hard to troubleshoot. Maybe'll ill put a clip of it up on youtube and post it here.

Sounds like a left side wheel bearing to me... When you load up the left side making right turns your failing wheel bearing is making noise.

If it makes the noise whether the driveline is engaged or not then that is a good indication that the problem is not in the driveline.

[ShortE36]

The noise just reverberates through the entire cabin. You feel it in the floor, steering wheel (not a wobble), seat, etc. It's very prominent and i'm sure if you were standing on the corner as I went around you may be able to hear it as well. You just feel it everywhere. Feels like my steering rack or something is just going to drop out. However I don't feel like I'm losing control or anything.

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by ShortE36

The noise just reverberates through the entire cabin. You feel it in the floor, steering wheel (not a wobble), seat, etc. It's very prominent and i'm sure if you were standing on the corner as I went around you may be able to hear it as well. You just feel it everywhere. Feels like my steering rack or something is just going to drop out. However I don't feel like I'm losing control or anything.

Sounds just like a wheel bearing to me...

[mohaughn]

If I had to guess your driver side motor mount is shot. I recently had a motor mount break on me and I would have the same "pushing" out of gear problem. When I looked at the transmission mounts it would look like the transmission was twisting away from the mounts.

If the motor mounts are shot the transmission will be able to move around on the transmission mounts. It also causes the gear shifter to ride up against the transmission tunnel, so it doesn't fully engage in gear... If it is the motor mount you will not be able to get the transmission mounts to fit right until the motor mount is fixed.

The other thing to look at for funny noises only when turning is your wheel bearings.

[ShortE36]

Thanks for your time and input BimmerBum. I've got some failed tranny mounts so going to try to get that in first. One last thing - wouldn't the wheel bearing make a noise at all speeds and irregarless of what direction or am I experiencing the beginning of it failing?

[ShortE36]

when i start the car in the morning, there is this clank that I hear almost everytime. Just feels like something is loose when turning it over. Thought it could also be the tranny mounts. The right side tranny mount that has an hour glass shape, looks like the top half is going to slide off the bottom half.