318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Technical, Maintenance and Modifications > Misc

Notices

Misc Does not fit in any of the forums below.

.
» Recent Threads
1999 M-Sport For Sale
12-31-2023 05:10 PM
Last post by Coop540iT
03-23-2024 06:39 PM
1 Replies, 100,124 Views
Once again 318ti owner...
03-20-2024 12:39 PM
Last post by two30grain
03-22-2024 02:04 PM
1 Replies, 63,036 Views
What brakes do I...
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
Last post by huirtera
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
0 Replies, 60,270 Views
Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-24-2015, 04:44 AM   #1
Estii
Senior Member
 
Estii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 215
iTrader: (0)
Default Steering is screwed after adding new wheels.

So I added some 16x8 Style 5's and now my steering is all screwed. Usually when u take a turn and release the wheel It will automatically spin back to straight. But now the wheel just stays put in the turn and I have to turn it back straight. Even when going in a straight line, if I turn the wheel just a bit it stays put instead of going back to straight. Don't know what's the cause. Please help!!!
Estii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2015, 05:20 AM   #2
LouM...
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 51
Vehicles
iTrader: (0)
Default

Check the inside of your wheels to ensure nothing is touching/rubbing on tires/wheels.
Maybe pull off the wheels and see if there is any sign of rubbing. Front and rear.
LouM...
LouM... is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2015, 08:55 AM   #3
Estii
Senior Member
 
Estii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 215
iTrader: (0)
Default

Checked it out and nothing is touching. I should also mention the car got crashed on the right side so I replaced the lower control arm and the sway bar link because they got bent. Even still I cant figure out why its like this. Would getting an alignment help? Or is it a mechanical failure within the suspension components.
Estii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2015, 01:35 PM   #4
bazar01
Senior Member
 
bazar01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 595
iTrader: (0)
Default

- So you put a different set of wheels. Why? Original one got damaged in the wreck?
- Is this the first time you drove the car after replacing the control arm and sway bar link? If yes, your caster is way off. Alignment check might reveal the problem. Correcting the alignment problem is another story.
Good luck.
__________________
1996 Ti 280k miles and still going....
1993 964 - holding on to this one
2001 Burban, 240k miles
2018 Suburban Z71
bazar01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2015, 04:24 PM   #5
spidertri
Senior Member
 
spidertri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Elizabeth City, NC
Posts: 3,877
Vehicles
iTrader: (9)
Default

Only time I've had the steering stick was when the upper strut mount bearings failed. I guess it could also happen if the washers below the strut mount were not stacked correctly.

My experience was exactly like you describe, steering would stay where you put it.
__________________
~Dave~

98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop
11 128i space gray slicktop
13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry

Search | RealOEM
spidertri is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2015, 04:43 PM   #6
bazar01
Senior Member
 
bazar01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 595
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by spidertri View Post
Only time I've had the steering stick was when the upper strut mount bearings failed. I guess it could also happen if the washers below the strut mount were not stacked correctly.

My experience was exactly like you describe, steering would stay where you put it.
It's good you mentioned that.

My passenger side upper strut mount is starting to give me some creaking noises in the morning. I can feel the strut bearing is binding but not enough to cause the front wheel to stay turned even after letting go of the steering wheel or releasing the steering input.
I may need to start looking into a new set of upper strut mounts too.
Can these bearings be relubed or just go ahead and replace them since it's got 250k miles on them?
__________________
1996 Ti 280k miles and still going....
1993 964 - holding on to this one
2001 Burban, 240k miles
2018 Suburban Z71
bazar01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2015, 06:05 PM   #7
Estii
Senior Member
 
Estii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 215
iTrader: (0)
Default

Yes the wheel got bent up bad so It was either buy another stock wheel or upgrade to Style 5's. Yes the first time I've driven the car was yesterday. I'm going for an alignment in a few hours. I need one for sure anyway so hopefully That'll fix the issue. Ill post the results.
Estii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2015, 10:48 PM   #8
Estii
Senior Member
 
Estii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 215
iTrader: (0)
Default

So I got the alignment and it helped a lot, but the steering still doesn't return to center as sharp as it used to. The guy says I need some adjustable camber tops to get the car back how it used to. I'm not buying that though because it was perfect before and the only thing different now is the wheels are an inch wider, from 16x7 to 16x8. An extra inch can screw up the steering that much?
Estii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2015, 03:44 PM   #9
bazar01
Senior Member
 
bazar01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 595
iTrader: (0)
Default

Do you still have a pair of the original wheels you can try on the front and see if it helps with the issue?

The rear mount of the control arm might have been pushed in thus reducing the caster. Can you check that?
__________________
1996 Ti 280k miles and still going....
1993 964 - holding on to this one
2001 Burban, 240k miles
2018 Suburban Z71
bazar01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2015, 05:52 PM   #10
M-technik-3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Globally
Posts: 1,162
Vehicles
iTrader: (1)
Default

I think it might also be part of an offset issue. The strain on the rest of your suspension is probably not helping.
M-technik-3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2015, 07:59 PM   #11
Estii
Senior Member
 
Estii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 215
iTrader: (0)
Default

I do have the original wheels but they don't have tires on them. I took swapped them onto the new BBS. By the way those original wheels are for sale if anyone wants a good set of style 19's. 1 is bent and the other 3 are pristine. I checked the control arm mount and its good. Ill just live with it I guess. Maybe down the road ill figure something out, but for now Im kinda getting used to it.
Estii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2015, 08:03 PM   #12
MINIz guy
Senior Member
 
MINIz guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NJ
Posts: 373
Vehicles
iTrader: (1)
Default

Why don't you look at the strut tops? It sounds like spidertri hit the nail on the head. Plus, your mechanic even said that you need adjustable camber plates to fix the car back to original spec. My bet is that you hit the bump hard enough to also mushroom your shock tower and break something on the strut top.
__________________

2000 M5 -> 1996 318ti -> 1997 328i
Instagram: ndrewchow YouTube: MINIzguy
MINIz guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2015, 09:37 PM   #13
Estii
Senior Member
 
Estii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 215
iTrader: (0)
Default

That's a good point. Ill look at that right away. How would I repair the strut top though? Its structurally incorporated into the body.
Estii is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2015, 09:44 PM   #14
MINIz guy
Senior Member
 
MINIz guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NJ
Posts: 373
Vehicles
iTrader: (1)
Default

People have taken hammers and just hammered it down to the original shape. Using one of BMW's strut tower reinforcement plates as a template for the original shape is also helpful.

One of my strut towers were mushroomed. I took a block of wood and hammer to my strut tower, using the reinforcement plate as a guide, and got my strut tower normal again. I may have gotten lucky but it is now within factory specifications.
__________________

2000 M5 -> 1996 318ti -> 1997 328i
Instagram: ndrewchow YouTube: MINIzguy
MINIz guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2015, 04:24 AM   #15
Estii
Senior Member
 
Estii's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: California
Posts: 215
iTrader: (0)
Default

Okay, Ill get on that first thing tomorrow. Thanks for the advise.
Estii is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Play in steering: Lower joint Assembly DIY Bluebimma Knowledge Base 5 10-29-2016 01:43 AM
Steering Wheel, Wheels, Floormats for sale losichu US and North America 0 10-31-2009 10:22 PM
FS: Steering Wheels romanescobar US and North America 1 06-16-2009 07:34 PM
Clarification on Steering Wheels. VROOMCP Interior and ICE 3 06-24-2008 03:57 PM
Lets see your aftermarket steering wheels VROOMCP Lounge 19 06-18-2008 05:02 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:24 PM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 118.71 k/141.85 k (16.31%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.