Wheel shake while braking at high speeds

[monkeyodeath]

Hi everyone,

Just got me a new (old) '90 325i and stoked to get it ship-shape and fixed up.

Biggest thing right now is that the steering wheel has a wicked shake when braking at anything over 40 MPH or so.

The wheel doesn't shake when I'm not braking, and it only shakes when the car is moving at high speed - it's not an issue at lower speeds.

PO said that apparently it's this type of bushing, but he didn't explain what it was, so not sure what he was talking about. My initial assumption is the rotors, but I'm not well-versed in these cars yet so I'd be interested in your input.

[StereoInstaller1]

Front Control Arm Bushings. I wrote a DIY if you do that sort of thing. Best $65ish and 2 hours you can spend on your car. Might wanna check your control arms out too, they have inner and outer balljoints and much play in them and you get shimmies and shakes.

And...welcome to R3V.

Luke

[monkeyodeath]

Awesome! I can tell I'm going to like this forum.

Searched for your DIY in the DIY section but didn't see it...where should I look?

[StereoInstaller1]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=87295&highlight=cabs

Most of us don't really like it, but we do live here.

[MTechnikII]

I had the same problem with my E36 M3 , it turned out to be bad discs, I took em to a shop turned them and problem solved.
might as well be the bushings on your car, won't hurt to check everything out .
Henry

[Farbin Kaiber]

I'd surface the rotors before replacing FCAB's.

[bzboardz]

I'd surface the rotors before replacing FCAB's.

since its only while breaking id try this first. but definitely replace the CAB's soon too

[monkeyodeath]

Word, will do. I'm used to warped rotors manifesting themselves as a wobble in the pedal too, which I'm not feeling, but it's worth it to check it out and start cheap.

[KenC]

E30 rotors rarely warp. Only feeling it at speed means it's prob the CABs.

If you feel any slight pulsing with constant brake pressure at low speed, then it's probably brake pad build-up on the rotors. Bedding the pads again usually solves that.

[jlevie]

If the rotors are the problem (cracked, bent, or with uneven pad deposits) you will feel it in the brake pedal. Otherwise it will be bad control arm busings, worn control arms, or blown out struts.

[87-325ic]

if you get a death shake/ rattle when hard breaking from 40 or more, its Control Arm issues.

replace them and some of the other wear items while your there, and your e30 will feel new again..

[riceh8r]

are your calipers relaxing after brake is let off. worn boots and rusty guides will cause caliper to stay tight to rotor and heat it up...my $.02

[McGyver]

i have the same problem on my new front control arm bushings, new billy sports all around, new front control arms, new front sway bushings, new front sway links, and new shock mounts all around. (new = 1 year old)

I'm guessing its my rotors.

[StereoInstaller1]

Some of these cars did the "death shake" when I drove them off the lot to my shop to do stereo work on them.

Yes, back in 1988 and thereabouts.

My '87 had it bad...like "rip the wheel from your hands" bad, and all I did was AKG urethane bushings and it was 100% gone.

[McGyver]

Some of these cars did the "death shake" when I drove them off the lot to my shop to do stereo work on them.

Yes, back in 1988 and thereabouts.

My '87 had it bad...like "rip the wheel from your hands" bad, and all I did was AKG urethane bushings and it was 100% gone.

weird. Im on e30m3 offset bushings from blunt and its still bad.