Right side clunking/Steering Problem....Related?

[Skafrog]

I got a problem with my e30 that is bugging the hell out of me. One day, my car will track to the left. The next day, it will track to the right. Some other days, it will track straight. I also have this awful clunking noise, and a tiny vibration that goes through the passenger well whenever I hit bumps. I can't tell if it is clunking on compression or on rebound however.
I replaced my suspension setup with Bilstein Sports/H&R Springs. Could this problem be that I messed up the right side tie-rod, causing it to smash up and down and roll left to right, or is this just the classic broken shock mount problem?

Thanks
Rob

[Nick325is]

How long have you had the suspension? Also, how long has the problem been occuring?


Nick

[franz]

It could be that you put the washer in wrong that goes between the strut hat and strut mount, ask me how I know!

[Skafrog]

does that cause both of the symptoms described above?
if omitting the washer makes that noise, then that is probably it.

[franz]

I don't recall noise but mine was sticky as heck, like if I took right uturn then it pulled right and left, left.

[DaveDave]

Tracking can also be due to tire treads and road surfaces. Did you have an alignment done when you changed the suspension? That certainly would not hurt. Do not pay much for an alignment though, since all you can adjust on an e30 is front toe.

I had a clunking in the right front (in my cabrio), which seemed like it had to be suspension. It turned out to be a broken motor mount. I would check those, as they seem to go out fairly often.

Hope that helps!

[Mracer]

Dave, that cabrio looks great - what happened to it? (the RIP thing)

[franz]

Dave, that cabrio looks great - what happened to it? (the RIP thing)

Go to his website and see!