"Floating" feeling in the rear after all new poly bushings

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • ScHpAnKy
    E30 Mastermind
    • May 2009
    • 1573

    #1

    "Floating" feeling in the rear after all new poly bushings

    Did the subframe, Diff, and RTABs in the iX along with poly offset CABs in the front - but I'm running into a wierd issue, and that's that the rear end feels like it's "floating" all over the place.

    New bushings, new springs, brand new shocks, brand new sway bushings and endlinks all around - the diff is solid in it's mount, the subframe bushings are exactly the right height, but it feels like the rear end is completely disconnected from the car, so much so that a sweeping corner makes the car feel like the body is swinging away from the road and the wheels feel planted. Over bumpy roads the steering is all over the place as a result.

    Some research indicates that the rtab brackets may not be tightened down entirely, I haven't had a chance to check it out - but would that be my issue?
    If the RTABs are cranked down, what about the differential? Is it possible that the through-bolt would cause this issue when everything else is tightened down?

    91 318i | 87 535iS
  • jlevie
    R3V OG
    • Nov 2006
    • 13530

    #2
    If nothing in the rear is loose, it sounds to me like this is probably a spring rate/height problem that is resulting in too little weight on the rear wheels.
    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

    Comment

    • LJ851
      R3V OG
      • Nov 2010
      • 7918

      #3
      It is not possible to change the weight on one end or the other of a vehicle with a few inches of ride height or spring rate. Not an amount more than splitting hairs anyway.

      Did you reset your front toe after the offset CABs ?
      Lorin


      Originally posted by slammin.e28
      The M30 is God's engine.

      Comment

      • tinkerputzer
        E30 Addict
        • Jun 2008
        • 508

        #4
        Did you connect the rear sway bar?

        Comment

        • jlevie
          R3V OG
          • Nov 2006
          • 13530

          #5
          Originally posted by LJ851
          It is not possible to change the weight on one end or the other of a vehicle with a few inches of ride height or spring rate. Not an amount more than splitting hairs anyway.
          Well, not really true. I can make a noticeable change in handling quality by just fiddling with the spring pads on my Spec E30. Twiddling with ride height is powerful stuff. And when you throw different springs into the mix...
          The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
          Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

          Comment

          • LJ851
            R3V OG
            • Nov 2010
            • 7918

            #6
            Originally posted by jlevie
            Well, not really true. I can make a noticeable change in handling quality by just fiddling with the spring pads on my Spec E30. Twiddling with ride height is powerful stuff. And when you throw different springs into the mix...

            I didn't say it would not affect handling, i said it would not change weight balance. I stand by that statement.
            Lorin


            Originally posted by slammin.e28
            The M30 is God's engine.

            Comment

            • digger
              R3V Elite
              • Nov 2005
              • 5909

              #7
              Originally posted by LJ851
              I didn't say it would not affect handling, i said it would not change weight balance. I stand by that statement.
              laws of physics are a bitch;)
              89 E30 325is Lachs Silber - currently M20B31, M20B33 in the works, stroked to the hilt...

              new build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=317505

              Comment

              • ScHpAnKy
                E30 Mastermind
                • May 2009
                • 1573

                #8
                Originally posted by jlevie
                If nothing in the rear is loose, it sounds to me like this is probably a spring rate/height problem that is resulting in too little weight on the rear wheels.
                I don't think it's a problem with rear weight - I have a fuel cell from a previous owner where the spare was, and no gas tank under the car. Not ideal, but I'm working around it.

                Originally posted by LJ851
                It is not possible to change the weight on one end or the other of a vehicle with a few inches of ride height or spring rate. Not an amount more than splitting hairs anyway.

                Did you reset your front toe after the offset CABs ?
                It's worth a shot, I guess, but the front of the car feels solid and overall just perfect, just the rear is flying around all over the place.. over bumps the rear does the same affect that a solid axle car would exhibit in addition to a linear "swing" going as low as 40mph through a sweeping curve



                Originally posted by tinkerputzer
                Did you connect the rear sway bar?
                With all new hardware and bushings, yes

                91 318i | 87 535iS

                Comment

                • ELVA164
                  R3V Elite
                  • Dec 2011
                  • 4861

                  #9
                  Something is wrong in the rear alignment-wise in my opinion. Either that or the rear is too stiff by a good amount. Perhaps it was stiff before but the softer bushings were able to dampen the effect some? What do you mean "the rear does the same effect that a solid axle car would exhibit?"
                  Interested in vintage cars? Ever thought about racing one? Info, photos, videos, and more can be found at www.michaelsvintageracing.com!

                  Elva Courier build thread here!

                  Comment

                  • ScHpAnKy
                    E30 Mastermind
                    • May 2009
                    • 1573

                    #10
                    The tundra @ 1:19 in this video is the feeling that I'm getting over bumpy roads:

                    91 318i | 87 535iS

                    Comment

                    • LJ851
                      R3V OG
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 7918

                      #11
                      Why don't you tell us what parts you put on? What are the new springs, shocks, etc?
                      Lorin


                      Originally posted by slammin.e28
                      The M30 is God's engine.

                      Comment

                      • ScHpAnKy
                        E30 Mastermind
                        • May 2009
                        • 1573

                        #12
                        Originally posted by LJ851
                        Why don't you tell us what parts you put on? What are the new springs, shocks, etc?

                        h&r sports / billy sports
                        oem sway brackets/lonks/bushes
                        powerflex cabs, street hardness
                        revshift street hardness rtabs, dif, and subframe bushings
                        oem control arms/tie rods
                        NTB alignment

                        91 318i | 87 535iS

                        Comment

                        • Liquidity
                          Grease Monkey
                          • May 2014
                          • 395

                          #13
                          Just sounds like you need an alignment.

                          Comment

                          • LJ851
                            R3V OG
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 7918

                            #14
                            Originally posted by ScHpAnKy
                            NTB alignment
                            Originally posted by Liquidity
                            Just sounds like you need an alignment.

                            Assuming everything is bolted up tight, the only thing i can think of right now is that you have massive stiction in the poly rear trailing arm bushes that don't allow the wheel to stay planted on the road causing uneven/sketchy grip.
                            Lorin


                            Originally posted by slammin.e28
                            The M30 is God's engine.

                            Comment

                            • ScHpAnKy
                              E30 Mastermind
                              • May 2009
                              • 1573

                              #15
                              Originally posted by LJ851
                              Assuming everything is bolted up tight, the only thing i can think of right now is that you have massive stiction in the poly rear trailing arm bushes that don't allow the wheel to stay planted on the road causing uneven/sketchy grip.

                              So i went through the car with a fine tooth comb because after spending hundreds of dollars in repairs on the car, Ive only driven it four days since january just gettin it to the same state as my last car. It's frustrating to say the least.

                              Last weekend I put in a new steering coupler and knuckle and set it up to be solid mount to be certain there was no "give" in tbe front of the car.
                              Tested my steering rack afterwards, solid as a rock but the issue persists :(

                              So, per your recommendation I took a jack to both trailing arms to observe movement - looks great, full range of movement.

                              I did notice, however, that the differential mounting tab has a bend in it with roughly 1in space between the bushing and bolt head when loosened up. Is the tab supposed to stand straight up and down without any bend? Im going to put a spacer in this weekend and see if it improves, but Im really close to just parting the car out at this point.

                              91 318i | 87 535iS

                              Comment

                              Working...