Suspension Overhaul, sloppy steering.

[OOMPH!]

My steering is so sloppy, loose, unaligned, and out of whack. I'm looking into tightening everything up to make my steering and handling 100%. I do not and never see myself taking my car to the track, I just daily drive it. Should I replace the control arms, bushings, tie rods.....etc. What makes the most sense to attack? Also, I've been reading a lot of old threads about aluminum control arms from bmp and THR's cabs are these worth the money or should I just stick to OEM?

Thanks

[Kip]

Nicely double posted!!!
EDIT: Can you please explain how you have a website, a shop, and do these cars without having the answer to this post already in your mind? Hell, I have 130 posts, and can tell you, off the top of my head, the items needed. WTF? Are these cars all just show and engine stuff?

Alu control arms are a race item, basically weight savings. For their price, you can do alot.

New control arms, control arm bushings (stock m3 with offset), and tie rod ends should make a world of difference. Then get an alignment. Combine with struts, and strut mounts, and you have a new front end.

How are shocks and struts? Shock mounts? Is your steering rack leaking?

Do a search for these items, find out what else you may need to do, and how to do it.

[1991 318is]

Quick and dirty front end check. Go to NTB for an alignment. They will tel you what it needs if anything is worn out. Then you fix it and align it yourself by searching on R3V.

[OOMPH!]

Nicely double posted!!!
EDIT: Can you please explain how you have a website, a shop, and do these cars without having the answer to this post already in your mind? Hell, I have 130 posts, and can tell you, off the top of my head, the items needed. WTF? Are these cars all just show and engine stuff?

Alu control arms are a race item, basically weight savings. For their price, you can do alot.

New control arms, control arm bushings (stock m3 with offset), and tie rod ends should make a world of difference. Then get an alignment. Combine with struts, and strut mounts, and you have a new front end.

How are shocks and struts? Shock mounts? Is your steering rack leaking?

Do a search for these items, find out what else you may need to do, and how to do it.

One, I accidently posted it twice. Accidents happen you know.
Two, It's not my shop...just showing the shop some support. Ever hear of that? For a little turd noob you shouldn't have such an attitude!
Three, I know the basic things that need replacing but it's always nice to hear recommendations on certain products etc.

[AdironRider]

Id have your alignment professionally done. Its a pain in the ass and probably not as accurate to do it yourself. That being said just get new control arms with balljoints, M3 CABS, and new tie rods. That should shore things up alot in there.

[Simon S]

^ second that.


.

[tonytony]

also check the small rubber coupling between the steering column and the rack. That'll fix the side to side play in your steering wheel

[alexbaby88]

Tony2

Do you happen to know the part number of this rubber bit?

[BahnE30]

for one, to create the situation he's describing, ball joints and control arms won't cause this. neither will CAB's unless there non-existant. to create sloppy steering, it has to be something in the steering linkage it self. jack up car, shake wheel (-O- grab where the lines are) if it moves, then kinda stops and will then start to turn the wheel, thats tie rods, chances are thou, if the tie rods are shot, ball joints are toast. or they arent far behind anyway.

do what they said, take it to an alignment shop. get them to align it. they'll tell you whats wrong. take it home, fix it, take it back for the warranty align, say your steering wheel isn't straight or something. they'll put it back on, notice it's out of wack, and adjust it all again for nothing.

but hey, thats just me.

[turnofftheradio]

bad rear bushings can mimic sloppy steering if you are not familiar with a loose rear.