Replaced front suspension, steering is light and tremmels...

[Ryan Stewart]

a bit more.

I replaced the control arms, tie rod ends, and installed the treehouse CABs. I measured the toe settings and tried to match them closely as possible. I had the M3 bushings and god knows how bad the ball joints on the CA and tie rod ends were, lets call it 3 years of a beating. Now the car seems to steer very easy, much lighter than it was before. I can also feel more bumps and it tremmels a bit more (wants to ride in the ruts). On smooth road its not shaky or anything, just different on bumpy ones.

What exactly does the excess caster change about the steering? Also could the light/darty steering be the cause of excess toe? I havent put it on the alignment rack yet, just a test drive. I have more stuff coming for it today.

[E30-323ti]

Don't worry till you have a proper alignment done.

My steering was doing odd things before I got mine done.
It was real heavy when reversing, but light and tramlined going forward.
Feels fine now after the alignment.

[RCWells]

Hm. So having the front end aligned fixes the light steering? I am not sure what that would have to do with the heaviness of the steering.

Ryan, my black 325 had heavier steering than my new ride. The red car's steering is very light, almost too light. I removed my pwr strng belt, and it made it very heavy at low speeds, but not that much different when on the highway or at higher speeds, so I reinstalled it. I don't know why there is a diff. between them, but if you figure something out, let me know. I had considered doing an M3 steering swap, but can't afford that right now. Maybe that would fix it?

[b00b00]

More caster, which the TreeHouse CABs give, should give you heavier steering and not the reverse. Exessive toe-out would make it darty. The type of tires can make a big difference with regards to tramlining.

Get a proper alignment done and then see what it does.
-a-

[NickP]

It does sound like too much toe out

[M42Technik]

Have you had the front aligned? I had the tie rods and ends replaced and the steering was awful until the alignment, and it went back to normal.

Somewhat off topic, but does anyone have the toe angle #'s offhand for a stock 318is? I'll be lowering the car soon and would like to keep stock toe settings. Or as stock as possible.

Hope you figure it out Ryan.

[DarkWing6]

Have you had the front aligned? I had the tie rods and ends replaced and the steering was awful until the alignment, and it went back to normal.

Somewhat off topic, but does anyone have the toe angle #'s offhand for a stock 318is? I'll be lowering the car soon and would like to keep stock toe settings. Or as stock as possible.

Hope you figure it out Ryan.

I havent put it on the alignment rack yet, just a test drive.

[AdamF 88iS]

More caster, which the TreeHouse CABs give, should give you heavier steering and not the reverse. Exessive toe-out would make it darty. The type of tires can make a big difference with regards to tramlining.

Get a proper alignment done and then see what it does.
-a-

Exactly.

[Ryan Stewart]

It was actually excessive toe in. I noticed that when the car was on the ground there was a slight increase in toe. I reduced the toe when I raised it again to RR the Treehouse bushings and now its on rails. The steering is a bit heavier but not what I would call heavier. Now I am just waiting my turn for one of the few shops that does laden alignments around here.

Now I just have to stop the popping. I removed, cleaned, and repositioned the treehouse bushings and it still does it. Its definately not anything else in the suspension. The top bearing is tight and new along with all the ball joints. The steering rack is all that is left, thinking a 3.0 unit.

[Skafrog]

is it a loud crack, or is it actually popping?
When does this happen?

[Mot]

my car makes a weird popping noise if i turn hard... and the stearing is rather light. i had a 4 wheel alignment done, but neither of these affects have gone away. I replaced my ca's and bushings, i didnt go for the Treehouse cabs tho.. just stock replacements. Whats the deal?

[KenC]

my car makes a weird popping noise if i turn hard... and the stearing is rather light. i had a 4 wheel alignment done, but neither of these affects have gone away. I replaced my ca's and bushings, i didnt go for the Treehouse cabs tho.. just stock replacements. Whats the deal?

Did you get new strut bearings?

Did you remove the front spring pads?

[Mot]

new strut bearings... no... just new bushings and all the neccassary hardware to remound the CA's and I didnt remove the front spring pads, but Im not sure if the PO did because the front of my car looks minorly slammed while the back sits at normal ride height giving me a lame ass rake effect.

[nando]

removing the front spring pads shouldn't make any noise anyway, and it wouldn't make a huge difference in ride height either (about 1/4")

[Mot]

Well the popping noise is still there lol... It didnt make it before i swapped ca's... But all my nuts and stuff are tight... Im not sure whats going on.