I might be an idiot...

[MazterDizazter]

OK guys,

Yesterday and the day before I installed new Uro front control arms, front and rear sway bar end links, Bilstein sport struts/shocks and BavAuto lowering springs. Today I go to drive the car and the steering doesn't return to center on it's own, and I'm getting scary bump-steer. I didn't think springs would throw my alignment off that much - am I an idiot? :oops: This is on a 1991 318is.

Edit: probably not bump-steer, just feels like the car goes wherever it wants to.

[e30jake]

Didn't have that bad of bump steer when I did it, but you probably didn't put the washers back that go on top of the strut assembly.

[MazterDizazter]

I did, but I noticed the front left had some binding... could that be the culprit?

[MazterDizazter]

I just did some reading about someone with an E34 with a similar issue. How is camber and castor adjusted with these cars? I'm under the impression that my castor is out of whack...

Once more, here's what I did:

-Replaced control arms with Uro stock replacement control arms. Retained original bushings because the new ones had not arrived yet.

-Replaced front and rear sway bar end links with Uro stock replacement links.

Replaced blown OE shocks/struts with Bilstein Sport shocks/struts. Retained original strut mounts because new ones had not arrived yet. Replaced rear shock mounts with Moog stock replacement mounts. Replaced OE springs with BavAuto springs. It felt to me like the left strut mount was binding somewhat, but I didn't give it much thought until now.

Steering rack was replaced with a reman. unit about a month ago. Alignment was close enough that I didn't bother to have it checked; was going to wait until now when all the parts were in and new tires were on.

It would make sense that if the strut mount were binding that it would take considerably more effort to turn and that it would resist returning to center, but could I have affected something else while I was doing all that work?

This is my daily so I really gotta figure this out ASAP :( My commute this morning was downright scary; I really shouldn't drive it again until it's fixed.

[Danny]

Sounds like you forgot to reinstall the washers between the shock and the strut hat. It's a common thing.

[8380 Labs]

if you replaced the steering rack and all those other components, your car is way out of alignment. it sounds like your issue is the washers danny mentioned, but you still need a good alignment.

castor is most easily adjusted via the CABs (i.e. M3-spec). camber can be adjusted via upper strut mounts or camber plates. toe can be adjusted via the tie rods.

[agent]

Doesn't re-using the strut mounts require doing the job twice?

[MazterDizazter]

Doesn't re-using the strut mounts require doing the job twice?

Yes, yes it does. I think I need to check for those washers. I could've sworn I installed them but now I'm having doubts. If the LF was binding then probably not.

So castor and camber are not adjustable from the factory, then? You would need to add adjustable CAB's and camber plates in order to play with camber? I've never owned a car that didn't have at least some adjustment from the factory, but then again I saw it myself when I installed everything. No eccentric bolts, no tension rods, no nothing

[nickmcc92]

Same thing happened to me after making u turn or sharp turns.
And indeed it was a missing washer in between the top hat and strut mount.
I eventually added one more for good measure

[MazterDizazter]

OK, I just looked and noticed the toe is way off just by eyeballing it. I'm going to have one of the guys throw it on the alignment rack and at least zero that out today. When I get home tonight I can tear that strut apart and put a washer in. Then Monday I can put 4 new tires on and get the alignment sorted. At least until the new shock mounts and trailing arm bushings come in... What a production I've made for myself!

[Cletonius]

Sounds like you forgot to reinstall the washers between the shock and the strut hat. It's a common thing.

Is this only for stock strut hats? My camber plates look like they don't get a washer on the underside. They have one up top for the nut though