Car suddenly pulling to right and left

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  • Jand3rson
    Banned
    • Oct 2003
    • 37587

    #16
    You and I are in the same boat. Everything up front on my car is new, except for the rack. But the rack is dry, there are no leaks, no fluid in the boots, my reservoir is full, and I couldn't even tell you the last time I filled it.

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    • e30this
      No R3VLimiter
      • Dec 2007
      • 3580

      #17
      go back through and check to make sure all of your bolts are tight

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      • e30this
        No R3VLimiter
        • Dec 2007
        • 3580

        #18
        oh yeah, subframe an all

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        • 92 mtechnic cabrio
          Honesty is not the best policy!
          • Dec 2003
          • 4907

          #19
          Originally posted by e30this
          go back through and check to make sure all of your bolts are tight
          I actually did

          I thought it was a loose tie-rod adjuster so I took it in for alignment warranty and turns out it was tight. So I double checked every suspension related nut/bolt/ball joint while the car was up on the lift.
          R.I.P 07/01/09 - 04/23/10 :(

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          • Jand3rson
            Banned
            • Oct 2003
            • 37587

            #20
            I just jacked mine up and checked all of that too, and everything was still just as tight as when it was installed. Could it be the car has just pulled itself out of alignment? The stuff was all installed last summer, driven for a few months including up to Seattle and back, and then parked in the garage until just a month or so ago.

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            • 92 mtechnic cabrio
              Honesty is not the best policy!
              • Dec 2003
              • 4907

              #21
              I got my alignment 8 days ago

              this started happening 3 days ago

              not alignment related, we double checked the numbers when I went in for realignment warranty
              R.I.P 07/01/09 - 04/23/10 :(

              Comment

              • DCColegrove
                Banned
                • Dec 2007
                • 2748

                #22
                1. Swap the tires R to L see if the pull changes with it.

                2. center and unload the steering wheel, touch it lightly while starting the engine (you are checking for a jump in the wheel) if it jumps even very slightly its the valving in the rack (very rare but it happens).

                EDIT: To OP How low is your car? are your front control arms flat or higher at the outer joint than the inner? And how are your rear sub-frame bushings?

                Comment

                • Jand3rson
                  Banned
                  • Oct 2003
                  • 37587

                  #23
                  I'll do both of those things tomorrow, thanks for the tips.

                  My car isn't super low, it's on IE3 springs and Koni SA's. The control arms aren't flat, but they're close. Like I said, I'm not slammed. The rear subframe bushings are definitely due, as are the trailing arm bushings.

                  Comment

                  • DCColegrove
                    Banned
                    • Dec 2007
                    • 2748

                    #24
                    Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
                    I'll do both of those things tomorrow, thanks for the tips.....
                    Let me know how it goes.

                    One other thing I thought of: while you're at it check the front sub-frame mounting bolts (sub-frame to frame rails) I have seen them come loose on occasion.

                    Comment

                    • rede30
                      R3V Elite
                      • Dec 2003
                      • 4697

                      #25
                      i am watching this thread closely, after my car sat for close to a year, it had these symptom's. Front suspension is pretty new and i got it aligned but it still does it. It is hard to even go freeway speeds, really scary, esp with a decent power plant like the s50.
                      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-h...wE3UqwjjmaTrXg

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                      • Jand3rson
                        Banned
                        • Oct 2003
                        • 37587

                        #26
                        It's not doing it to a dangerous amount, nowhere near it. It's just something very noticeable while driving, and mildy irritating.

                        Comment

                        • AndrewBird
                          The Mad Scientist
                          • Oct 2003
                          • 11892

                          #27
                          Did you check you lug nuts? I would think the wheels would have fallen off by now if they were loose, but...

                          If you need a smooth long road to test on, Skyliner road out past Mt. Washington drive has a 1-2 mile smooth spot.

                          Comment

                          • Jand3rson
                            Banned
                            • Oct 2003
                            • 37587

                            #28
                            Damn Andy, that's a good call. I never even thought of that. I'll check them first thing today.

                            But the other day when I had it up in the air, I tried shaking each of the front wheels all around, and they didn't move around at all.
                            Last edited by Jand3rson; 03-06-2008, 09:19 AM.

                            Comment

                            • aproy
                              E30 Addict
                              • May 2006
                              • 585

                              #29
                              so its been a year...

                              did you figure it out? im having the same issue right now... just about exactly the same
                              sigpic

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                              • etxxz
                                R3VLimited
                                • Feb 2006
                                • 2085

                                #30
                                damm...found a thread.

                                I was doing my brakes yesterday and checked the car while on jackstands.

                                When the engine is off the rack doesnt turn smoothly from lock to lock like butter like it did before. This suggests that either crap is on the steering shaft U-joints or the rack itself is bad.

                                Does your wheel center properly when you are turning out of a turn, parking etc? Mine does ex for the center 90degrees (45degrees from center in either direction). It also does the right to left randomness but very minor.

                                I tried lubricating, nothing, joints seem very loaded with crap. I might have to stick a pressure cleaner on it.

                                does any of this sound familiar to anyone?
                                No more e30s for me.
                                88 black BMW OBDII 332is dedicated track [sold]
                                88 BMW OBDII bronzit 332is [RIP 03/08]
                                91 BMW 325i [sold]
                                86 Corolla 'Ae86' HB 20v trd [sold]
                                http://youtube.com/watch?v=pTj7Hn9v5Rs

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