Wandering steering - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

m5_chris · 27th April 2009, 15:31

Okay, next question

I've noticed that occasionally the car can seem quite light at the front and wander off to the side slightly as though its been hit by a gust of wind. This happens more if under acceleration or over an uneven road surface, on the motorway last night and at some roadworks I changed lanes and the car tramlined quite badly.

What I described above isn't noticeable when in Sport mode...

Any ideas chaps?

Chris

chowdah · 27th April 2009, 16:48

Likely candidates: tires, sway brackets, and/or thrust arm bushings.

m5_chris · 27th April 2009, 17:27

Okay, tyres is an easy one to check.
Sway brackets - is this just a case of checking where the bars are attached to the body, to see if they are loose?

chowdah · 27th April 2009, 18:28

Yes, in particular: ~1ft inside of each rear wheel. Pictures of these have been posted before.

Lancefitzgiben · 27th April 2009, 18:58

I get LOTS of tramlining.. it's pretty overbearing sometimes. Most of mine is attributed to my shot tires (275's all the way around) which are badly scalloped on the inside edges. (the rears are definitely scalloped from worn ball joints, not sure about the front end) But new tires/suspension/bushings are coming this summer.

You should hear these tires though right around 20mph, they make a terrible racket from the scalloping. they sound like big aggressive offroad tires.

Neil.D · 27th April 2009, 21:06

When was the last time you get a 4 wheel lazer alignment. In my M3 my car would wander at quite high speed. After the 4WA it was totally gone.

exigtis4m5(?) · 27th April 2009, 23:18

i have had better luck with the stock tire preasure 44/48 v/s running lower. If your tires are good then try different tire pressures. Also, my tramlining did go up after getting 275s across all 4. However, it went down after getting an alignment.

Lancefitzgiben · 28th April 2009, 00:21

when I went to 275's I didn't notice any extra tramlining (nothing like what I experienced in the old z3)

I can't wait to feel the transformed car with new tires/bushings/suspension installed.

jselig · 28th April 2009, 01:31

This is not stock presures. Unless your running with 5 people and a trunk full of gear. Read your manual or door plate very carfully. This must ride very harsh with these settings not to mention you will go through your tires very fast. You should be at 35 psi front and 38 rear. I run 35 all around because the rears tend to wear out the centers at the higher psi. Also the higher rear psi is just a safety for BMW for less oversteer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by exigtis4m5(?)

i have had better luck with the stock tire preasure 44/48 v/s running lower. If your tires are good then try different tire pressures. Also, my tramlining did go up after getting 275s across all 4. However, it went down after getting an alignment.

m5_chris · 28th April 2009, 11:30

Thanks for the replies folks.
I've got 245 40 at the front and 275 35 at the rear. The rears have plenty of tread (at the moment

) but the fronts are getting a bit worn in my opinion.

First things first, new tyres and 4 wheel alignment... and whilst its on the ramp can take a look at the anti roll bars.

Cheers!