E36 - 'juddering' when taking fast left-handers

E36 - 'juddering' when taking fast left-handers

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Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Noticed this happening last night on the way back home from an evening out. Taking a left-hand bend at +50mph, the car feels like it's juddering or skipping a little - like a 4-wheel drift but not (it still grips). Right-hand bends are fine, it feels like it has plenty of grip. I did wonder initially if it was a cruddy surface but after testing a few times, it seems to be doing it fairly consistently in different corners.

I know it's not much of a description but I'm wondering if anyone has experience this or could give me pointers as to where to start? I'm guessing it could be rear suspension bushes, wheel bearing or possibly diff-related? Tyre pressures are all fine (first obvious thing to check).

It makes the car feel a bit unsettled into corners and I'd like to fix whatever's wrong. Any ideas?

Edit: I don't think it's wheel balance either, it's fine in a straight line or turning right.

Edited by Funk on Sunday 22 June 13:05

The Nur

9,168 posts

184 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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I'd take a look at the bushes.

declasm

426 posts

193 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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yep I had this - it was one of the bushes in one of the rear control arms.

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Cheers guys, the fronts were replaced last year so it wouldn't surprise me if the rears need doing.

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

171 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Another thing could be dampers, I had exactly this problem a couple of days ago.

I'll post up a pic of the old damper later on. The car was horrendous after it went pop, pretty much undrivable.

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Will check the dampers but it drives fine at lower speeds and in a straight line and right handers. Certainly not undriveable..?

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Sounds like maybe a rear trailing arm bush problem.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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Sounds like maybe a rear trailing arm bush problem.

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Ok, finally had a chance to get it up on a ramp and the n/s front shock is toast.

A £300 bill I could really do without...!

tgr

1,129 posts

170 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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ordinarily you'd replace as a pair

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Of course I will be. I was just commenting that it's the n/s one that's gone.

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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Booked in to be done, although the garage did mention that it's possible it could be the control arms on the front - what's the usual lifespan of them?

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

171 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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Control arms themselves are usually fine. It's the ball joint and bushes that tend to go and they don't last a particularly long time.
The lollipop bushes are a straight swap but the ball joint on the 'wishbone' are a little more troublesome. I just buy new control arms when it comes to the ball joints going. Far less hassle.
Also have a look at using E30 ones due to the ball joint design, they fit exactly the same and usually work out cheaper for a better design.

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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Thanks Phuzzy, will do.

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
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It was indeed just the dampers. New ones fitted today and the car feels so different it's unreal. I guess that as they wore slowly I didn't really notice.

Everything else underneath is fine which is good news.

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

171 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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thumbup good to hear. At least yours didn't go completely pop like mine did by the sound of it. I remember trying to take a corner and it felt like the car was going to spontaneously combust.
The difference is night and day though with the new ones.

I predict your next problem will be cooling system related, my radiator went pop a couple of weeks ago so I give you a month or two. laugh

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Mine was done last year! £80 for the rad so can't complain. I also changed the water pump for a metal version and replaced the (disintegrated) coolant float sensor at the same time. She had new oil, filters and plugs within the last 6-9 months or so, so all being well nothing else 'pending'.

The only thing I've noticed driving today is that the car seems to want to pull to the left. Not sure whether it just needs realigning but it didn't do it before the shocks were changed. I'll let things settle in a bit and get it back on the Hunter again once it's had a chance to bed down a bit.

Funk

Original Poster:

26,254 posts

208 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Ok, had it on the Hunter today and it's within a gnat's whisker if being spot on. Tyre pressures checked but it's still veering left a lot. Doesn't do it all the time which leads me to think it's just following camber and ruts. Are they known for this? I'm certain it was nothing like this bad before.

On the plus side the ride is excellent again.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 7th August 02:39

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

171 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Try moving the left wheel next time you're parked up, I had a fair bit of movement from mine in a horizontal (as you look side on at the car) motion.
Just grab on a spoke and push up and down, if it rocks forward and back when the handbrake is your front arm control bush and/or ball joint may need sorting frown

This is only a possible, mine does still very occasionally pull left and right and feels sensitive to road condition but is a lot better now that I've changed the lot.

Only downside for you, if you do need to change them, your wheel alignment was pretty much for no reason.

Locknut

653 posts

136 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
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You could try swapping the front wheels left-right to see if the problem is caused by the tyres. You may have directional tyres, if so it would be OK to do a temporary swap just to test the car.