Faulty suspension wheel hopping on full lock??

[najainitro]

Hi everyone, seems to be that time of year when everything goes wrong on my car again!! 😂

First off, I have a 2013 BMW 316d F30 model. After owning this car I don’t think I’ll ever buy another BMW but hey ho.

The car has just had an MOT three days ago and passed with no advisories.

All of a sudden this morning it’s developed an alarming issue... I think it’s been coming a while as the front suspension hasnt quite felt right, but I assumed any issues would have been picked up on MOT.

Basically when I turn on full lock, forwards or backwards, the front wheels seem to hop, almost as though they’re about to fall off. It’s a sort of ‘popping’ sensation. I’ve had a quick look and everything I can see looks tight, including ball joints and track rod ends so I’m at a loss. Don’t seem to feel any vibration or anything or any obvious noises while driving.

The only other symptoms are:

Suspension knocks a little over bumps but I’m not sure that’s connected as it’s been there a while.
Every now and then the front wheels feel like they’re sliding out a little bit underneath me if that makes. It’s literally a split second sensation as I’m driving along.

Does anyone have any ideas at all?

[SuperPav]

Yes, it's getting cold.

Front wheel skipping/scrub/hopping/whatever you want to call it is a "characteristic" of some RWD cars (e.g. mercs, panamera) due to the suspension geometry and tyres used.

Very noticeable and alarming during low speed parking maneouvering on full-lock, but ultimately benign.

[BrassMan]

SuperPav said:

Front wheel skipping/scrub/hopping/whatever you want to call it is a "characteristic" of some RWD cars (e.g. mercs, panamera) due to the suspension geometry and tyres used.

Is this what the IT guys call an "undocumented feature"?

[LuS1fer]

You may have a broken spring which is not always obvious as a the top end portion snaps off. The spring end no longer seats and so the spring rotates and "pops" as it suddenly moves.

Alternatively, if it is McPherson strut, it may be the top bush.

[spookly]

BrassMan said:

Is this what the IT guys call an "undocumented feature"?

Yes.

If both rears wheels have equal traction then they are pushing the car directly forwards. At full lock the axis of rotation of the front wheels isn't facing forwards, it's at angle through the axis of rotation.
The higher the angle between the front wheels and the chassis, and the lower friction with the front wheels and the road, the more likely that the forward forces will push the front wheels to skip/skid. Hence why it happens more on loose surfaces, in the wet, and when it gets colder.

[Ambleton]

Multi link front suspension, low speed, high angle, low profile tyres all contribute to this.

Get some nice big comfy tyres on the car and it'll be quieter, ride nicer and the tyre will flex and not snatch. (Only downside is the sensation of driving in donuts on the twisties)

The Merc GLC is particularly bad for this too.

https://youtu.be/VTT0U8fciR0

[stevieturbo]

SuperPav said:

Yes, it's getting cold.

Front wheel skipping/scrub/hopping/whatever you want to call it is a "characteristic" of some RWD cars (e.g. mercs, panamera) due to the suspension geometry and tyres used.

Very noticeable and alarming during low speed parking maneouvering on full-lock, but ultimately benign.

My old Granada does it pretty bad in reverse on lock.

Although just in case it would still be worth having things checked out, as if it did not behave like this ever before, and it does now, something could be up.

[bolide]

Could be worn thrust bushes. That's a standard feature with BMW suspension. They don't last very long. Gte someone to watch the front wheel as you put the car into D then R. If the wheel moves back & forth in the arch then you've found the problem

[fossilfuelled]

its called the Ackerman effect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ackermann_steering_g...

[The Wookie]

Check your tyre pressures and get your car aligned if it doesn't feel right.

As has been said, this just sounds like ackermann hop which has materialised as the ambient temperature has dropped

[201964]

My Passat Alltrack has started doing this, did you find the reason.

[The Wookie]

Temperature has dropped, tyres are cold and hard, my car has just started doing it too, it is almost certainly just Ackerman effect scrubbing

[trevalvole]

Ambleton said:

The Merc GLC is particularly bad for this too.

https://youtu.be/VTT0U8fciR0

As per the text in the link, I recall Mercedes' workaround was to advise putting softer winter or all season tyres on it.