unstable at speed

nigeltee · 10-21-2006, 12:57 PM

I have a 96ti with 91k on the clock and at speed (60mph+) it feels unstable. Its as if there is a crosswind affecting the car, even on a still day.

This means it takes effort to drive the car quickly and can be unnerving when pressing on.

The car has just been MOT'd and the tester could find nothing wrong. No wear in the suspension, no visible strut or spring problems.

I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and knows how to fix it.

The car is standard, but did have a tow bar fitted when we bought it. I thought that maybe if it was towing a heavy caravan a lot, then maybe the dampers were knackered? The mot only tests them for rebound control.

Having owned a saloon e36 previously, that was solid as a rock at motorway speeds, it wouldn't be an aerodynamic thing with thecompact having no boot would it?

Any thoughts?

Thanks for your time.

Nigel

aceyx · 10-21-2006, 05:13 PM

Alignment or tire pressures (though I think they check the latter in MOT).

It certainly isn't an aerodynamic thing.

evalha007 · 10-21-2006, 06:09 PM

Could be your wheel balance. My 318ti would shake like crazy as soon as I hit 80... getting the wheels balanced fixed that right away.

3DGE · 10-21-2006, 07:28 PM

my car likes to pull to the right if i let go of the wheel. Could be tire pressure issue or maybe the brake pads are rubbing with the rotor... on one tire. 80% of my driving is over 60mph HHAHA Drives so nice

**clex2** · 10-21-2006, 08:15 PM

I would look into the struts and shocks carefully. I can tell you that the rear stock shocks on the ti are notorious for going bad quickly. After putting in a set of Konis on my 318ti daily driver (not 330ti), I can tell you the stability at speed is strikingly better. Rock steady cruisung at 80+ mph and no issues up to 130. Of course, like every said before, anything in the suspension is suspect, like bushings, tires, wheels, etc. I don't think the aerodynamics are an issue with this car, unless you have some weird bodykit or wing on it.

pdxmotorhead · 10-23-2006, 06:26 PM

Too much toe in the rear will make a car very very twitchy.

We do it on purpose to our road race car to make it
turn in better. But its a handfull on the straights.

Dave

nigeltee · 10-23-2006, 06:55 PM

thanks for your replies so far, i will check the pressures tomorrow. I dont think it is the wheel balancing as it doesnt vibrate at speed. I would be able to feel this through the wheel and or seat. Its the whole car moving around.

I was secretly hoping the tester would find fault with the shocks so i could get some new ones and lower it too, but it didnt fail on this.

The tester didnt say anything was wrong with any bushes, but i will talk to him again. Not having a trolley jack or stands, i cant get under the car myself and the thought of £30+/hr for investigative work, doesnt fill me with joy.

I may just have to put up with it, especially as the mortgage might be going up due to a possible move, and its harder to justify £700 + for a new suspension kit being bought and fitted. Sometimes i wish i could luck out with a deal and then be able to fit stuff myself......

I didn't really thing it would be an aerodynamic thing, it was a stab in the dark.

Clex, did you put koni shocks and springs on? whats the ride like? i had billies and eibachs on my saloon, they were great. rode well and handles even better.

Regards

Nige

nigeltee · 10-23-2006, 07:09 PM

i could get the alignment checked and reset i spose.....

**clex2** · 10-24-2006, 01:16 AM

Koni's and M-tech springs are perfect. Very well controlled, no hint of floating, sporting, but not at all uncomfortable. No one complains about Koni's, but if you search, lots of tales about ride heights getting raised with Bilsteins. Personal preference, I guess.

Tyler · 10-24-2006, 01:46 AM

My guess it's the ball joints. I had a similar problem and fond out one of my ball joints was bad and at high speeds it was unstable.

nigeltee · 10-25-2006, 09:31 PM

koni's seem to be reasonably priced. I will chat with the tester again, and see what we can come up with.

Ball joints on beemers are apparently flexible anyway. even the tester said that. One of the other bushes at the back of the wishbone(?) on the front suspension did seem to have play in it when they were checkin it.

cosmos schwarz · 10-28-2006, 11:51 AM

unstable and wandering at speed means your rear subframe bushes need replacing, doesnt it? , i used standard bushes for replacement, as other types are a rip-off.

nigeltee · 10-29-2006, 03:52 PM

i need to get the car on a ramp again. check out all the bushes thoroughly. Went out in it again yesterday, 80 on an a road and its death grip on the wheel, hoping its not gonna bite me.

Bushes themselves arent too expensive, just the labour to fit them. Will definitely go stock on the bushes.

Mad-Machine · 10-29-2006, 04:25 PM

how old are your tyres and how much tread is left. I know my old Hyundai Tiburon (coupe' to you) would get quite darty and a handfull at highway speeds if I let the tyres get work too far below the half way mark. If I let them go to the wear indicators, the car would be near undrivable above 70mph

nigeltee · 10-29-2006, 05:10 PM

tyres are only 5/ 6 months old, so nearly new. it could be these, would need to look at them running on a bakancing machine to see if they are out of shape.....

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