|
|
|
|
|
|
BMW Garage | BMW Meets | Register | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
>
hit a pothole... is this normal?
|
|
10-08-2011, 04:48 PM | #1 |
Captain
42
Rep 659
Posts |
hit a pothole... is this normal?
long story short, i hit one deep pothole when i was going 40.
got stock suspension when i get home, i jacked up the car and found that the dust cover /protection tube isn't covering the shocks. i never seen it like this before, maybe because i have never paid attention to it? or is my shocks blown? i'm not seeing anything on the bottom of the shocks. is this normal? help! |
10-08-2011, 05:37 PM | #2 | |
Major
231
Rep 1,473
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-08-2011, 06:01 PM | #3 |
Captain
42
Rep 659
Posts |
Lol ok, i think i'm over panicking. I tried wiggling the wheel, no slack, wiggled the front and rear control arm, steering link, and sway bar, all firm.
I am noticing vibrations around 50mph tho, im crossing my finger that its just my wheel (which i just got fixed a month ago). |
Appreciate
0
|
10-08-2011, 06:39 PM | #4 |
Banned
169
Rep 12,680
Posts
Drives: like an asshole
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago Burbs
|
Thats normal.so long as the car drives straight your ok
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-09-2011, 02:15 AM | #5 |
Major
160
Rep 1,307
Posts |
Yes that is normal. When the car is lifted up it looks like that. I personally think the boot is designed too short and doesn't provide good protection against dust and water seeping into the shaft. Anyways it is good that you took precautions and make sure everything is ok after you hit a pot hole.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-10-2011, 12:57 PM | #6 |
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
2038
Rep 25,989
Posts |
Looks pretty normal to me. Hitting a pothole at 40+ MPH would likely knock your car out of alignment rather than damage suspension components like that, in my opinion. If you busted a shock going over a pothole at speed though, you probably have other parts that are broken or have bigger things to worry about haha.
__________________
VMR|Wheels | 714.442.7916 |
sales@velocitymotoring.com | www.velocitymotoring.com | facebook | flickr | Instagram |
Appreciate
0
|
10-10-2011, 01:33 PM | #7 | |
Captain
42
Rep 659
Posts |
Quote:
Thanks to everybody for all the inputs/opinions/2cents! |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-10-2011, 02:35 PM | #8 |
Lieutenant Colonel
121
Rep 1,568
Posts |
metal suspension components can bend during impacts. bushings typically wear out/crack due to age/environmental conditions.
has anything changed in driving characteristics? a new noise? pulling? vibrations, etc...? to be safe, it could be a good time to get an alignment done to make sure none of your settings were changed. typically, a shop at this time can tell you if a component is bent |
Appreciate
0
|
10-10-2011, 02:52 PM | #9 |
Captain
46
Rep 967
Posts |
Get your alignment done and your wheels inspected/balanced if needed. That will tell all.
__________________
| PROcede Rev3 | Vishnu Meth | DCI | BMW Perf. Exhaust | AR Coated/Catless | CP-E FMIC | Quaife | |
Appreciate
0
|
10-10-2011, 04:29 PM | #10 | |
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
2038
Rep 25,989
Posts |
Quote:
If you are concerned with arms being bent just take it to any shop that specializes in suspension components or even an alignment shop. They should be able to inspect everything visually and tell you if they notice any worn bushings or bent/broken parts. Getting an alignment is what I would also suggest, as doing this in combination with checking the wheels would be the cheapest and most cost effective way to make sure that nothing is 'out of place' so to speak.
__________________
VMR|Wheels | 714.442.7916 |
sales@velocitymotoring.com | www.velocitymotoring.com | facebook | flickr | Instagram |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-10-2011, 11:01 PM | #11 |
Captain
42
Rep 659
Posts |
I get to drive a bit more today, higher speed, so far everything feels about the same, just slight vibration, which is annoying. Car is still straight as an arrow.
Im gonna take your advices and start with balancing my wheel. Since its my stock 17 with my summer tires, it should absorb the impact quite a bit. Got appointment setup tomorrow, fingers crossed |
Appreciate
0
|
10-11-2011, 09:10 AM | #12 |
Captain
42
Rep 659
Posts |
got my wheels rebalanced. i just fixed them and now they're quite crappier. roadforce reading 2 weeks ago is 0.001, now 0.032.
they did balance out the weight, take a little less weight now. vibration is mostly gone. car still straight. i wonder if i should go ahead do alignment ? |
Appreciate
0
|
10-11-2011, 09:43 AM | #13 |
Banned
252
Rep 7,089
Posts
Drives: '06 AW 330xi
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC
|
Alignment normally has to do with the car tracking straight, it has little to do with vibrations.
FYI, bent wheels can balance on the machine, but that won't always get rid of vibrations. If you're running a square setup, move the fronts to the back. You won't feel the vibration in the steering wheel anymore if the fronts were bent....granted the rear wheels are ok. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-11-2011, 11:49 AM | #14 | |
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
2038
Rep 25,989
Posts |
Quote:
Since you hit the pothole though I'm going to guess that the wheel may be slightly bent, considering you mentioned that the Roadforce was different between the two times you balanced them.
__________________
VMR|Wheels | 714.442.7916 |
sales@velocitymotoring.com | www.velocitymotoring.com | facebook | flickr | Instagram |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-11-2011, 04:53 PM | #15 |
Captain
42
Rep 659
Posts |
yeah i'm very familiar with bent wheels. i used to have a balanced wheel but out-of-round. i had that wheel fixed and it was perfect right after it was fixed. the tire shop said the impact might've affected the thread layers of the tires too, i should've made them rotate the mount.
i've been always critical when it comes to my ride, but i know i'm hyper critical at this point, so i asked my fiancee if she can feel anything different, and she couldn't, so i know it's barely noticable at best. |
Appreciate
0
|
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|