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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Steering Wheel Vibration Solved!



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      05-29-2013, 12:24 AM   #23
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I had the same problem, and it turned out to be a bad tire.

I had the tires balanced at least 3 times by the dealership before I went to an indy shop and stood by the 'Road Force' operator and cross examined him about how bad the tires really were. He initially said they were OK, but then said, 'well, there is one that is actually borderline' for having a hard spot in the tire.

Replaced it under warranty and have not had a problem since.
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      05-29-2013, 07:13 PM   #24
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OK, my situation sounds very close. I get a hum and slight shimmy at 55mph to about 65mph then it subsides. I replaced both front wheel bearings but it didn't really help. I just had my wheels rebalanced a month or so ago, no change. I was leaning towards a bad front tire but this is making me rethink that. If the tire balances...road force balances out fine, it cannot be the tire could it?
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      11-02-2013, 12:00 AM   #25
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I want to add to this thread that I had the exact same issues as the OP. I just recently had an all new front end installed (front M3 control arms, tie rods, end links, suspension mounts etc) and it has fixed my vibration issues perfectly. The trust arm bushings are to blame!
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      11-02-2013, 09:07 PM   #26
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Thanks for the heads up. I guess this is a common BMW thing and doesn't matter what series. My 1998 E39 had the same symptoms and thrust arms fixed the shimmy also.
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      11-03-2013, 06:30 PM   #27
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I plan on doing this myself SOON!!!
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      11-16-2014, 05:45 PM   #28
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I am also experiencing a vibration, from what I gathered in this thread is that none of you have an xi?
Is there a fix for the xi? Meaning I guess, are the thrust arms available for the xi?
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      12-22-2014, 01:31 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Felixm79 View Post
I am also experiencing a vibration, from what I gathered in this thread is that none of you have an xi?
Is there a fix for the xi? Meaning I guess, are the thrust arms available for the xi?
I had the same symptoms on my Xi, new thrust arms/ bushings did the trick. I just had the dealer install new OEM parts.
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      12-22-2014, 07:11 PM   #30
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How many miles are you seeing these bushings go out at?

What are the options on the Xi cars? I'm assuming the M3 parts don't play nice with the Xi...
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      12-23-2014, 09:08 PM   #31
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Nice find, thanks for sharing.
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      12-24-2014, 05:58 AM   #32
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Many in this thread are calling the piece a thrust arm. Are we talking about the tension strut (9) or the wishbone (14)? OR is the thrust arm a totally different piece?
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      12-28-2014, 05:48 PM   #33
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Swapped the rears to the front yesterday and went for a ride. No difference. This vibration is making me crazy.

I can twist part number 14 with one hand on both sides. With the wheels off, and my hands on the rotor, I can turn the rotors (as if the car was turning right) and get a clunk noise.

I'm at 57k miles and CPO. Are these a CPO part? Car has KW V1.
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      12-28-2014, 06:41 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cdgatti View Post
Many in this thread are calling the piece a thrust arm. Are we talking about the tension strut (9) or the wishbone (14)? OR is the thrust arm a totally different piece?
Control arm = Trailing control arm = Wishbone = Front Lower Control Arm = FLCA or LFCA

Thrust arm = Leading control arm = Tension Strut = Front Upper Control Arm = FUCA or UFCA

Found this image searching online:
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      12-29-2014, 09:33 AM   #35
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Well that certainly explains it. Good find.
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      12-29-2014, 09:56 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLOWER View Post
Well that certainly explains it. Good find.
Stumbled across it searching, pure dumb luck, glad it helps.

BTW, the upper and lower control arms are called that because they install into the knuckle from the upper and lower sides of their respective mounting points. Forgot to mention that, sorry. Makes it easier to remember.
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      12-29-2014, 10:04 AM   #37
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So has anyone had the arms or bushings replaced under CPO?
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      01-04-2015, 05:01 PM   #38
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The more I read it looks like these are a wear and tear item and not a CPO warranty item. Can anyone confirm?
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      01-06-2015, 10:27 AM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MicaCeli View Post


09 Tension strut with hydraulic mount, left 1 31126769797 $122.04
09 Tension strut with hydraulic mount,right 1 31126769798 $122.04

10 Set rubber mounting f pull rod 1 05/2011 31120393540 $98.93
10 Hydrobearing 2 31126763719


You could get these (stock but with Rubber Bushings)

http://hpashop.com/product.sc?produc...categoryId=175

Or the M3 ones

http://hpashop.com/product.sc?produc...categoryId=175
ECStuning also has this for sale but #13 in the diagram isnt shown in the photo.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-335...l_Arm/ES49241/

Does this come separately or should it come with the thurst arm?
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      03-12-2015, 08:16 AM   #40
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Figured I'd post an update since I've been having a steering wheel vibration when applying med-heavy brake pressure at about 60mph -> 45mph that I believe I finally solved by upgrading to the M3 front control arms this week.

I had suspected a bushing failure after some reading online but couldn't say for certain until I had the old control arms off. On the drawing below, I identified a shear failure of the bushing marked as #15 on my drivers side. It wasn't a total failure, but it was enough to prevent the bushing from properly transmitting load. Note: the way these bushings are loaded and the way they fail makes them impossible to identify failure simply by grabbing them and "twisting". I wouldn't have been able to recognize this one without actually taking it off and looking at it.



Even in just the 20 miles I've driven since the install I can tell all the vibration is gone. I'm confident that bushing was the culprit.
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      03-12-2015, 07:35 PM   #41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fravel View Post
Figured I'd post an update since I've been having a steering wheel vibration when applying med-heavy brake pressure at about 60mph -> 45mph that I believe I finally solved by upgrading to the M3 front control arms this week.

I had suspected a bushing failure after some reading online but couldn't say for certain until I had the old control arms off. On the drawing below, I identified a shear failure of the bushing marked as #15 on my drivers side. It wasn't a total failure, but it was enough to prevent the bushing from properly transmitting load. Note: the way these bushings are loaded and the way they fail makes them impossible to identify failure simply by grabbing them and "twisting". I wouldn't have been able to recognize this one without actually taking it off and looking at it.



Even in just the 20 miles I've driven since the install I can tell all the vibration is gone. I'm confident that bushing was the culprit.
Hmm, I have replaced the thrust arms but not the control arms yet. I need to do that I guess. Easy enough.
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      06-19-2015, 05:44 PM   #42
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I've got this problem too. At thispoint I have M3 control arms, new tires, new rims. The wheels have been checked, balanced and road force balanced multiple times now. M3 control arms made the most significant difference. The shimmy is now gone from the 40-60 range, but now rests around 80( lol...btw lots of M3 posts about shimmy around 80 too). Not sure whats next. Any ideas are welcome.
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      07-01-2015, 07:55 PM   #43
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Have been experiencing same problem - steering wheel vibration when going 45-60 mph, and more pronounced steering wheel shake when braking from 70-80mph. Brake pedal feels fine and does not pulsate.

Got wheels RoadForce balanced twice, new front tires, and replaced thrust arms, wishbones, and tie rods. Unfortunately that did not help. Looking for suggestions on what to do next. Rotors were replaced about 20k miles ago, so i think they're next on my hit list.
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      07-02-2015, 07:43 PM   #44
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When I was talking to Stoptech support the other day, He suggested I measure the run out on my rotor, and he said that it is highly unlikely it is the rotor that is wapred, but most likely there was an issue with the install when the hub for example may not have been perfectly straight. He told me to get a dial indicator And check it.

I've got M3 front control arms, so bushings can't be the issue. I was having steering wheel shaking at highway speeds with light braking, which the control arm replacement fixed.

Last edited by Lotus99; 07-04-2015 at 11:49 PM..
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