steering pull left and right when slowing down on some roads

satz · 05-21-2016, 04:37 PM

hi all

please help me diagnose what might be wrong with my E90's suspension/tyres

On some road surfaces, the steering wheel will pull left or right, this is especially bad when slowing down to a stop.

I'm running the stock Bridgestone RE050A RFTs all round. I have the 225, 18s at the front and 255 18s at the rear. (stock setup on the 335i sedan)

One suspension place I took it to wanted to replace (I think) the front radius bushings.

Then I took it to the BMW dealer for a 2nd opinion. They kept the car overnight but came back and said nothing was wrong!

Could it be these particular tyres?

thank you

VTECaddict · 05-21-2016, 05:59 PM

It's called tramlining, where the tires will tend to follow grooves or joints on the road surface. Worse with some tires than others. I noticed the RE050A RFTs were pretty bad in that regard.

I would recommend an alignment to make sure nothing is off. If alignment is OK, then it's the tires.

jwebb335xi · 05-21-2016, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

hi all

please help me diagnose what might be wrong with my E90's suspension/tyres

On some road surfaces, the steering wheel will pull left or right, this is especially bad when slowing down to a stop.

I'm running the stock Bridgestone RE050A RFTs all round. I have the 225, 18s at the front and 255 18s at the rear. (stock setup on the 335i sedan)

One suspension place I took it to wanted to replace (I think) the front radius bushings.

Then I took it to the BMW dealer for a 2nd opinion. They kept the car overnight but came back and said nothing was wrong!

Could it be these particular tyres?

thank you

You might want to check tire pressures, just to be sure...

Rosetta Stoned · 05-21-2016, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

It's called tramlining, where the tires will tend to follow grooves or joints on the road surface. Worse with some tires than others. I noticed the RE050A RFTs were pretty bad in that regard.

I would recommend an alignment to make sure nothing is off. If alignment is OK, then it's the tires.

Yep the bridgestones were bad with that. As soon as I went to Nitto Invos that stopped.

satz · 05-22-2016, 02:32 AM

thanks guys. Tyre pressures are good, so I'll try to live with this until time for tyre change! How did BMW issue these on the car as OEM?

matteblue3er · 05-25-2016, 04:12 PM

Common symptom of worn lower control arm bushings.

I recommend you replace them with a poly bushing. They will last the life of the car.

avocet · 05-25-2016, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

thanks guys. Tyre pressures are good, so I'll try to live with this until time for tyre change! How did BMW issue these on the car as OEM?

What are your pressures at? I found with my rft's, the tramlining was reduced at higher pressures... 38-40 psi.

satz · 05-25-2016, 11:11 PM

hi Avocet
I think I'm running 38psi all around. I guess the higher pressures would slightly reduce friction/grip and hence reduce the tramlining?

It's pretty bad at times

Kgolf31 · 05-26-2016, 09:38 AM

Thrust and/or Control arm bushings should be examined.

How many miles on the car? Thrust arm bushings take a beating.

satz · 08-15-2016, 01:34 AM

Replaced the front tyres (Potenza RE050 RFTs) with non-RFTs. That seems to have reduced the 'tramlining'. And reduced the road noise

Misty · 08-15-2016, 09:39 AM

i have the same issue and i feel like everyone saying something bout control arm is right. my control arm busted a couple weeks after this issue persisted. i have Michelin a/s

Renner335i · 08-17-2016, 04:07 AM

I was having an issue like this. When coming to a stop or at times cruising it would pull side to side. Replaced control arms and same issue. Ended up being tie rods. Replace and perfect now. Hope this helps

Gohan335i7 · 08-17-2016, 10:25 PM

May be the road... If it is constant then you may have one of the problems stated above.

TheGailWay · 09-03-2016, 02:53 PM

Had the same problem, in addition it would pull to the right when launched. Just replaced my control arms and ball joints. Solved! Ball joint are a pain in a** to get out, but it's the right way to DIY.

335duff · 09-04-2016, 08:39 AM

TheGailWay, sorry this must be a really dumb question but when you say you replaced the ball joints, which ball joints do you mean? The ones on the tie rods? Those look like theyre from the rear suspension?

ajsalida · 09-04-2016, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335duff

TheGailWay, sorry this must be a really dumb question but when you say you replaced the ball joints, which ball joints do you mean? The ones on the tie rods? Those look like theyre from the rear suspension?

Note his car is an XI, front suspension configuration is completely different than RWD.

05-21-2016, 04:37 PM	#1
satz Lieutenant Colonel 336 Rep 1,642 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: A land down under iTrader: (0)	steering pull left and right when slowing down on some roads hi all please help me diagnose what might be wrong with my E90's suspension/tyres On some road surfaces, the steering wheel will pull left or right, this is especially bad when slowing down to a stop. I'm running the stock Bridgestone RE050A RFTs all round. I have the 225, 18s at the front and 255 18s at the rear. (stock setup on the 335i sedan) One suspension place I took it to wanted to replace (I think) the front radius bushings. Then I took it to the BMW dealer for a 2nd opinion. They kept the car overnight but came back and said nothing was wrong! Could it be these particular tyres? thank you
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

05-21-2016, 05:59 PM	#2
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	It's called tramlining, where the tires will tend to follow grooves or joints on the road surface. Worse with some tires than others. I noticed the RE050A RFTs were pretty bad in that regard. I would recommend an alignment to make sure nothing is off. If alignment is OK, then it's the tires. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
	Appreciate 1 Quote

05-22-2016, 02:32 AM	#5
satz Lieutenant Colonel 336 Rep 1,642 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: A land down under iTrader: (0)	thanks guys. Tyre pressures are good, so I'll try to live with this until time for tyre change! How did BMW issue these on the car as OEM?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-25-2016, 04:12 PM	#6
matteblue3er Captain 238 Rep 947 Posts Drives: Racecar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	Common symptom of worn lower control arm bushings. I recommend you replace them with a poly bushing. They will last the life of the car.
	Appreciate 1 TheGailWay12.50 Quote

05-25-2016, 11:11 PM	#8
satz Lieutenant Colonel 336 Rep 1,642 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: A land down under iTrader: (0)	hi Avocet I think I'm running 38psi all around. I guess the higher pressures would slightly reduce friction/grip and hence reduce the tramlining? It's pretty bad at times
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-26-2016, 09:38 AM	#9
Kgolf31 Brigadier General 460 Rep 4,531 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC, 2012 128i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (4)	Thrust and/or Control arm bushings should be examined. How many miles on the car? Thrust arm bushings take a beating.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2016, 01:34 AM	#10
satz Lieutenant Colonel 336 Rep 1,642 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: A land down under iTrader: (0)	Replaced the front tyres (Potenza RE050 RFTs) with non-RFTs. That seems to have reduced the 'tramlining'. And reduced the road noise Last edited by satz; 08-15-2016 at 05:37 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-15-2016, 09:39 AM	#11
Misty First Lieutenant 60 Rep 309 Posts Drives: BMW 328xi 2007 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	i have the same issue and i feel like everyone saying something bout control arm is right. my control arm busted a couple weeks after this issue persisted. i have Michelin a/s
	Appreciate 1 TheGailWay12.50 Quote

08-17-2016, 04:07 AM	#12
Renner335i Private First Class 32 Rep 189 Posts Drives: 07 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Md iTrader: (3)	I was having an issue like this. When coming to a stop or at times cruising it would pull side to side. Replaced control arms and same issue. Ended up being tie rods. Replace and perfect now. Hope this helps
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-17-2016, 10:25 PM	#13
Gohan335i7 Captain 312 Rep 766 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 335i [10.00]	May be the road... If it is constant then you may have one of the problems stated above.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-03-2016, 02:53 PM	#14
TheGailWay Enlisted Member 13 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2007 335xi 6MT No iDrive Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Reno NV iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 X5 35d [0.00] 2007 335xi [0.00]	Pull during braking and launch, solved. Had the same problem, in addition it would pull to the right when launched. Just replaced my control arms and ball joints. Solved! Ball joint are a pain in a** to get out, but it's the right way to DIY. Attached Images __________________ 2007 335xi, 6MT, 335is clutch, FMIC, DCI, Custom E85/meth tune, CP, KW V3, AR DPs, MMP Inlets, RB PCV, DO ST2 DVC-30 Meth, Fuel-It Stage 2 bucketless LPFP, RB PCV, Full E85///2010 X5 35d
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-04-2016, 08:39 AM	#15
335duff Private First Class 25 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2011 335d E90 Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	TheGailWay, sorry this must be a really dumb question but when you say you replaced the ball joints, which ball joints do you mean? The ones on the tie rods? Those look like theyre from the rear suspension?
	Appreciate 0 Quote