[blueh88]

Appreciate everyone's input, so thanks.

I will report back with what is found in the next few weeks. I haven't got my car for a week or so from tomorrow as I'm having my headlights done! Can't wait! (Hence why a few weeks ha).

[RajB]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Appreciate everyone's input, so thanks.

I will report back with what is found in the next few weeks. I haven't got my car for a week or so from tomorrow as I'm having my headlights done! Can't wait! (Hence why a few weeks ha).

Always happy to help buddy as others are too.

Definitely interested to know what the cause though if there is something amiss.

Lights will be a superb upgrade too.

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by blueh88

I've read all of Raj's thread actually (what a motor), but never paid attention at the time on the suspension setup bits. After revisiting them just now he's been to very specialist companies to have it set up. I'm going to contact 9Meisters which are the closest to me who specialise in geometry setups etc.

Yeah I've driven in the middle of the road and it isn't as bad so the normal slight cambers in the road definitely do contribute. But it still did pull, funnily enough I even felt it pull to the right at times too!!! It might just be me going mad and become hyper sensitive to it now.

I also called the last place who did my alignment and he also mentioned the camber in the road which could be it. Also that it doesn't matter that the front arms are from the M3, there isn't much adjustment anyway in the front so it doesn't need alternate settings? I'll be honest I don't know enough about it to make comment..or is it the case if I had the rear M3 arms then it needs a different geometry setup? Confusing.

Anyway, just to add, I went on a very spirited drive, just enjoying the power and the Quaife. Around a certain fast sweeping bend, I went over a bump where the car skipped over but I felt sort of a shimmy of the rear end. Not a shimmy where the tyres were sliding as I know what that feels like, it was what I'm assuming shifting of the subframe?? I don't know if it's because you guys have mentioned it so I'm trying to concentrate too hard on it, but it definitely felt different to conventional tyre slip...

ive just read this,,i got that a while back,,round a small bend,,some roughish ground,,car skipped and bounced a little,,,anyway,,little bit down the line,,my car snapped a front spring while sitting on my drive,,i had been chasing the problem for a while,,had it to a couple og garages,,,they never picked up a broken spring,,but i think thats what it was,,it was very hard to see on ramps and on shaker plates as it had snapped right in side where it sits in the cups...prob not your prob but maybe worth checking,,especially as i had all front arms/drop links discs and pads etc done at the same time as the springs as i had them ready to go on..so hyperthetically it could of been one of them

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

ive just read this,,i got that a while back,,round a small bend,,some roughish ground,,car skipped and bounced a little,,,anyway,,little bit down the line,,my car snapped a front spring while sitting on my drive,,i had been chasing the problem for a while,,had it to a couple og garages,,,they never picked up a broken spring,,but i think thats what it was,,it was very hard to see on ramps and on shaker plates as it had snapped right in side where it sits in the cups...prob not your prob but maybe worth checking,,especially as i had all front arms/drop links discs and pads etc done at the same time as the springs as i had them ready to go on..so hyperthetically it could of been one of them

Interesting...I'll have a poke around once I get my car back next week at some point. Nice one for the input.

[blueh88]

I've still not done anything with this as quite simply I hardly drive the car nowadays!!

However, I had the driver side rear wheel off today to have a puncture repaired and had a look at the sub frame bushes. Look in bad shape with a deep tear! This could very well be a big contributor..

[MightyMouseTech]

Running 15mm spacers will cause what you describe. You have ruined the scrub radius. Will feel very vague and pull left/right. Try running without the spacers and see if it feels better.

[MightyMouseTech]

Running 15mm spacers will cause what you describe. You have ruined the scrub radius. Will feel very vague and pull left/right. Try running without the spacers and see if it feels better.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by blueh88

I've still not done anything with this as quite simply I hardly drive the car nowadays!!

However, I had the driver side rear wheel off today to have a puncture repaired and had a look at the sub frame bushes. Look in bad shape with a deep tear! This could very well be a big contributor..

Gnarly! Get them replaced (I recommend m3 ones) before you worry about anything else. Pig of a job though it's simple, but so worth it.

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Running 15mm spacers will cause what you describe. You have ruined the scrub radius. Will feel very vague and pull left/right. Try running without the spacers and see if it feels better.

Ooo really. Okay cool will get them removed and report back.

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Gnarly! Get them replaced (I recommend m3 ones) before you worry about anything else. Pig of a job though it's simple, but so worth it.

Okay cool, nice one. Was also looking at the powerflex ones?

[Tambohamilton]

I decided to stick with OE parts (OK, from a different model) for mine - they do everything I want them to, and I don't feel the need to declare them to my insurance company. Powerflex, or whiteline etc are super common, so well tested, but I just don't like them. The M3 bushings are just a way superior piece of engineering. I bet the powerflex are easier to fit though... Speaking of which, you can get inserts which fit into the stock bushings and firm them up a whole lot - you may want to try that before going for the full swap.

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

I decided to stick with OE parts (OK, from a different model) for mine - they do everything I want them to, and I don't feel the need to declare them to my insurance company. Powerflex, or whiteline etc are super common, so well tested, but I just don't like them. The M3 bushings are just a way superior piece of engineering. I bet the powerflex are easier to fit though... Speaking of which, you can get inserts which fit into the stock bushings and firm them up a whole lot - you may want to try that before going for the full swap.

I'll look into these options, thanks for the advice!

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Ooo really. Okay cool will get them removed and report back.

So spacers removed and my God, what a difference. It has made it 80% better, with the 20% I think down to the shot subframe bushes. the steering is lighter at lower speeds, it doesn't wander at higher speeds and feels more or less straight. A lot more confidence in the car now. Also feels lighter changing direction!

There is still the shimmy from the rear but as mentioned, that's from the bushes I'm guessing.

I am surprised at what a difference spacers make.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by blueh88

So spacers removed and my God, what a difference. It has made it 80% better, with the 20% I think down to the shot subframe bushes. the steering is lighter at lower speeds, it doesn't wander at higher speeds and feels more or less straight. A lot more confidence in the car now. Also feels lighter changing direction!

There is still the shimmy from the rear but as mentioned, that's from the bushes I'm guessing.

I am surprised at what a difference spacers make.

Scrub radius is very important. Adding spacers to wheels can drastically change the scrub, and negatively affect handling. Glad you found your issue.

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Scrub radius is very important. Adding spacers to wheels can drastically change the scrub, and negatively affect handling. Glad you found your issue.

Cheers man. On to the sub frame!!