Wheel shake, 2003 BMW 325i. And other issue

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langjr15@uwgb.edu - 20 Aug 2008 16:23 GMT

So I had my rotors and pads changed about a year ago and everything
seemed good. I dont beat on the car so I dont think there is a issue
with me bending the rotors since they were changed or anything like
that. So I dont think its related to the brakes. However when Im
going over 35 and I just hit the brakes the wheel shakes. If I hit
them harder it goes away. It also seems to me that I feel more of the
bumps in the road through the sterring wheel. If Im on a super smooth
road it doesnt shake at all even at higher speeds. Could it be my tie-
rods or something? Alignment? Is there a way for me to check for
either of these myself?

Also I notice my suspension in what I think is my back left side
squeks now. Like when I get out of the car and my weight shifts to
that side it seems to squek. Then if I bounce that corner or side of
the car it does as well. Something that I can lubricate?

Thanks

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Scott Dorsey - 20 Aug 2008 18:20 GMT

>So I had my rotors and pads changed about a year ago and everything
>seemed good. I dont beat on the car so I dont think there is a issue
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>rods or something? Alignment? Is there a way for me to check for
>either of these myself?

Your rotors are bent.

Now, your question here is HOW they got bent. It could be because you
have some suspension problems. Do you have the original control arm
bushings in there?

It could also be because someone changed a tire without evenly torquing
all the bolts, or if they changed a tire or rotated your tire and were
sloppy with the wrench.

It's not due to alignment problems, though if you have something loose
in the suspension you might need an alignment after fixing it.

>Also I notice my suspension in what I think is my back left side
>squeks now. Like when I get out of the car and my weight shifts to
>that side it seems to squek. Then if I bounce that corner or side of
>the car it does as well. Something that I can lubricate?

That's probably the spring squeaking... the springs are mounted on
pads that wear out. Usually squirting a little grease in there will
quiet it down.
--scott

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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langjr15@uwgb.edu - 20 Aug 2008 18:43 GMT

> langj...@uwgb.edu <langj...@uwgb.edu> wrote:
> >So I had my rotors and pads changed about a year ago and everything
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Thanks for the advice. I think your 100% right. I didnt think they
were bent because last time they were I could feel a vibration in the
pedal. I cant this time. What about the wheel shaking or feeling a
little loose? Would that be the bushings you speak of?

I know a mechanic that is honest that works on BMW's say I had to have
these bushings replaced, any idea what that would cost me? I was
thinking of having it aligned and having all the wheels balanced. Is
that expensive?

Is it expensive to replace the pads on the springs?

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Scott Dorsey - 21 Aug 2008 14:59 GMT

>Thanks for the advice. I think your 100% right. I didnt think they
>were bent because last time they were I could feel a vibration in the
>pedal. I cant this time. What about the wheel shaking or feeling a
>little loose? Would that be the bushings you speak of?

Could be, there is all kinds of stuff in the steering and suspension that
can fail, though.

>I know a mechanic that is honest that works on BMW's say I had to have
>these bushings replaced, any idea what that would cost me? I was
>thinking of having it aligned and having all the wheels balanced. Is
>that expensive?

Wait a minute... you have been driving with bad control arm bushings,
you KNEW they were bad, and now you are surprised that other things are
going wrong?

Get the honest mechanic to look at your front end and replace whatever
he sees that is badly worn. Then get the thing aligned. If you have
huge amounts of slop in the front end because of worn parts, you won't
be able to properly align it.

There is no reason to balance your tires, and since you're going to have
to replace them soon if you're driving with front end problems anyway,
why bother?

>Is it expensive to replace the pads on the springs?

I don't know, I have never done it, but it looks like a pain. Just squirt
some lube in there and it'll be fine.
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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langjr15@uwgb.edu - 21 Aug 2008 15:16 GMT

> langj...@uwgb.edu <langj...@uwgb.edu> wrote:
> >Thanks for the advice. I think your 100% right. I didnt think they
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

No no. I see how you misunderstood that. I dont know that any thing
is wrong for sure. I meant to say ....

I know a mechanic that is honest that works on BMW's. Say I had to
have
these bushings replaced, any idea what that would cost me?

Thanks, I'll get some heavy duty silicon spray and spray it up there.

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