Loose front end

[RDG 40]

Thought my brakes were the problem but got some1 to have a look and they still have life in them, have also jacked it up and wheel bearings seem fine.


Basically the reason i ask for advice is it seems to feel very loose on the front end and judders a bit odd times on braking, my mate suggested the sterring rack seems a bit loose maybe? i just wana grasp an idea before i go to dealer so they wont rip me off.

i dont know if anyone knows of common problems with this or has in past?

thanks in advance.

[InvIs Inc]

ive had this a few times dude and each time it was the brake discs "warped" everytime replaced everything has been perfect i kno alot of ppl bang on about no such thing as brake warp but thats what has happened with me.

[whitey]

sounds like disc warp but im sure someone more car mechanical will say for sure . Is there not a way to check this i think where u take a wheel off and put something [marker of sort ] up against the disc and turn buy hand to see if the marker stays touching the disc or im i thinking of something else all together :D

[BigFas]

does sounds like a warped disc. An easy check is to take the front wheel off, get an adjustable spanner and put it around the disc, adjust it so that the jaws of the spanner are lightly touching the front and rear face of the disc. Doing your best to keep the spanner static, spin the disc, if it catches, then there's a problem. Do it a few times to make sure that it's not you moving the spanner which is causing the sticking, maybe get a mate to help.

It's a very crude method, but I've used it a couple of times and it's worked.

[adood84]

just a small question , I have this problem , but could somebody expline disk wraping?

[444bhp Ray]

Disc wraping is basicly when the dics are used hard they will get hot and as they get hot the disc will go out of shape,in other words the disc is no longer flat and is catching on the pads. Most the time its because the disc is not up to the job. [read hope this bit of info helps,if iv'e got it right if not oh shit. :p :p

[lee330sport]

May be a worn ball joint giving that 'loose' feeling?

[InvIs Inc]

just a small question , I have this problem , but could somebody expline disk wraping?

like ray says it means ur disc isnt level anymore it can be caused by 1 warping that some ppl say is impossible or cracked disc or even built up brake dust on the disk.

when i posted i was waiting for the no such thing as warping post lol

i had this arguement with a friend he was like ive been in racing years and ive never had a warped disc yadda yadda then 1 day he suffered the judder on his subaru took off his brake which had only done 200miles non track and couldnt find a crack or any build up lol :D what a brass neck he had that day lol but subaru gave him brand new replacement brakes which was nice.

anyways rant over.

hope u dont shell out much mate :)

[MistaSmiff]

WTF is disc Wraping ..LOL

[benny boy]

could also be a bit of crap that has built up behind the disc so the disc is not sittling flat against the hub :D

[InvIs Inc]

i just said that and i just told u lot doofus!! lol [bang

[lee330sport]

Alot of discs dont actually line up perfectly with the Hub, this gives the feeling of a warped disc. My stoptech's do it. Most 'good' motorsport shops can align them properly.

[RDG 40]

thanks guys i was edging towards warping but wanted to check now i can tell them what i think it is and sort it, Lee il get them to check ball joints while there there cheers guys much appreciated again

[rob_c]

could it be the bushes? I had the same loose feeling in mine and thats what it was, its fine now I had them replaced.

[peppernick]

It's more likely to be front control arms rear bushes than discs warping. It take a lot to ward a brake disc, almost overheating it and letting it cool down very quickly (mostly on track use).

[BigFas]

Surely if it were the bushes, the front end would be loose ALL the time, driving on straights, cornering, going over bumps etc. He mentions it's only on braking that the issues occur

[peppernick]

Surely if it were the bushes, the front end would be loose ALL the time, driving on straights, cornering, going over bumps etc. He mentions it's only on braking that the issues occur
The judder happens when you brake as the forward motion of the car and the grip from the tyres pushes the front wishbone backwards and forces the wishbone ends into the hangers. If there is play, the wishbone will be move about and hence the judder. Straightline driving puts very little strain on the wishbone joints and they hardly move. You do get the vague feeling over bumps too.

[Matt H330]

I took my car to BMW who said it was the bushes straight away. I had them replaced and it was still the same. BMW will always say it is the bushes. My disks were warped and now I have replaced them I have no problems. Warping occurs due to heat build up and rappid cooling so if you have warped disks look at getting some drilled ones next, as this is 'supposed' to help with cooling.

[peppernick]

Brake disc warping.....fact or excuse?

Good read here (http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm)

[RDG 40]

sounds more what nick is saying over bumps it feels really wavy and not right.

[BigFas]

If it does turn out to be bushes, probably a good opportunity to upgrade to powerflex ones. Roy stocks these and are on special offer to EvoTechnik members

[InvIs Inc]

It's more likely to be front control arms rear bushes than discs warping. It take a lot to ward a brake disc, almost overheating it and letting it cool down very quickly (mostly on track use).


lol not every1 cruises about at 30 mph in london nick.. :D

yeah i knew some1 would say something about warped discs being a myth....but if the disc isnt cracked and hasnt got shit on it and is also perfectly lined up and still judders until the discs have been replaced what could it be.

who knows... only smarties have the answer!

http://british-accents.com/products/p-sweets/smarties.jpg

[adood84]

whats the diffrence between the power flex bushes and the BMW bushes
?

[BigFas]

the powerflex bushes are made from polyurethane. I "think" the BMW ones are normal rubber (someone correct me if I'm wrong), Polyurethane one's don't degrade over time, last longer etc.

[RDG 40]

yea basically they are made from a less abrasive material which in time eliminates the play you get in joints, they make the car fell new pretty much for the life you will have the car so are a good investment.

[peppernick]

The Powerflex bushes are also solid. Ie. it fills the entire wishbone hanger housing. The OEM BM one is a rubber grommet and doesn't fill the housing; hence, wobbles more even when new.

[adood84]

how mush do they usually cost?

[BigFas]

www.ca-automotive.co.uk for guideline pricing, then contact Roy (550nm) for the EvoTechnik version ;)

[InvIs Inc]

yeah i agree RDG 40 defo good investment 1 of many of the small things i'm planing 2 upgrade..

RDG 40 do u do much country driving? when im out for a serious drive its pretty much like a track day.. flying up 110 mph braking hard for a 30mph bend back up to 80 brakes 20 up again 100 u get the idea after about an hour of that i think the brakes might suffer from "warping"

[RDG 40]

all my driving is country driving! hence i go through brakes lol

[InvIs Inc]

yeah i do loads of country driving 2 do u push it hard?

[adood84]

My driving is mostly high way driving ( in the summer its really hot and I haven't noticed this until after my pads were changed ) sometimes going to 100 MPH then slowing down due to traffic to 60 MPH then back again, and I don't feel the steering being loose , I've got this Jedder after a couple of hard brakes when the pads were changed the dealer said there was only little left on the disk(as they were doing the service for free on the 5 year Maintenance package they didn't recommend changing the disks)