Suspension/Steering ~HelP~

Ok, so i recently changed my FCAB and immediately got an alignment the next day. However i am still noticing not 100% ride quality and the steering wheel is still slanted to the left when going strait. Thinking about taking it back there cause they didn't tell me that anything that needed replacing(last time i take it there) so i assumed everything was fine. but it really bugs me when my steering isnt dead strait and hinders the ride performance as well

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Forgot to add. when i apply brakes i hear a click noise in the front too! or when i reverse i can hear it in the rear

Thanks ahead of time!

You would need to be more specific about what "not 100% ride quality" means for anybody to help you there.

As for the steering slanting towards the right, are you sure it's not just the crown in the road? If the road tilts to either side, your car is going to want to turn to that direction.

Did the car always steer to the right or did it start happening sometime during your ownership? If you hit a hard enough pothole or slide into a curb or anything, it is very easy to have a part of the front suspension bend just a little bit, causing the pull to the right. If you go to a really good mechanic that specialized in BMWs, they would be able to figure out what was tweaked.

ride quality such as loose steering, road noise, bumpy, etc.

steering sways a bit, it could be a tweak in the steering because it wasn't always like that. and i did hit a curb before

But if they cant figure it out i will try somewhere else, though i am tight in $...

Originally Posted by JP-330Ci

ride quality such as loose steering, road noise, bumpy, etc.

steering sways a bit, it could be a tweak in the steering because it wasn't always like that. and i did hit a curb before

But if they cant figure it out i will try somewhere else, though i am tight in $...

That could be a problem...

Maybe do some research on the tie rods, as they can get worn out over time, as well as they are designed to bend in an accident. Also, it could be a bent kingpin/steering knuckle, or both.

The best advice I can give you if you are tight on cash, is to do a lot of research, get a lot of opinions, or even a few different inspections from trained mechanics. Replacing parts that don't need to be replaced is usually a pretty big waste of money.

thanks i agree, not in the mood to waste money.

steering wheel also rattles a bit when accelerating onto a freeway

Originally Posted by JP-330Ci

thanks i agree, not in the mood to waste money.

steering wheel also rattles a bit when accelerating onto a freeway

Did you ever get the slanted steering fixed? mines slanted to the left at all times. It's pretty annoying.

Steering wheel not centered aligned could be the shops fault. Most places center the wheel automatically but others you actually need to ask for wheel centered. Ride noise and shaking could be many things. When I had a bad FCA, I would hear a "clicking" sound when backing in my driveway.

Addressing the "ride quality" issue; something else that you need to keep in mind when replacing FCAB's is that if your previous FCAB's were worn it will dampen the feel of the suspension and any other proglems that exist. New FCAB's may tend to amplify other issues because now there's no problem with the FCAB's anymore and that part of the suspension is tightened up.

As to steering wheel not centered, when the FCAB's are replaced your alignment, as you know, will be out of whack. If they realign the steering but, as the previous poster indicated, do not center the steering wheel then that is IMO the fault of the person doing the alignment. I would take it back in and tell them that the steering wheel isn't centered anymore, and it used to be prior to their alignment job.

If it's now pulling to one side and it's not the crown of the road causing it then you need to get it back to the company that did the alignment and let them know that the car is now pulling to one side where it didn't before. From my experience it's usually a toe-in adjustment at the outer limit and can be adjusted to eliminate this.