E46 M3 BAD tramlining. Need help.

[thetypicalm3guy]

As luck would have it, I am in San Diego. and I can either pull wheels off my M3 or 535d or 335d to test on your car.

Much appreciated! I PMd you.

[thetypicalm3guy]

At each rear hub there are 2 inner bushings (one for the upper lteral link that supports the spring and one for the lower lateral link that is the camber arm.)
There are two bearings on the outside(the hub) that the two links connect to.( pt # 33326775551)
The outer bearings wear and cause tracking and handling instability at the rear end.
The rear end will wander and be prone to follow surface camber, as well as unsettling toe change when the car is launched out of a corner (feels like the outside tire lost grip momentarily).
If they are worn, they will affect the static toe on the alignment rack.
The tech will reset the toe to spec, but the sloppy bearings will absorb the adjustment and the alignment will not be effective.

is there a way to test if these bushings are bad? If i dont find any slop in the rear wheels does that mean they are good?

[FBloggs]

is there a way to test if these bushings are bad? If i dont find any slop in the rear wheels does that mean they are good?

I bought mine w/o pushing it during the test drive as the owner was frail.
On the drive home the engine was a peach but the chassis wandered like a puppy on a leash.
I replaced the front suspension and the RTABs.
I switched to Bilstein B12 kit but hated the Bilsteins so switched to Koni sport.
It still did not track resolutely and still was wayward in the rear despite the new RTABs.
so I disconnected the rear links and found the soft, easily manipulated camber arm bearings.
Changed 'em which stabilised the rear tracking.

[Thoglan]

Not that it couldn't be the case, but rear steer is quite a different feeling to tramlining which is almost always something on the front axle.

[FBloggs]

Not that it couldn't be the case, but rear steer is quite a different feeling to tramlining which is almost always something on the front axle.

This reminds me about a case of tramlining and a vicious chassis complaint on a different forum.
After the owner had replaced various suspension bits, it was eventually discovered that a tech had used e46 vanilla tie/track rods instead of the correct e46 M3 parts.
perhaps any receipts for suspension pieces could be checked for correct parts?

Have the track rods been replaced?

[thetypicalm3guy]

This reminds me about a case of tramlining and a vicious chassis complaint on a different forum.
After the owner had replaced various suspension bits, it was eventually discovered that a tech had used e46 vanilla tie/track rods instead of the correct e46 M3 parts.
perhaps any receipts for suspension pieces could be checked for correct parts?

Have the track rods been replaced?

Tie rods were OE lemforder from FCP euro. Only 100 miles on them

[thetypicalm3guy]

Guys…may have stumbled on something but still too early to tell. I noticed that my front rotors are “directional” and i installed them incorrectly (reveresed the airflow). Just finished swapping the rotors and went for a very hard drive with no issues yet but going to go o a couple more to verify. It is possible that there was air buildup potentially inappropriately engaging the brakepads asymetrically which could cause the vehicle to pull in a direction

[thetypicalm3guy]

Guys…may have stumbled on something but still too early to tell. I noticed that my front rotors are “directional” and i installed them incorrectly (reveresed the airflow). Just finished swapping the rotors and went for a very hard drive with no issues yet but going to go o a couple more to verify. It is possible that there was air buildup potentially inappropriately engaging the brakepads asymetrically which could cause the vehicle to pull in a direction

Scratch that. Still drives like shit. Wobbling at 85mph and up as well. Really think its tires at this point

[lvm3sm46]

Ill be the first to ask, since the rotors were on backwards could it be possible the tires are running the wrong direction also?

[jet_dogg]

After all this it's going to be the tires.

[thetypicalm3guy]

Ill be the first to ask, since the rotors were on backwards could it be possible the tires are running the wrong direction also?

Checked that too but no they are correct. Going to upload pics of my setup. Just need to justify $1.5k for tires

[slavik1988]

From recent experience on a ZHP...

I had lemforder complete tie rod assemblies for a few thousand miles and the inner ball joint sockets failed on both sides. The left one was worse than the right. I had the same feel as you are explaining. Dead on center and tram lining on the highway. When I put it on a lift, I opened up the boot and saw them play. Put on a new set and all was fixed. Worth a look on the inside, even if they are new.

[thetypicalm3guy]

From recent experience on a ZHP...

I had lemforder complete tie rod assemblies for a few thousand miles and the inner ball joint sockets failed on both sides. The left one was worse than the right. I had the same feel as you are explaining. Dead on center and tram lining on the highway. When I put it on a lift, I opened up the boot and saw them play. Put on a new set and all was fixed. Worth a look on the inside, even if they are new.

What do you mean by the sockets "failed"? You mean the threaded end of the tie-rod thats covered by the boot?

[FBloggs]

I always replace the tie rods as complete units.
There is an inner ball joint at the rack for the inner tie rod, and a ball joint at the hub for the outer joint..
test 1.
jack up the front of the car and rest on jack stands.
pull the wheels and offer up the floor jack to the tie rod ball joint. Leave a small gap for a pry bar.
lever up against the ball joint.
If worn or loose you'll see up/down play independent of the knuckle.
test 2.
pull out/in on the inner tie rod to find looseness in the ball joint.

[slavik1988]

What do you mean by the sockets "failed"? You mean the threaded end of the tie-rod thats covered by the boot?

Not the threaded part fails, but once you remove the boot the threaded part is shaped as a cup and the rod itself has a ball. That is the part that had play on mine, not the end link itself.