Checking front suspension at home

PrometheusIS · 07-07-2017, 06:20 PM

I have an issue with my '11 335is. Both front tires have worn completely out on the inside edge. The passenger tire wore to the point that it lost air. they are the stock runflats. Before I pulled the front wheels off, I did the normal "old school" check trying to push the wheel at 12 and 6 o' clock then at 3 and 9 o' clock. I did not feel any movement at all. I then jacked the car up, pulled the front wheels and did a visual check of everything I could on the front suspension. Nothing looks bent or excessively worn. However, I do not have a calibrated eye to know if any of the control arms are bent or not.

I don't want to spend money on new tires and a wheel alignment just to find out that a control arm or something else is damaged. Is there some way I can verify all the suspension parts are good? Any recommendations on what to look for? Somehow I have a feeling that if anything is bent/damaged, it probably won't be able to be seen visually. That would be my luck.

feuer · 07-08-2017, 02:37 AM

How many miles on the car? If the control arm bushings aren't leaking and/or don't exhibit signs of wear, you likely have a toe issue.

Take a couple 2x4s and 2 measuring tapes and measure total toe...tell us what you find.

cdgatti · 07-09-2017, 10:09 AM

How many miles to wear the tires, could be normal?? Our cars have more than normal negative camber, will cause this. Take it to a reputable shop, have them check the suspension and steering components, if they are fine get new tires and an alignment.

PrometheusIS · 07-10-2017, 02:41 AM

54K on the car, over 10K on the tires but not sure exact mileage. I drive the car a lot. I took a look at the suspension components and nothing looks like it is bent or damaged. I'm going to take another look at the tie rods to see if there is any damage there. I did hit a pretty good size pot hole a few weeks ago. I'll order new tires and get a full alignment and see where things go.

Antetokounmpo · 07-10-2017, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdgatti

Our cars have more than normal negative camber

In comparison to what; a shopping cart..??

Antetokounmpo · 07-10-2017, 12:13 PM

Fronts have pretty normal camber from factory ≈.7°

How does it drive? You'd likely be able to feel if a bushing is shot, the car would follow bumps and grooves and feel unstable.

PrometheusIS · 07-11-2017, 12:18 AM

Yeah, the front does follow bumps and grooves. I have seen that before with a bad alignment as well. All the front bushings look good with no visible damage. I will check the rear as well to make sure everything it tight there. Going to take this one step at a time.

Antetokounmpo · 07-11-2017, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrometheusIS

Yeah, the front does follow bumps and grooves. I have seen that before with a bad alignment as well. All the front bushings look good with no visible damage. I will check the rear as well to make sure everything it tight there. Going to take this one step at a time.

Yeah, toe out will do this too. My car's thrust arm bushings are pretty bad right now and it follows groves pretty bad.

PrometheusIS · 07-14-2017, 02:23 AM

Well, it ended up being a combination of a few things. The front toe was out of spec. The rear alignment was also out of spec. They got the settings back in and now the car feels solid again. All the control arms are in good condition even after hitting some pretty big potholes.

07-07-2017, 06:20 PM	#1
PrometheusIS New Member 6 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2011 335is Join Date: May 2017 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Checking front suspension at home I have an issue with my '11 335is. Both front tires have worn completely out on the inside edge. The passenger tire wore to the point that it lost air. they are the stock runflats. Before I pulled the front wheels off, I did the normal "old school" check trying to push the wheel at 12 and 6 o' clock then at 3 and 9 o' clock. I did not feel any movement at all. I then jacked the car up, pulled the front wheels and did a visual check of everything I could on the front suspension. Nothing looks bent or excessively worn. However, I do not have a calibrated eye to know if any of the control arms are bent or not. I don't want to spend money on new tires and a wheel alignment just to find out that a control arm or something else is damaged. Is there some way I can verify all the suspension parts are good? Any recommendations on what to look for? Somehow I have a feeling that if anything is bent/damaged, it probably won't be able to be seen visually. That would be my luck.
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07-08-2017, 02:37 AM	#2
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	How many miles on the car? If the control arm bushings aren't leaking and/or don't exhibit signs of wear, you likely have a toe issue. Take a couple 2x4s and 2 measuring tapes and measure total toe...tell us what you find.
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07-09-2017, 10:09 AM	#3
cdgatti Colonel 260 Rep 2,547 Posts Drives: e90 328i Join Date: May 2011 Location: KY iTrader: (4)	How many miles to wear the tires, could be normal?? Our cars have more than normal negative camber, will cause this. Take it to a reputable shop, have them check the suspension and steering components, if they are fine get new tires and an alignment. __________________ OEM Black grill and Blackline tails - LCI halogens with Lux V2 coded as DRL - 3M Crystalline - BMS PBX - OEM Euro Airbox with K&N - Hardwired CTEK - Bilstein B6 w/OEM springs and SP perches - Conti DWS06 - HiFi-Helix DSP - JLAudio HD/XD-Morel - CD changer trim - AE optical out
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07-10-2017, 02:41 AM	#4
PrometheusIS New Member 6 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2011 335is Join Date: May 2017 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	54K on the car, over 10K on the tires but not sure exact mileage. I drive the car a lot. I took a look at the suspension components and nothing looks like it is bent or damaged. I'm going to take another look at the tie rods to see if there is any damage there. I did hit a pretty good size pot hole a few weeks ago. I'll order new tires and get a full alignment and see where things go.
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07-10-2017, 12:13 PM	#6
Antetokounmpo Brigadier General 1560 Rep 3,475 Posts Drives: E90 6MT FBO; '18 F150 Platinum Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: WI iTrader: (3) Garage List 2018 Ford F-150 Pla ... [0.00] 2008 BMW 335xi [0.00]	Fronts have pretty normal camber from factory ≈.7° How does it drive? You'd likely be able to feel if a bushing is shot, the car would follow bumps and grooves and feel unstable. __________________ 2008 335xi 6MT \| VRSF Catless DP \| VRSF 7" FMIC \| VRSF CP \| TIAL BOV \| DCI \| MHD 2+ BC Racing BR \| Stoptech 600 \| Firehawk Indy 500 255 Square \| Atric Altimax 225 Sq. 2018 F-150 Platinum 701A \| FX4 \| 3.5 EcoBeast
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07-11-2017, 12:18 AM	#7
PrometheusIS New Member 6 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2011 335is Join Date: May 2017 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Yeah, the front does follow bumps and grooves. I have seen that before with a bad alignment as well. All the front bushings look good with no visible damage. I will check the rear as well to make sure everything it tight there. Going to take this one step at a time.
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07-14-2017, 02:23 AM	#9
PrometheusIS New Member 6 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2011 335is Join Date: May 2017 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Well, it ended up being a combination of a few things. The front toe was out of spec. The rear alignment was also out of spec. They got the settings back in and now the car feels solid again. All the control arms are in good condition even after hitting some pretty big potholes.
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