Handling problem

[cosmosdeathride]

Hi guys,

I just got my car back from the shop and the handling seems significantly worse than when I left it.

Work done was:

1. Replaced rear tires. Went for Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position. On front I have 50% worn Kumhos.

2. Had front end undercarriage plastic replaced - fender liners, radiator cover, pork chops.

3. New rear toe bushings. I took service managers advise this was needed, charged me 300+ parts and labor. I got the old ones back, they dont look that bad to me (couple small cracks in the rubber), although I dont know anything about assessing condition of this part.

4. Topped fluids including power steering fluid.

If anything, I was hoping the handling would be even better, but it's noticably worse. There is too much play in the steering, which makes the handling loose. Even at highway speeds I can wiggle the steering wheel back and forth quite bit without the car doing much. Needless to say when I want to make a quick move the car is way too sloppy.

I already talked to the shop, they are going to take a look next week, but I'm trying to figure this out in case what they tell me doesn't make sense. He was asking about my last alignment, but it doesn't make sense to me that alignment issues would make the steering loose.

Anyone have any ideas??

Thanks,
Kevin

[flyfishvt]

They certainly can make it loose. I'm amazed he changed the Rear Trailing Arm Bushings and didn't do an alignment. At least on the rear wheels. There is no way in hell he got it back exactly like it was. Even if you mark the brackets the new bushings will throw the rear toe off and that will definately cause steering issues. The other items you mentioned do not affect steering in anyway. Well the new tires will but those are on the rear. No real work that could affect steering was done to the front.

[cosmosdeathride]

The rear end being out of alignment can make it feel like the steering has too much play?

[M Quick]

Yes.

You should have had the car alligned from the shop when they changed those bushings. I don't understand how they didn't do that after such replacement and considering it cost you 300, that should be included!?

[paniolo]

Agree ... how could a shop change the RTAB and not do an alignment?!? Plus that is the only thing they touched that could affect handling. Get it aligned and go from there.

[cosmosdeathride]

OK, thanks guys, makes sense. Now I've got to wonder about this shop - supposed to be high quality, they only work on bmws

Follow up dumb question.

Do I need only rear end aligned since this is what was modified, or both front and back, or does this question not even make sense?

Thanks again

[scooper]

you need a 4 wheel alignment. Also the squirrelly feeling is probably due to the lubrication of the new rear tires. Since you haven't done the alignment yet get some rtab limiters and get the shop to put those in for you along with an alignment. In my experience even if rubber around the bushing is not cracked the bushing can still be shot. I took the rtabs out of my M and while they had almost no cracks my back end would go lateral on hard upshifts. I'm not even FI'd!

[cosmosdeathride]

hi scooper. sorry what do you mean "lubrication of the new rear tires"? also what do you mean "FI'd"?

Thanks, Kevin

[e36UTK]

hi scooper. sorry what do you mean "lubrication of the new rear tires"? also what do you mean "FI'd"?

Thanks, Kevin

FI = force induction. i.e. turbo/supercharged