front end shake????

[eightynine535]

I have already changed:

tie-rods
Thrust Arms
control arms
idle arm
end links
center support on driveshaft and rebalanced it
tranny mounts
wheel bearings

but of late i am getting a slight shimmy at 60MPH and above( haven't been able to get above 80 here in NYC) I used lemforder parts so why am i still getting this all of a sudden? do the wheels need to be rebalanced? was there something i missed?

[E34N]

Do you have after market wheels? Or even e39 OE wheels?

[CWB]

man, same thing going on with me. Ive done all the above + new rotors, pads, tires and balancing, and alignment.

now Ive started to get a slight shake at around 60 braking. Question. Who thinks unevenly aired tires could cause a slight shake? Seams plausible, but strange im still geting the shake at the same speeds as all the above things would cause.

89, have your brake setup checked and see if you need hubcentric rings for your tires. these are two of the most common things. Also, might try to see all the stuff you mentioned is still properly tightened downed,-this, now that i think about it, is what might be causing my shake.

[eightynine535]

I will have everything tightened as you said. right now i have stock 15in. wheels

[Gamite]

if your tires are slightly on the old side, try new tires. I had a similar problem. They were worn out and unbalanced. I thought it was my thrust arms, etc.. at first too.

[530i1995]

I had/have the same problem with the aftermarket wheels i bought they are
e39 ///m kontour replicas from AT Italia and shake like hell when i drive between 45-60 and its hard to believe that It can be caused just from tires and wheels being unbalanced
But it only does it with the kontours and not the stock ones I even used the rings and it helped a little since I can now drive over 40 without the rings I couldnt

[moroza]

You replaced all that and didn't get an alignment/balancing? That sounds like the problem.

[eightynine535]

Ok I found out the problem.

its the Pitman arm. As I have a lot of play in the steering, should i replace the steering box or just adjust it and replace the pitman arm?

btw my steering box has no leaks that I can see.

[E34 HOOLIGAN]

just replace the pitman arm bushing.

[eightynine535]

how? does it need to be pressed in?

[Lax7]

same problem too...but the only difference, i only changed the idle arm, and long tie rod. but turns out still the same. checked bushings, the mechanic said all are ok. eventhough i know non of the bushings have been replaced for at least 8-10 YEARS! but they are still convinced that non of them are a problem. no cracks, etc. the only thing i can notice is there are thumping sounds in the front every time im driving on rough surfaces which has potholes,and all the other rough stuffs. im thinking that something is terribly loose. and i can even feel it when the car is in idle just by turning the steer left and right rapidly. i can feel that something is loose around the steering area.(probably). i might have to check what 89 think it was. any input guys..thx

chris lax

[Lax7]

oh ya i forgot. im driving a 88' 535i now.

[eightynine535]

I ballanced the wheels, and it actually helped some. the shimmy/vibration I was feeling at 60MPH is now almost gone. I guess the tyres needed it anyway.

now my decision is:
should i get a new pitman arm and adjust my box? or
should i buy a used box (~$75) and new pitman arm?