Front Suspension Arms

[yg54sg]

I am just about to remove the power flex rear RTAB bushes I fitted back in 2012 , I am after some more comfort take some of the shock out of the ride when hitting potholes. I may put them back if there is hardly any difference but will be interesting to see. Those and the Meyle HD have been trouble free for several years, but there must be a tradeoff with the power flex. I found the power flex made it harder to stay in a straight line at high speed but that may have just highlighted a tracking issue.

[Jakg]

I am just about to remove the power flex rear RTAB bushes I fitted back in 2012 , I am after some more comfort take some of the shock out of the ride when hitting potholes. I may put them back if there is hardly any difference but will be interesting to see. Those and the Meyle HD have been trouble free for several years, but there must be a tradeoff with the power flex. I found the power flex made it harder to stay in a straight line at high speed but that may have just highlighted a tracking issue.

Polyurethane bushes tighten everything up in my experience, but that exacerbates any existing issues.
My Z4 drove a little worse after fitting them - it tightened it up, but that exacerbated the tramlining - mostly because it had runflats and I hadn't adjusted the steering which was the root cause of the problem.
That's still an endorsement, though.

[skmattwell]

Have bitten the bullet and ordered the meyle hd ones. Will be so happy when my zed doesn't shimmy it's way down the M1!

[skmattwell]

Quick update... had the front control arms replaced and 4 wheel alignment and it made no difference. The car still jerkily pulls to the left and right at will?

Trying to think of what else it could be, tracking rods? Tyres? Steering column?
Any suggestions welcome!

[Jembo]

Took me ages to sort my old 3.0 & this was my list... hope it helps

1. Non RFT (9/10), preferably michelins or other premium tyres
2. Correct tyre pressures 33F/36R (8/10)
3. Tighten Steering collar (this seems to be the major fix)
4. New poly lollipops (8/10)
5. New front & rear drop links (7/10)
6. New tie rod ends (7/10)
7. New Bilstein B6 shocks (10/10)
8. New rear top mounts (3/10)
9. New ARB bushes (1/10)
10. Check no broken rear spring(s)
11. Poly RTAB/RTAL’s (7/10)
12. Proper alignment with tweaks (7/10)

[yg54sg]

What wheels are you running? Sounds like tramlining , could be steering track rod ends but the alignment shop should have picked up on that. On my summer 108 18" the car will pull more left and right depending on ruts in the road. On my 17" winters the drive is much nicer with less tramlining due to the width of tyre being less I believe.

I am hoping to better the steering feel even more after I complete this hydraulic steering conversion. All parts have arrived , just need the time now!

[skmattwell]

Thanks Jembo, that's a really helpful list (I'm up to number 5). Was there one thing that fixed it for you or a combination of all?

I'm running 18" Non RF tyres. Think they are fairly budget but should still be suitable for the car?

[Zulu4]

What wheels are you running? Sounds like tramlining , could be steering track rod ends but the alignment shop should have picked up on that. On my summer 108 18" the car will pull more left and right depending on ruts in the road. On my 17" winters the drive is much nicer with less tramlining due to the width of tyre being less I believe.

I am hoping to better the steering feel even more after I complete this hydraulic steering conversion. All parts have arrived , just need the time now!

Agree.
I found out a long time ago that the lower profile the tyre, the more tramlining. On any car.

[grumps]

I fitted Meyle control arms, front drop links and front ARB bushes as well as new rear springs over the winter.
That has cured the tramlining so far...
I'm running on 18" rims with 225/40 front and 255/35 rear tyres.