Replace lower wish bone

[flybobbie]

Saw this
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1773889
Thought would try alternate wish bone.
TRW JTC1426 and TRW JTC1427.

Has a ball joint rather than rubber.
So fitted today, needed to do some home tracking after fitting.
Gave car a quick run, certainly feels different through steering wheel.
Might have a bit more camber, which will do no harm, i see slightly more tyre wear outboard on tread.
I measured the tyre track before and after, increased by several mm's.
Less vague around neutral steering position. I like to see a response as soon as i move the steering wheel.
Before wheel had more of a neutral dead zone, say inch either way or so.
Also it felt like it needed to move more right than left to make the initial steer. (Might just be easier to pull than push).

No matter how careful trying to set tracking, wheel is slightly cocked left, so needs tweaking.

Be interesting tomorrow on country lanes see how it compares as before.
It always just felt hard work steering the car, worst steering i have ever known.

 

[B21]

Yup standard mod to fit E90 M3 parts..tracking will definitely need addressing..

 

[flybobbie]

Well work journey today, what a difference.
Bit of tweaking to get steering wheel centred.

I know the tracking was ok had free check from local garage before i fiddled.
I measured the distance between tyre outers before and after, 10mm difference, so 5mm side increase.
So the camber has increased and can be seen by eye.

I think getting rid of the rubber bush made the steering more positive, doesn't jiggle, just feels more positive..
Previously i think the load was on the rim of the tyre, i can see gradually wear across tyre, more outboard, making it dart on the bumps.
Now i think the rubber contact point has changed towards the middle or inner. Lot more stable.

Best 150 quid i have spent for a while.

 

[B21]

Yes its quite a transformation..as so many mods are!-

 

[flybobbie]

Yes its quite a transformation..as so many mods are!-

Can understand now why you modded so much.
Begin to think car was a parts bin special, thought only Leyland did that.

 

[B21]

Yes its quite a transformation..as so many mods are!-

Can understand now why you modded so much.
Begin to think car was a parts bin special, thought only Leyland did that.

Seems like BMW cost engineered the car to oblivion….when you look at so many parts the effort they went to reduce cost whilst achieving an ‘adequate’ level of performance is amazing..I guess it’s the practice they apply to all cars..

If you look at for example the speakers, the design, use of materials and the use of electronic and software issues to make a cheap n nasty speaker work adequately is quite interesting…

Similarly most of the bushes in all the suspension and steering systems were prioritised for cost and comfort..

The cost issue means that many have not aged well leading to even more sloppy steering n handling..

 

[flybobbie]

Well there seems less road noise now and even convinced the mpg has gone up, saw 36mpg, usually around 30 coming home from work.
Must be quite some drag on the original set up.

 

[B21]

Well there seems less road noise now and even convinced the mpg has gone up, saw 36mpg, usually around 30 coming home from work.
Must be quite some drag on the original set up.

Suspect you are basking in the afterglow… :tumbleweed: :rofl:

 

[flybobbie]

 

[Silverstar]

Interesting how changing something quite small can make a big improvememnt and at very little cost. Where did you get the TRW arms from?

 

[B21]

Interesting how changing something quite small can make a big improvememnt and at very little cost. Where did you get the TRW arms from?

Autodoc does them but quite common on fleabay….danger there is bogus parts..

 

[flybobbie]

Autodoc through LLR.

 

[True-Blue]

Interesting, and almost seems like a no-brainer at the price… how did you get around the headlamp levelling switch?

 

[B21]

Interesting, and almost seems like a no-brainer at the price… how did you get around the headlamp levelling switch?

Saw the ‘knob’ off the old arm and glue with 2 pack epoxy onto new arm in same place..sensor places very little physical load on the ‘knob’ so worked for me on two cars OK..

FWIW..best to replace upper and lower links and fit Meyle HD (note HD) tie rod ends…quality solution that transforms front end feel and steering response..well it does on shagged ones… :tumbleweed:

 

[Silverstar]

Thanks B21 and flybobbie. Just checked autodoc.es and they've listed the price as 134€ each side! Luckily there seems to be some other websites around 80 to 90€.

 

[True-Blue]

Interesting, and almost seems like a no-brainer at the price… how did you get around the headlamp levelling switch?

Saw the ‘knob’ off the old arm and glue with 2 pack epoxy onto new arm in same place..sensor places very little physical load on the ‘knob’ so worked for me on two cars OK..

FWIW..best to replace upper and lower links and fit Meyle HD (note HD) tie rod ends…quality solution that transforms front end feel and steering response..well it does on shagged ones… :tumbleweed:

Thanks Peter, by ‘Knob’ do you mean the raised protrusions that sit either side of the ‘clip on’ bracket? Did you break the bracket trying to remove it? was a bugger of a job clipping it on when I replaced it for the MOT in December :headbang:

 

[tiglon]

Well worth doing, this. When I was hunting the parts one of the arms was out of stock everywhere so had to get it from the US.

Not sure it helps fuel economy or road noise though! :lol:

 

[Silverstar]

FWIW..best to replace upper and lower links and fit Meyle HD (note HD) tie rod ends…quality solution that transforms front end feel and steering response..well it does on shagged ones…

Given the age of most of these cars I would suspect most of them are.

 

[flybobbie]

The leveler bracket has two slots in it, so it wraps around with about 10mm gap.
So i cut a piece of tin plate, push through the slots and folded over.
Wire locking could do the same.

It has only been less than 12 months i replaced these items with new parts, original spec. so not worn.
Don't forget the bearing at top of shocks, one of my cars was worn.

It definitely runs quieter, less tyre noise.
I never fancied a long journey before, was tiresome to drive.
Now i fancy longer journey. Only had car 10 years!

Yes Autodoc has a habit of bouncing prices around.
I see some sites asking £400 for tail lights, madness.

 

[B21]

Interesting, and almost seems like a no-brainer at the price… how did you get around the headlamp levelling switch?

Saw the ‘knob’ off the old arm and glue with 2 pack epoxy onto new arm in same place..sensor places very little physical load on the ‘knob’ so worked for me on two cars OK..

FWIW..best to replace upper and lower links and fit Meyle HD (note HD) tie rod ends…quality solution that transforms front end feel and steering response..well it does on shagged ones… :tumbleweed:

Thanks Peter, by ‘Knob’ do you mean the raised protrusions that sit either side of the ‘clip on’ bracket? Did you break the bracket trying to remove it? was a bugger of a job clipping it on when I replaced it for the MOT in December :headbang:

I didn’t break the bracket but due to the slightly different shape of the new link the old bracket won’t fit back in its correct place on the new bracket..various folks have ‘bodged’ it by various tying the old bracket with the ‘knob’ on it to the link…

I just bit the bullet and used epoxy cause it then looks like the factory did it..not Heath Robinson :rofl: