Unpredictable steering.

W

WillNattrass

Member
 Leicestershire
Hi all,
Just posting after experiencing some very disconcerting, unpredictable steering. When driving on a bumpy country lane, the car will steer towards the edge of the road or towards the centre if you hit the white lines. It then feels really stiff when you try to counter steer. I almost feels as though the car is trying to force you off the road into the verge or oncoming traffic.
Its currently runniing on Bridgestone Run flats.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks
Will
 
I had a very similar driving experience with wandering steering - as if it was catching groves in the road, fighting me, etc...
turned out to be a bad control arm (bushing) on the front left wheel.

Jack your car up so why front wheel (wheels) off the ground and try to pivot the wheel
Any play felt could be a bad control arm bushing (or wheel bearing).

keep us all updated.
 
Yes, RFTs are pretty cr*p, especially Bridgestones!

I had an E87 on Pirelli RFTs for over 80K miles before I got a Z4 and it only tram-lined when the tyres started to wear on the edges, which got much worse if the tyre pressures dropped.

I've also had an E91 325i on Pirelli RFTs for the last year and had no tram-lining with that, but I think the fact it has Hydraulic PAS might have also helped - so much more feel!

Assuming you don't enjoy the car being in control, I'd start by swapping to non-RFTs and then look at bushes and bearings.
 
Thanks for the fast replies guys, I am thinking about swapping to non RFT but obviously cost is a major thing. Is there much of a market for used tyres ? The RF are still in pretty good nick tbh, only been on about 6 months according to previous owner
 
OP you do seem to be describing the common occurrance of tramlining which is nearly always down to tyres. Especially where runflats are involved.
 
You’ll shift your run-flat tyres no problem. Just be sensible with the price.
 
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