Bad handling

[Mus Musculus]

I've got a lot of tramliing. First time I got out on a longish journey. and the car felt a little bit, what can I say, loose around the "great" East Anglian roads…
The bushes are new, so could it be down to tyres alone?

 

[t-tony]

Definitely down to the tyres, mainly the front ones. When I collected my Z3 from Penistone and drove back home on the M1 it was awful. After a few weeks I put new tyres on and it transformed the car.

Tony.

 

[DakarZ3_NZ]

Agree with Tony,
From personal experience, a new pair of good quality front tyres should restore the handling issues you describe.

 

[t-tony]

Just to add, if tyres don't make a big improvement you need to get the steering system/suspension checked over for worn joints and tired bushes.

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Definitely a set of tyres will help, changed mine, and matching tyres all round is always good anyway. At the age of these cars a new set of bushes and bits certainly won't be a bad idea, either. And dampers, of course. And then there's brake pipes and hoses. And.........

 

[Mus Musculus]

Definitely a set of tyres will help, changed mine, and matching tyres all round is always good anyway. At the age of these cars a new set of bushes and bits certainly won't be a bad idea, either. And dampers, of course. And then there's brake pipes and hoses. And.........

Yeah, I have looked at the bushes and they seem OK. The last owner got new disks and brake hoses, and sorted the clutch; not sure about the dumpers...

But, the tyres at the moment are Rovelo RPX-988 — never heard of them, and a quick search doesn't paint those tyres as being of any quality. Any recommendations for a good set of 225/45/R17 tyres?

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I've used Avons and Falkens on mine, happy with both, others on here have used all the normal decent quality tyres. It seems to be more a a case of having matching tyres than any specific brand. Having said which, ain't never heard of Rovelos, and I used to be in the trade, many years ago. There's often a reason why things are cheap...........................

 

[Zephyr]

Yeah, I have looked at the bushes and they seem OK. The last owner got new disks and brake hoses, and sorted the clutch; not sure about the dumpers...

But, the tyres at the moment are Rovelo RPX-988 — never heard of them, and a quick search doesn't paint those tyres as being of any quality. Any recommendations for a good set of 225/45/R17 tyres?

I ride on Continental sport contact 5. Really grippy and behave excellent in the b roads. Can not say how they behave in the wet… it rarely rains here.

 

[SV8Predator]

Yeah, I have looked at the bushes and they seem OK.

I'd have a look at the front control arm mounts. The (standard) voids in the bush allow a lot of movement. Solid bushes get rid of this movement.

 

[Oddly Godly]

My zed had cheap Sumitomo tyres when I bought it. Bad tramlining. Replaced with hankooks and virtually no tramlines. They will need replacing soon and I will probably go with Avons as they are often recommended and cheaper. Avons seem to be good value at the moment.

 

[Mus Musculus]

I got a couple of pictures from underneath. Looks quite clean to me, but please chip in…

I got the car to an extra MOT (friend of mine, just in case.

 

[DaveP]

I had no issues with mine as it was on matching Avon’s all round when purchased. On staggered Toyo Proxes now and still cool. It does sit on BC Racing Coilovers too so bit lower to ground and less plush ride.

 

[Woodsta888]

I got a couple of pictures from underneath. Looks quite clean to me, but please chip in…

View attachment 243419View attachment 243421

I got the car to an extra MOT (friend of mine, just in case.

Newer wishbone on the front nearside than the offside? And the offside one doesnt look that central to the bushing at all - maybe indicating the bushing has gone. Either way the one that was changed will be firmer than the old one - could be part of your handling issue? If one side went and was changed - should really change both sides. Could be just the angle of the pic but the bush on the left looks shot to me looking at it's alignment. Clean underneath but the chassis on the same side as the dodgy bush looks like it's been hit and taken off the protection. Only way on these for true condition is get a look at either end of the inner sills, behind the wheel arch liners. The outer sills are cosmetic.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Newer wishbone on the front nearside than the offside? And the offside one doesnt look that central to the bushing at all - maybe indicating the bushing has gone. Either way the one that was changed will be firmer than the old one - could be part of your handling issue? If one side went and was changed - should really change both sides. Could be just the angle of the pic but the bush on the left looks shot to me looking at it's alignment. Clean underneath but the chassis on the same side as the dodgy bush looks like it's been hit and taken off the protection. Only way on these for true condition is get a look at either end of the inner sills, behind the wheel arch liners. The outer sills are cosmetic.

I see what you mean about the chassis, which I didn't notice at the time. But, wishbones and bushes did't look different age wise. I will have to take it up again for another inspection.

However, I am about to fly out of the country, but when I get back in January I think I will just replace the bushes anyway, then the tyres, then...

 

[Mus Musculus]

Newer wishbone on the front nearside than the offside? And the offside one doesnt look that central to the bushing at all - maybe indicating the bushing has gone. Either way the one that was changed will be firmer than the old one - could be part of your handling issue? If one side went and was changed - should really change both sides. Could be just the angle of the pic but the bush on the left looks shot to me looking at it's alignment. Clean underneath but the chassis on the same side as the dodgy bush looks like it's been hit and taken off the protection. Only way on these for true condition is get a look at either end of the inner sills, behind the wheel arch liners. The outer sills are cosmetic.

You are absolutely right.

Got back from Brazil, and there are two issues (one I fixed): the brake calliper (O/S) had seized and the bush on the N/S was actually not correctly centred — M3 I think. Front disks and callipers replaced, doing the bushes as we speak (figuratively).

What annoys me is that it passed the MOT, without any warnings/advisories.

 

[Richard29]

I've got a lot of tramliing. First time I got out on a longish journey. and the car felt a little bit, what can I say, loose around the "great" East Anglian roads…
The bushes are new, so could it be down to tyres alone?

It certainly could be down to tyres, i had exactly same, new front tyres transformed it.
Rears were already new.

 

[t-tony]

When I bought my Z3 on driving it home it was not nice. I put new tyres on it and was like a different car.

Tony.

 

[Woodsta888]

You are absolutely right.

Got back from Brazil, and there are two issues (one I fixed): the brake calliper (O/S) had seized and the bush on the N/S was actually not correctly centred — M3 I think. Front disks and callipers replaced, doing the bushes as we speak (figuratively).

What annoys me is that it passed the MOT, without any warnings/advisories.

Oh! Wasn't just the angle of the photo then! Wouldn't have been obvious if I hadn't have replaced every bush underneath mine. Cheap and relatively easy to replace those front ones. If they are worn then I'd chck all the ball joints on the lower wishbone as they hay have worn for taking up the slack - probably fine.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Yeah, I am replacing all the bushes, might as well do them all to start over. The new front brakes and callipers have already made a good difference. The car is already moving at a quicker pace...

 

[Mike Fishwick]

You do not tell us what size tyres you have - a 225-45 front tyre will transfer loads into the rubber bushes which cause the voids to compress, and generate unwanted steering inputs, even with new tyres. I had tried everything, so everything was on top line, but the problem persisted even with new tyres.

I fitted Powerflex bushes, and the problem disappeared like magic. This is why BMW fitted almost solid rubber bushes on the M Roadster and M3 of the period.

For more info look in the 'Articles' section for my bit on Stiffening a Z3.