2000 BMW 318i front wheel

Tiny
GLENNCO
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  • 2000 BMW 318I
  • 1.9L
  • 4 CYL
  • RWD
  • MANUAL
  • 113,000 MILES
Hi, could you explain why my n/s/f wheel is sticking out more than drivers side? It has a new wishbone and bushes, but cannot drive it as will not steer correctly. It has been suggested that it may be the suspension strut or possibly tierod, when steering wheel is turned both wheels move together, just cant understand the problem at all.
Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 AT 11:18 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
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What is "n/s/f"? How is it sticking out? Is the wheel turned left or right, tipped in or out on top, or is the whole thing pushed out too far from the center of the car? I assume you had the car aligned after suspension parts were replaced, right?
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Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 AT 4:30 PM
Tiny
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Hi it is front passenger wheel, after changing wishbone and rear bush the wheel still sticks out, not towing in or out just pointing to kerbside, steering rack turns both wheels but left side not turning as far as drivers side, so cannot be driven as it drags passenger side wheel.
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Thursday, January 16th, 2014 AT 1:33 AM
Tiny
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You said it's not toed-out but it's steering to the right toward the curb? One of us is confused, and right now that's me. "Toe" is the direction the wheels are steering, and when they're straight ahead, they're supposed to be parallel to each other. That IS going to change whenever you replace a steering or suspension part because no two parts are ever exactly the same. When you put the steering wheel straight, if the left wheel is also straight and the right one is not, you need to adjust the tie rod ends for the right wheel to get that one close enough so you can drive the car to an alignment shop. Expect the steering wheel to be off-center when you drive it. The alignment will take care of that.
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Thursday, January 16th, 2014 AT 1:40 AM
Tiny
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Could it be the suspension strut at all? Drivers wheel is straight as is steering wheel, other wheel just pointing more to kerb. It is right hand drive.
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Thursday, January 16th, 2014 AT 2:11 AM
Tiny
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Again, we have to be sure we're talking about the same thing. I'm having a hard time with "pointing" because I can't see the wheel. If the wheel is turned to the right, similar to when you turn the steering wheel, that is an alignment issue related to the parts you replaced. "Toe" needs to be adjusted. If you mean the wheel is leaning out on top, as viewed from in front or in back of the car, that is also an alignment issue related to those parts, and is called "camber". Camber is adjustable on some cars at the bottom of the strut, but not on yours. There is a different method of setting camber.

There are three different parts that people will call a "wishbone". One is used to connect the bottom of the strut to the lower control arm. The half shaft goes through the middle of it. Some cars use an upper control arm to hold the wheel straight up and down even though they use struts, and some cars use only the struts to hold the wheels. That is often referred to as a "wishbone". I think what you're referring to is the lower control arm.

Understand that there will always be two pivot points the wheel steers on. For your car that's the lower ball joint and the upper strut mount. When you move either one of those in or out when a part is replaced, the spindle moves too, and the steering linkage is connected to that spindle. If the ball joint moves out, and the tie rod end is not adjusted to match that, it is going to make that wheel turn left or right. That's to be expected and is why every car has to be realigned when any suspension parts are replaced.

If I'm not doing a good job of explaining this, or if I'm not understanding something you're saying, try to post a couple of photos showing the wheel when the steering wheel is straight.
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Thursday, January 16th, 2014 AT 3:39 AM

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