BMW E36 control arms, ball joints and steering play
E36 wanders above 80 km/h, what is wrong?
The most common cause is worn front bushings on the rear control arm. A worn rear subframe bushing and poor rear shock absorbers can also cause wandering. After replacing the bushings, the wheel alignment must be adjusted.
E36 how do I check the control arm ball joints and bushings?
Inspect the rubber with a torch for cracks, since rubber softens with age. The vulcanised rubber in the ball joint also gives way over time: with a pry bar you can see how much the ball moves relative to the control arm. An alternative is the Meyle HD joint, which has no vulcanised rubber.
E36 grinding and shaking when braking, could the control arms be the cause?
Yes. Play in the outer ball joint of the lower control arm and worn rear bushings can cause grinding and shaking when braking. Replace the rear bushings first and then check the ball joint.
E36 how do I detect play in the inner tie rod end?
The car is on the ground. A second person turns the steering wheel while you squeeze by hand around the rubber boot of the inner tie rod end. The play can be felt in the joint. The steering rack is usually not the cause, but the inner tie rod joints are.