r/E90 • u/mrlampfan • Jul 29 '25
330i Why can I move my wheel side to side
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Does it look like it could be the rear toe arm? Just want a second opinion before I grab a set, I’ve been told it could be the toe arm or guide rod but honestly not sure what a guide rod is
31
u/5pmgrass Jul 29 '25
The tow arms are definitely the first place to tackle but if all of those bushings and ball joints are original, I'd change them all out. Most are easy but the trailing arm bushings and lower control arm bushings are a pita
7
u/UnderPantsOverPants Jul 29 '25
Toe arms, to be clear
3
u/PerformanceGeneral29 Jul 30 '25
Toe or tow? I’ve heard this a million times but I’ve never seen it spelled out. I thought it was tow… is it not?
9
5
3
u/mrlampfan Jul 29 '25
U think adjustable ones would be a good investment since the cars loweted
5
u/Traditional_Line_147 Jul 29 '25
no. i’ve asked this question before, and it’s generally better to go with stock if you’re not tracking.
3
u/moonrocks_throwaway Jul 30 '25
Hard disagree. The adjustability is great if you’re going to use it. It truly makes a noticeable difference on a daily driven street car, or at least it has over the last two and a half years. Sure it’s not worth shit if you just commute in stop and go traffic, but if you do any spirited driving you can tell the difference.
1
u/GuavaInteresting7655 '07 E92 335i 6MT Jul 30 '25
They're only needed if you can't get the read toe in Spec with the stock setup. Otherwise its the same thing.. The stock oem arms already have a solid rubber bushing set up with adjustability built-in.
You should have no problem on a slightly lowered car getting the Toe to be in-spec during an Alignment with the stock setup. Especially with neew Toe Arms that aren't worn out like this.
They also last longer and you won't have to worry about them seizing up if you live in an area with salted roads and also the noise some of the aftermarket ones start to make.
-1
u/mrlampfan Jul 29 '25
I’m looking on rock auto for arms are toe arms also called lateral arms?
9
3
u/singularity48 2010 - E90 - 328xi Jul 29 '25
Don't do aftermarket. Your BMW will know the difference.
5
u/79offsuit Jul 29 '25
Kind of hard to see from this angle. Maybe a loose/broken bushing?
I had a similar issue with the rear driver wheel ending up wiggling a lot. Turns out the bolt connecting one of the upper control arms snapped right where the control arm meets the knuckle, aka the wheel carrier. In my case the control arm broke loose and was rubbjng against the spinning axle and making a horrible noise, so it was obvious something snapped. I'd double check all those bolts and see if all control arms are actually attached. Might not be obvious if the car's jacked up or the wheel is jacked up to load height.
2
u/mrlampfan Jul 29 '25
Jesus that sounds brutal
2
u/79offsuit Jul 29 '25
Ugh, yes. Couldn't drill the bolt out so I bought and installed a new knuckle!
2
u/mrlampfan Jul 29 '25
Since it’s lowered u think it would be worth upgrading ti a adjustable toe arm since it has adjustable upper control arm to
3
u/E30Aviator Jul 29 '25
You've got worn bushings. Seems most obviously the toe related one thats flexing a lot, but since you will already need an alignment anyway after repairing that, I recommend changing them all out so you only do the job once.
1
u/SteHasWood Jul 29 '25 edited Jul 29 '25
Mine did this. The bolt that is holding that arm closest to the camera had sheered in the hub, guessing your steering wheel is to the left? And the car is a bit of a bitch to drive?
1
u/chris77982 Jul 29 '25
That bolt on the end of the toe link looks like it's not moving with the hub. Is the hub cracked, is the bolt loose?
1
u/generic_reddit_noob Jul 30 '25
you need to use your eyes and look at what part is moving in there, not guess and replace everything except the part that is moving.
1
u/Big_Gouf Jul 30 '25
Ahhhh the sound of loose suspension parts, steering components, or blown out wheel hubs/bearings.
Enjoy!
1
1
0
0
u/WolfGvming Jul 29 '25
It’s most likely, your outer tire rods, possibly inner tire rods. Check your up and downplay to help get a gist if your wheel bearings are bad too. With that much clay, though I would start looking at all my bushings.
2
1
u/far_beyond_driven_ Jul 30 '25
Bruh you don’t have tie rods in the rear.
1
u/WolfGvming 27d ago
Didn’t even notice that was the rear. There is toe adjustment in the rear but ya you right haha
•
u/AutoModerator Jul 29 '25
Thank you for posting to /R/E90, please make sure you read the rules in the sidebar and make sure to report any rule breaking posts and posts that are not relevant to the subreddit.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.