[Help] Low speed steering pull + brake squealing

[Nothsa 0]

Hi guys I'm Nothsa, a newbie to Bimmer.

I'm having a 2006 M Sport 320i, it's my first BMW so im not too sure if what catches my attention is normal or im just too sensitive on the new car...

the car is driving all good on normal driving speed, even on high speed it feels perfect. however, while driving on low speed i've noticed some issues:

- while driving on low speed (say 20~30 km/h), occasionally the steering pulls and car darts to one side or another especially whilst driving on uneven surface (ps. tried on flat road this morning and it happened once as well so...)

- while driving on low speed (Same 20~30 km/h) and apply the brake lightly there's a squeaky sounds (quite loud to be exact, makes me feel like an idiot because i scared the pedestrians all the time) coming from my right front brake, it only happens when the engine/brakes gets warm to working temperature.

I've taken my car to the dealer workshop just yesterday and it took half day for them to check the car, here's what they've told me:

1. the front rotors and all brake pads are actually new, so they machine the rear brake rotors and skim the rear discs. They didn't hear the squeal nor could they reproduce the sound so they think everything is fine.

2. for the pulling they told me as the m sport's having relatively bigger rims (18"), tyres wider and of low profile, the steering would act more sensitive then "normal" cars, that's why i can feel the car "pulling" to one side or another.

for those comments:

1. on my way back home yesterday the squealing noise disappeared, but it was slowly getting back, today (just 1 day after i collected the car back from them) the squeaky noise's back and sounds like there's a pig in my car being slaughtered when i pedal the brake.

2. that "pulling" feel happens not only on bumpy/uneven roads, and i believe there's nothing to do with the road crown as today i test drive it on a relatively flat road and it did happen again.

What i've done so far:

1. I test drive the car in different weather conditions and times and im pretty certain that i could successfully reproduce the sound myself as it happens almost everytime i brake from low speed.

2. I've taken more than quite a few of video clips of the aforesaid symptoms to show the tech if he still can't get it.

3. Did a bit of research myself online with some suggestions to show to the tech.

I've just had this car for about 2~3 weeks and now everyone turn their head to me while im trying to park but not in anyway i'd like it to be LoL, bought a BMW but now it sounds like a 15year old truck/school bus.....sigh....just wondering if any of you guys know what's the possible cause and if you have encountered such problems before, thank you very much (bow)

Edited April 20, 2013 by Nothsa

[sp8s 1]

Steering pull is prob wheel alignment. Steering will do that with a lot of toe out.

Brake squeal could be the pads wearing in, stone in there somewhere. pad material/type, brake dust ........

[Nothsa 0]

Steering pull is prob wheel alignment. Steering will do that with a lot of toe out.

Brake squeal could be the pads wearing in, stone in there somewhere. pad material/type, brake dust ........

Thanks sp8s for your reply.

humm.. doesn't the car constantly get the "pull" at all time if that problem is due to wrong/incorrect wheel alignment?

when i went collect my car from the tech they told me that all four pads are still brand new and they've just cleaned the brake system for me...hummmm.....will get my mechanic to check if that's my pad material causing this.

[allan 295]

Have read other threads about people having brake problems like yours and they found it to be the anti rattle springs not doing it's job did they check them and use the correct lub when they worked on the car just a thought. As for the steering get a wheel alignment done by a company that know what they are doing and go from their as the steering geometry on modern cars is a balancing act plus a few unknown factors thrown in. Other's with more knowledge might chip in on this one. Best of luck and let us know what the out come is thanks.