[j.amrol]

I've got a 1986 325es which happens to be my 7th car, but it is also my first car with without stage 3 suspension. While I was changing my control arm a week or so ago I broke off the already rusted sway bar shackles (probably using the sway bar for leverage) but oh well they needed to be replaced anyway. Driving without the sway bar connected to anything other than the control arms sent me veering at even the most minute bump above 65mph. After picking up the new shackles, installing them along with a custom short shifter I go for a test drive.. 65 good, 75 good, but at 80-85 if I hit a bump it gives me a little wiggle then straightens itself out. If I'm going 30-35 and hit a gnarly bump it does the same thing. The steering wheel moves with it too. When I go above 80 it feels like I'm driving an old school Cadillac.

What do you think is up? I know the shock mounts in the rear are crazily worn. I can hear it. I believe the wheel bearings need to be done too, or the differential fluid needs a change. I can hear something whirring at slow speeds. I did not change the sway bar links though. Even though you should anytime they're disconnected, but they looked in O.K. shape. It's almost like there is some kind of pre-load on the sway bar. When I hit a bump it's released.

Keep in mind I just bought this car it had a decent impact on the passenger front wheel the inner ball joint was destroyed/ bent, would a very minor bend in the sway bar (minor enough that I wouldn't notice) cause this? Am I just comparing the stock suspension to race springs, shocks/ struts? You wouldn't think a BMW would be this bad.

I haven't checked out the rear as of yet. If it's not horribly below freezing tomorrow I'll check everything back there, but it definitely seems to be coming from the front end. I did not replace the driver side control arm, think maybe the ball joint is gone in that one too? I don't think my steering rack is loose, at least it looks tight.

Any ideas would be helpful so feel free to chime in. I planned on keeping this e30 original for the most part. Other than an "I" cam, exhaust, and after market turbo but if this is was stock suspension is it's gotta go.