A little bit of shudder when turning
 

While my X is down for repairs, I was thinking about some if it's other behaviors which may need to be addressed. One is a slight shudder I've noticed when making a turn. I want to say it happens on both left and right turns and certainly isn't anything new. I noticed it years ago - but since it was my wife's daily driver and I wasn't driving it often it wasn't at the top of my mind.

Is this a differential lubrication problem or something more nefarious? I recall something similar with my Honda CRV. The fluid in the rear diff (called dual pump fluid) wears out after about 60k miles. Once it was replaced the diff was silky smooth again.

Is this something similar? I bought the car with 73k on it and it has 109k on it now. I've never serviced anything that has to do with the drive train since I've owned it - with the exception of a new stub-axle/CV assembly on the front drivers side.


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Thought I would bump this thread up as I am having a similar issue with my X.

Feels exactly like the OP.

Slight shudder on a low speed turn, like turning out of my driveway, or making a turn from a stop of any kind, there is a slight shudder until the vehicle straightens out or speeds up.

Is this a differential issue? I have read here that many of you have done front and rear differential flushes. Would that fix my issues? Or do you guys have any other ideas of what it could be?

Thanks in advance!

Possibly time to change the XDrive fluid in the transfer case (and then reset the wear adaptations). I have noticed this same thing on the odd occasion and as soon as I can a). find the correct fluid locally and b). get DIS up and running on my laptop, I'll tackle this job.

So I should be looking at flushing the transfer case, instead of the differentials? Or may as well do them at the same time since I don't have any records of it ever being done?

A little bit of shudder when turning
 

If the dif fluid is too viscous the inside wheel will turn faster than it is moving.

Have some body drive around in a circle on pavement with less than ideal friction (sand on cement works well or pour some water on below freezing ground to make an ice patch) so you can watch the inside wheels (back and front)

My old Camaro had super sticky fluid to almost have a solid axle and would skip the inside wheel any time there was a little bit of dirt on the ground.

There is a product to modify the grip of dif fluid if it's too grippy without having to change it all out.


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Mine does this AFTER it uses the xdrive.

Basically I can drive it all day with no effects but when I come up my driveway the last part right before the house has a 30 degree climb and it has to do awd adjustments (best way I can describe it) to handle it. When that has happened I go another 25 feet or so and do a fairly sharp left turn. That turn does what your describing.

Again its only after a tire has slipped some on that hill section. Its like the system has adjusted bias more to the front or something so the system feel tigher front to rear making the tires shudder. Its fine after that. My xdrive gets serious use though with my driveway daily.

The more I think about what I just posted it seems maybe the bias has shifted to the front and isn't shifting back? Seeing as everyone saying they are having the problem has xdrive.

Even with older model nonx drive, the front wheels will "lock" when needed for traction. I have noticed when I come out of a step enough ditch where one wheel comes completely off the ground. The floating wheel spins a little before a big thunk as the diff locks and puts power to the grounded wheel. If it stays locked of course you will get shudder while turning as one wheel is scrubbing the ground. There has to be a balance in the viscous coupling in the diff or one wheel will always spin or you will get shudder.


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I changed my diff fluids at 200,000kms, just because. Used Red Line Synthetic 75W90 GL-5 - as the web page says, this is the "go to" oil for most diff appllications.

https://www.redlineoil.com/75w90-gl-5-gear-oil

The old rear diff fluid looked ok. The old front diff fluid was much darker, due to the heating cycles the front diff experiences, being mounted to the sump.

Access to the front diff is via the reinforcing plate under the engine. I won't mention the "use once" bolts on this plate... :confused:

Changing the diff oils made zero detectable difference to the driving experience.

I wanted to change the XDrive fluid at the same time but I cannot find a source for the fluid locally and I need to get DIS running so I can reset the oil wear adaptations after the change. It's still on my to-do list.

Does this happen in both directions and every time? Do you feel it in the steering wheel or the shifter?