liyi_92 37 Report post Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) I took my car into Autotech in Christchurch for service a week ago and i also asked them to do an alignment for my wheels. They said they couldn't do it because my car was too low? My wheels look slightly cambered (front only) and are lowerd on Bilstein suspension. Anyone else had this problem before? I'm wearing the inside of my front tyres MUCH faster than the other ones Edited May 23, 2012 by andy_e39 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted May 23, 2012 I think it depends on the places gear. your car might be too low to get up onto their ramps or lift. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thorburn 121 Report post Posted May 23, 2012 you'll need to get some camber adjustable strut tops or some eccentric bushings to correct the camber. Or raise it up. There are new laws coming in (as seen in Westies build thread) about the max camber you can have. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swordfish 30 Report post Posted May 23, 2012 So what is the max camber you can have??? I hope it is not uder 2 degrees of negative camber.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liyi_92 37 Report post Posted May 23, 2012 I dont even know if my car is cambered... According to this site, my car is sitting a bit lower on the LF (The same and only wheel that didn't pass WOF as inside is too worn out) http://www.bmwdiy.info/suspension-survey/index.html Car was owned by a dealer as his private car and he said lowering with Bilsteins gives it a bit of camber? (or something along those lines) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BreakMyWindow 1874 Report post Posted May 23, 2012 For most cars, the suspension geometry is designed to induce negative camber as the suspension is compressed. So a lowered car will appear to have negative camber as it's suspension is compressed from it's factory intended ride height. Your problem could be a 'mushroomed' strut tower. Where the strut tower has been bent upwards from forces on the stiffened and lowered front suspension. See this link for more details : http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=592819 The threads and nuts which connect the top of the front struts (guide supports) to the strut tower are bent outwards. This is what I bet will be the cause of your tire failing it's wof on inner tire wear. I have the same issue in my e39. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huff3r 347 Report post Posted May 23, 2012 Before you guess what could or couldn't be the problem, find somewhere who WILL do a wheel alignment on it, so you know what your dealing with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 So what is the max camber you can have??? I hope it is not uder 2 degrees of negative camber.... Well under. You'll be allowed 1.6 max unless you have an authority card. OP, do what huff3r suggests. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liyi_92 37 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 the problem is I can't find any atm... firestone just recommended doing tyre rotations regularly (switching rear tyres to front, etc) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swordfish 30 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 Try High Tech wheel alignment specialists. 14 Maldon Street Sydenham. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liyi_92 37 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 Try High Tech wheel alignment specialists. 14 Maldon Street Sydenham. cheers, will give them a go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jom 98 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 Well under. You'll be allowed 1.6 max unless you have an authority card. OP, do what huff3r suggests. According to my last alignment, the max figure for an E36 rear camber is +2°15". how can an arbitrary figure of 1.6 (what?) be set by NZTA? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 Should have been a bit more clearerer... The new rule is max factory allowable camber +/- .5 degrees. The 1.6 is the max allowable under the rule for the front of E36/46. Factory allowance is 1.1 degrees, +.5 = 1.6 degrees. Yeah, it's a shithouse rule. Blame the wankers who try to fit wheels under their guards with shitloads of camber. As usual the few ruin it for the many. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 Thats not right either. E36 front. Optimum .5 + tolerance .5 = 1 + .5 allowance = 1.5 (1.30') max. E46 front. Piss all (as in, cant be arsed looking for specs, but might be 43' +/- 20' + 30'. M3 lots more). Stupid f**king rule mumble f**k. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kwhelan 241 Report post Posted May 24, 2012 I took my car into Autotech in Christchurch for service a week ago and i also asked them to do an alignment for my wheels. They said they couldn't do it because my car was too low? My wheels look slightly cambered (front only) and are lowerd on Bilstein suspension. Anyone else had this problem before? I'm wearing the inside of my front tyres MUCH faster than the other ones mine was lowered too and doing the same too tyres,especially one rear,John Bates did alignment no problems and it was excessive toe in that was causing the inside wear Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e38king 1 Report post Posted May 25, 2012 Excessive toe in usually causes scrubbing on the outside Toe out usually cause inside shoulder wear. Excessive negative camber is only needed if you need to run high static to get some dynamic camber , increasing caster means you can get good dynamic negative camber with a lot less static . High static belongs in the 80's with manual steering and low caster . Later RWD cars run more caster And in layman's terms.............. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted May 25, 2012 And in layman's terms..............get an alignment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e38king 1 Report post Posted May 26, 2012 get an alignment thanks for your post but it is pretty irrelevant. I was trying to get Ron to explain his post in less technical terms. I can understand the first two sentences but the 3rd and main one loses me. It wasn't a smart ass comment, I really do want to understand what he is saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huff3r 347 Report post Posted May 26, 2012 Excessive toe in usually causes scrubbing on the outside Toe out usually cause inside shoulder wear. Excessive negative camber is only needed if you need to run high static to get some dynamic camber , increasing caster means you can get good dynamic negative camber with a lot less static . High static belongs in the 80's with manual steering and low caster . Later RWD cars run more caster For e38king's sake: Static = Static Camber, i.e camber as the car sits still at it's current ride height. Dynamic Camber = Camber as the suspension comes under load, generally is designed to increase. Caster = Measurement of the angle the suspension moves through an a back - forth sense, controls camber during cornering. More caster = more camber under cornering and suspension loads. Caster also makes the car tend to stay straight, making it difficult to steer, but power-steering generally overcomes this pretty easy. Thats as far as I know it, I could be wrong but hoopefully not by much!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted May 26, 2012 thanks for your post but it is pretty irrelevant. I was trying to get Ron to explain his post in less technical terms. I can understand the first two sentences but the 3rd and main one loses me. It wasn't a smart ass comment, I really do want to understand what he is saying i know...i am sorry my attempt at a little humour did not hit the spot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swordfish 30 Report post Posted May 27, 2012 Awesome post!!! Thank you very much for explaining this! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
e38king 1 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Awesome post!!! Thank you very much for explaining this! exactly what he said Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neal 545 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Video to help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liyi_92 37 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Video to help good and informational video there. thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
