whats up with my rear camber

mike3000fl · 03-06-2010, 04:43 PM

rear camber

firestone got it right on the edge of being in spec. but the range that shows as in spec is pretty big and im wondering why they couldnt get it closer to the center of that range.

are they lazy? do they lack the right tools? is it something that just cant be adjusted past a certain point without aftermarket parts?

Kylekuu · 03-06-2010, 07:12 PM

why don't you ask them to put it in the center.

David1 · 03-07-2010, 06:52 PM

depends on if it is a preloaded spec or unloaded spec. The reading will be different for each or wrong depending on what they did.

mike3000fl · 03-07-2010, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David1

depends on if it is a preloaded spec or unloaded spec. The reading will be different for each or wrong depending on what they did.

forgive my ignorance but i dont know what that means. something to do with having a weight in the driver seat? if its that sensitive would a full or empty tank of gas throw it off also? curious

David1 · 03-07-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

forgive my ignorance but i dont know what that means. something to do with having a weight in the driver seat? if its that sensitive would a full or empty tank of gas throw it off also? curious

correct, weights in both front seats and the trunk. BMW's new system no longer requires preloading, but now measure ride height of all 4 corners so the system calculates by height on suspension option. It's very slick. But what is more important is if a shop uses preloaded specs while not loading the car and vicea versa. As far as edge of spec, it depends on what you want and which side of spec, least or most.

mike3000fl · 03-07-2010, 07:32 PM

i see why it pays to do the alignment at bmw. ive been doing mine at firestone, the car has lifetime alignments there. not sure if they loaded it or not but i know the machine had two arms with rapid flashing red led lights and a couple of kinda triangular waffle looking things.

mike3000fl · 03-08-2010, 09:53 AM

so whats the pros and cons of setting up your rear camber at the edge of spec versus in the center?? trying to understand rear camber more

Synergy · 03-08-2010, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

so whats the pros and cons of setting up your rear camber at the edge of spec versus in the center?? trying to understand rear camber more

handling

mike3000fl · 03-08-2010, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synergy

handling

thanks. for some reason i thought it affected my wipers.

yea we know thats the goal but im asking if the spec for it is between x and z. is there better handling right in the center at y, or will it handle better if its closer to x or z.

mycoupe · 03-08-2010, 11:52 AM

the more negative camber you have(the more the tops of the wheels are tipped inward), the better the car will handle in corners...to a point. The middle of spec would put it in a very nice daily driver, tire consuming configuration. Toe is another thing to look into as well. It's how much the fronts of the wheels turn in towards or away from each other, like being pigeon toed or whatever the opposite is. I would always have them set toe at 0 and camber dead nuts in the middle if it were me. Gets you the best tire wear and the car still handles great.

mike3000fl · 03-08-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mycoupe

the more negative camber you have(the more the tops of the wheels are tipped inward), the better the car will handle in corners...to a point. The middle of spec would put it in a very nice daily driver, tire consuming configuration. Toe is another thing to look into as well. It's how much the fronts of the wheels turn in towards or away from each other, like being pigeon toed or whatever the opposite is. I would always have them set toe at 0 and camber dead nuts in the middle if it were me. Gets you the best tire wear and the car still handles great.

thanks. right now i have very little negative camber which aint bad. toe is right on.

Synergy · 03-09-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

thanks. for some reason i thought it affected my wipers.

yea we know thats the goal but im asking if the spec for it is between x and z. is there better handling right in the center at y, or will it handle better if its closer to x or z.

camber doesn't affect your wipers. that's caster

David1 · 03-09-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

thanks. right now i have very little negative camber which aint bad. toe is right on.

Yes it is bad to go to less camber from a performance standpoint. Just for example, this is what I run . The second pic is with BMW's new alignment setup that does not require preloading but ride height measurment at each corner. The first set up is with the car preloaded. As you can see, the alignment method makes a difference on readings especially when the new set up is in degrees and minutes that you have to convert and even then they don't fully match. The BMW system is now way complex, but it custom tailors each alignment to the ride height of the car and I think that's slick especially since I am lowered. The tech and I tailor the alignment for my preferences.

Scotts335 · 03-10-2010, 03:26 AM

is stock camber at zero?

David1 · 03-10-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotts335

is stock camber at zero?

No. You can see the stock ranges above.

03-06-2010, 04:43 PM	#1
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	whats up with my rear camber rear camber firestone got it right on the edge of being in spec. but the range that shows as in spec is pretty big and im wondering why they couldnt get it closer to the center of that range. are they lazy? do they lack the right tools? is it something that just cant be adjusted past a certain point without aftermarket parts?
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03-06-2010, 07:12 PM	#2
Kylekuu Captain 30 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 08 328xi, 84 318i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kenosha, WI iTrader: (0)	why don't you ask them to put it in the center.
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03-07-2010, 06:52 PM	#3
David1 Brigadier General 814 Rep 3,955 Posts Drives: 09 E92 09 X5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (1)	depends on if it is a preloaded spec or unloaded spec. The reading will be different for each or wrong depending on what they did. __________________ 2021 M2 Comp Sunset Orange \|Black with orange Stitching Dakota Leather\|Executive Pkg\|DCT
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03-07-2010, 07:32 PM	#6
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	i see why it pays to do the alignment at bmw. ive been doing mine at firestone, the car has lifetime alignments there. not sure if they loaded it or not but i know the machine had two arms with rapid flashing red led lights and a couple of kinda triangular waffle looking things.
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03-08-2010, 09:53 AM	#7
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	so whats the pros and cons of setting up your rear camber at the edge of spec versus in the center?? trying to understand rear camber more
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03-08-2010, 11:52 AM	#10
mycoupe Banned 55 Rep 1,495 Posts Drives: 07 335i coupe 6spd Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: cincinnati, Ohio iTrader: (5)	the more negative camber you have(the more the tops of the wheels are tipped inward), the better the car will handle in corners...to a point. The middle of spec would put it in a very nice daily driver, tire consuming configuration. Toe is another thing to look into as well. It's how much the fronts of the wheels turn in towards or away from each other, like being pigeon toed or whatever the opposite is. I would always have them set toe at 0 and camber dead nuts in the middle if it were me. Gets you the best tire wear and the car still handles great.
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03-10-2010, 03:26 AM	#14
Scotts335 Private 3 Rep 84 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dallas TX iTrader: (2)	is stock camber at zero?
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