Is there a cure for negative front camber?

[Jand3rson]

I would like to keep the suspension setup that's on my car, at least for a while, but only if there's a way to get rid of the horrible negative camber on the front. You can see that the rear of the car looks great, everything is nice and straight. Is there a way that I can correct the front? Why does it look like that in the first place?

(Sorry, I'm a suspension n00b. And no comments on the ricey wheels...)

[BMW BMXER]

wow. Thats a lot, eibachs?

I will try and snap some pics of mine, cause that looks like a lot.

[Jand3rson]

wow. Thats a lot, eibachs?

I will try and snap some pics of mine, cause that looks like a lot.

Yup, Eibach Pro-Kit and Bilstein Sports.

[Bill 84 318i]

Damn. Something has gotta be broken or bent.

If you have factory diameter springs, you can get Kmac adjustable upper strut mounts (guesstimate 1-1.5 degrees?), IE's street plates (simple design, .5 more positive or 1.25 more negative), or BMW offset crash mounts (which are only good for a 1/2 degree change). I'd take measurements and feel around to compare one side of the car to the other. Is the strut housing bent? Is the wheel closer to the strut on one side than it is on the other?

I dunno if it is because you have so much in the front that it's throwing off my perception, but your rear almost looks like it has positive camber?

I'm about the same height (give or take) as you, but I don't have nearly that much. Have you had it on an alignment rack?

[Jand3rson]

Damn. Something has gotta be broken or bent.

If you have factory diameter springs, you can get Kmac adjustable upper strut mounts (guesstimate 1-1.5 degrees?), IE's street plates (simple design, .5 more positive or 1.25 more negative), or BMW offset crash mounts (which are only good for a 1/2 degree change). I'd take measurements and feel around to compare one side of the car to the other. Is the strut housing bent? Is the wheel closer to the strut on one side than it is on the other?

I dunno if it is because you have so much in the front that it's throwing off my perception, but your rear almost looks like it has positive camber?

I'm about the same height (give or take) as you, but I don't have nearly that much. Have you had it on an alignment rack?

I was thinking that maybe something was broken, but it doesn't seem like it. Both of the front wheels appear to be the same distance from the struts. Could it be that the fronts were just installed wrong or something? Like I said, I know nothing about suspension. I haven't had it aligned, I've only had it for about a month.

I think it's just the angle of that pic, the rears are fine. They have just a tiny bit of negative camber.

[EtaSport]

Plates... I think that is pretty much the only way to combat camber on the front. I was looking at the fixed offset strut bushings from BavAuto, but like bill said, they are only good for about 1/2 a degree. You may want to look into a set of offset control arm bushings or m3 units as well. This will help castor.

being that low with that much -camber, take it to a good shop and get the toe checked out. If yours is anything like mine the front may be toed out which will eat up tires and give you some steering wheel feedback, aka vibration.

[MattM20]

you could have a shop bend the strut or get some of those offset strut bushings like previously mentioned

[nando]

offset M3 bushings will also decrease camber a small amount.

[Beej '86 325es]

Wow, I've never seen the front on an e30 with that much camber in the front unless it had some camber plates. Like Bill said, I think something is out of wack.

[Jordan]

The previous owner did hop a curb sideways at a speed fast enough to shatter his steering rack. One would imagine strut housing damage also happened. I have no idea (aside from the steering rack) what was replaced.

[nando]

in that case, it could be a bent control arm, or strut. it'd probably be a good idea to replace the control arms anyway, and get the M3 CA bushings while you're at it. at least control arms for normal E30s are cheap!

[Jand3rson]

in that case, it could be a bent control arm, or strut. it'd probably be a good idea to replace the control arms anyway, and get the M3 CA bushings while you're at it. at least control arms for normal E30s are cheap!

Yeah, I was planning on getting aluminum control arm bushings, and the M3 bushings would be a good addition.

Jordan and I are going to pull it apart next time he comes over and see what we can see.

[aaron_silva]

in that case, it could be a bent control arm, or strut. it'd probably be a good idea to replace the control arms anyway, and get the M3 CA bushings while you're at it. at least control arms for normal E30s are cheap!

Yeah, I was planning on getting aluminum control arm bushings, and the M3 bushings would be a good addition.

Jordan and I are going to pull it apart next time he comes over and see what we can see.

I think you mean aluminum controll arms.

Aaron

[Jand3rson]

I think you mean aluminum controll arms.

Yeah, har har har.

[Jordan]

Aluminum control arms are a waste of money. Also you are "supposed" to replace them fairly often.