making the front wheel centered?

[wilholl]

^^^This is exactly what I am thinking^^^
My wheels went forward slightly when I installed the M3 offset bushings
as previously stated by others.

[Cabriolet]

If I remember correctly, the aluminum e30 m3 CA's have the same geometry as the steel regular ones.

Cab, are your CABs installed right? Lorin's picture shows the correct way.

yes, they are installed to the outside of the car, which pushes the wheel farther forward.

^^^This is exactly what I am thinking^^^
My wheels went forward slightly when I installed the M3 offset bushings
as previously stated by others.

it's an M3 it came with the M3 bushings

[LJ851]

it's an M3 it came with the M3 bushings

And M3 fenders which very much appear to have the wheel arch further forward compared to a vanilla e30.

[reelizmpro]

And M3 fenders which very much appear to have the wheel arch further forward compared to a vanilla e30.

I believe this is the real culprit since we are assuming the M3 wheel arch is in the same position as a regular E30 and therefore the wheel should be centered when it isn't. Aesthetically, it's one of the first things people notice about the front suspension on these cars. Keep in mind early 88's came with stock E30 CAB's from the factory so the problem was even more pronounced on these cars. Another explanation is of course...a bent control arm.

[markseven]

Geometry 101.

I'm wrong on the push forward, correct on the camber.

[markseven]

I believe this is the real culprit since we are assuming the M3 wheel arch is in the same position as a regular E30 and therefore the wheel should be centered when it isn't. Aesthetically, it's one of the first things people notice about the front suspension on these cars. Keep in mind early 88's came with stock E30 CAB's from the factory so the problem was even more pronounced on these cars.

This makes sense.

[LJ851]

I'm wrong on the push forward, correct on the camber.

I don't think you know what camber is.

[markseven]

I don't think you know what camber is.

Now your just being mean

[reelizmpro]

With M3's everything was done with a purpose. Perhaps BMW designed the front fenders that way for the use of heim joints on the race cars and to satisfy the homologation rules.

[golde30]

What the fuck us going on in here.... Nobody here ever heard of camber/caster plates? How about an alignment with camber/caster plates? Jees...

[fronton]

What us going on in here.... Nobody here ever heard of camber/caster plates? How about an alignment with camber/caster plates?

Caster plates can't fix his wheel centering problem. They can change the angle of the strut but not the location of the wheel in the arch which is fixed by the control arm.

[nrubenstein]

Now your just being mean

Your comments into his thread indicate that either you don't understand geometry, don't understand what camber or caster are, or some combination of the two. Unfortunately, you are adamant about your incorrect position.

But don't worry. I'm here to save you, not to judge. ;)

[markseven]

Your comments into his thread indicate that either you don't understand geometry, don't understand what camber or caster are, or some combination of the two. Unfortunately, you are adamant about your incorrect position.

But don't worry. I'm here to save you, not to judge. ;)

I'm pretty sure I admitted I was wrong about the caster.

So, I had some time to Google a little. Links:

From Turner:
"These bushings have the hole off-center to give your car a little more track, caster, and camber. This style came as standard equipment on E30 M3s (8/89-later)...

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-1457-front-control-arm-bushings-fcab-offset-delrin-race-e30-e36-z3-pair.aspx

From VAC
Rubber offset bushing, as found on the late production E30 M3, are a great upgrade when replacing your original bushings on any E30 or E36. Appropriate for all vehicles and adds more caster and dynamic camber to your front suspension.

http://www.vacmotorsports.com/catalog/bmw---oem-rubber-offset-control-arm-bushings-e30--e36.htm

[LJ851]

^ Marketing hyperbole.

Simple geometry will show there is no meaningful camber change on a horizontal plane.

If you started at stock ride height, the laying down of the strut (castor change) would *very* slightly lower the car and the lowering would potentially add a minute amount of camber. We are splitting camber hairs here though.

[nrubenstein]

I'm pretty sure I admitted I was wrong about the caster.

So, I had some time to Google a little. Links:

From Turner:
"These bushings have the hole off-center to give your car a little more track, caster, and camber. This style came as standard equipment on E30 M3s (8/89-later)...

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-1457-front-control-arm-bushings-fcab-offset-delrin-race-e30-e36-z3-pair.aspx

From VAC
Rubber offset bushing, as found on the late production E30 M3, are a great upgrade when replacing your original bushings on any E30 or E36. Appropriate for all vehicles and adds more caster and dynamic camber to your front suspension.
http://www.vacmotorsports.com/catalo...s-e30--e36.htm

You know that there is a difference between static camber and dynamic camber, right?

Caster generally improves steering stability and *very* slightly increases camber gain (dynamic camber) under load.

I'm not sure why turner is claiming that they increase track. Most likely someone just typed that in without understanding it. The outer balljoint is already forward of the inner. Therefore, rotating it further forward decreases track, which also decreases static camber. It's very, very simple.