Fixing front camber (e36 m3 suspension)

[kwseattle]

What sort of camber are you guys achieving with stock e30 strut mounts? I guess it varies with ride height, but my strut mounts are redrilled e36 m3 ones and the bolts/bearings are pretty shot. I need to replace them with something but I can't drop the front of the car any more than it already is.

[cokeisgood00]

http://store.bimmerworld.com/bwsport-trackcab-solid-control-arm-mounts-p1301.aspx

at $400 for a set of control arms and bushings that better come with a BJ too

Select offset Powerflex, don't press them and no tie rods

[jalopi]

GC plates are the tits. Not that much more expensive than other plates but 10X as fancy/nice.

yes to the bushing choice, either that or a compact loli style. THR is one version, the bimmerworld clone looks exactly the same but cheaper.

http://store.bimmerworld.com/bwsport-trackcab-solid-control-arm-mounts-p1301.aspx

at $400 for a set of control arms and bushings that better come with a BJ too

[cokeisgood00]

OK, so here's the parts list:
GC? Camber plates, should I get the camber/caster ones? How are Ireland Eng. plates?
e30 M3 offset control arm bushing
What spring perches do I use up front? e36 or e30?

Also, I have non-blown bilstein sports in the rear with the stock springs and blown sports up front with ebay springs.

I had stock IS springs and sports on my e28 and loved the way it handled, but I think I'd like to get some H&R or Eibachs. Thoughts?

Orr http://store.bimmerworld.com/bimmerw...kits-p879.aspx

[MR 325]

What's the difference between e36 M arms and e36 non M arms? They look the same.

They are not the same. The E36 M3 arms will put the wheel forward further.

The parts list I recommended you install is the correct way to do the E36 based 5 lug.

[funcrew]

On my e36/M3 front setup, I ran OEM E30 strut mounts with Turner fixed camber plates. That yielded a little more than 2 degrees neg camber, just about right for mixed AutoX and street use.

[jalopi]

I think the arm angle is ever so slightly different or it's the length... one of those.

FWIW I'd get some kind of offset bushing and camber plates. My car felt much more stable after I put the e46 arms on my car. With the plates maxed out full positive you can reel the camber back in to about -2~2.5*.

people use that tie rod combo to compensate for the additional length of the e46 arms

[cokeisgood00]

If it makes any difference, I have e36 inner tie rods and e34 outer

[cokeisgood00]

What's the difference between e36 M arms and e36 non M arms? They look the same.

[jalopi]

Those mounts look pretty centered as far as camber goes - the thing that's gonna fix your camber most is the control arms. If you have to do em one at a time, do arms>lolis>mounts. Keep in mind though... changing any of these is gonna fuck your alignment up real good. Minus well keep rocking the current setup, save for all parts + 2 front tires and an alignment.

[cokeisgood00]

Alright, so I plan on buying all the parts MR 325 mentioned, but there's no way I can buy them all at once, and I'm running low on tire with the camber. What should I buy first. Offset bushings and mounts, then arms?

[MR 325]

The caster is messed up because those strut mounts are totally wrong!

The camber is missed up because of those E46 control arms!

If you swap to 96+ E36 M3 arms, E30 M3 offset control arm bushings, and stock E30 strut mounts things will improve A LOT. You really don't even need to buy camber plates. You will want to switch to E30 or E36 tierods. It sounds like whoever did this 5 lug didn't know what they were doing.

What spindles does the car have? Those should be 96+ E36 M3 as well.

[cokeisgood00]

Will I need to change out any tie rods? I've got an e36 rack, e46 arms.

Will it fix the caster too? Will this be the AIO solution?

[jalopi]

Unless you have specific plans to drift the shit out of your car, get a set of e30/36 control arms. This will reel your camber back in a few degrees. For reference, my car has e46 arms and with the camber plates at full positive I'm at around -3* of camber.

[cokeisgood00]

Per MR 325, if the e30 plates will fit on the e36 struts I'd get e30 plates. Even in the standard position you'd be gaining 3-4 degrees of caster, minimum. On the other hand, if you don't mind reverting to 4lug and all the work it entails, why not?

Just out of curiosity... you didn't specifically mention what kind of control arms the PO used during the swap. Does this car have e46 arms? That'd explain the extra camber too.

Well I don't have any 4 lug stuff...

It has e46 arms.