Is this a crack in my front subframe?

[JRKOUPE]

dont just buy plates to mask that camber issue.......see whats up first...!!!!!

[nickmcc92]

Thanks for your help guys. I've replaced the control arm and strut housing from a local yard. So now im guessing its the frame or strut towers. I might just have to buy some camber plates.

[JRKOUPE]

I cant recall exactly......

BUT on my e30 that I track regularly, I thought I had a cracked sf as well. i recall noticing it at the track one day.....and then once I craWLed under car w/ good lighting, I got to see both sides have the same "slit"......it appears to have been made that waY.


and your "crack" appears to be the same "slit"...........

oh...even if it is a crack..it would not change your geometry that much.

[jalopi]

Even if that section of the subframe was cracked it wouldn't make a camber difference that extreme (only based off of how there was close to no gap in the 'crack')

You're most likely dealing with a bent control arm or a bent strut housing. Go to a place that does free alignment checks (just make sure to tip the tech a few bucks) and ask for a printout, make sure the printout includes the SAI reading. If not ask the tech what it was/is. If the SAI isn't as different as the camber difference you've most likely got a bent strut housing.

[ZM Blue Devil]

we offer AKG reinforcements welded in and the entire subframe powder coated, as noted its a very common.

http://www.gutenparts.com/gps-bmw-e30-powder-coated-front-subframe.html

[nickmcc92]

[garagistic]

Garagistic is the company that sells those reinforcement tabs, fyi

Not sure from that picture.


Reinforcment are here btw (good preventative maintenance):

http://store.garagistic.com/ocart/bmw-e30-parts/BMW-E30-Front-Subframe-Reinforcement-Kit

[jalopi]

Garagistic is the company that sells those reinforcement tabs, fyi

[Vivek]

Quite possibly cracked, its a common issue on our cars. I just got a replacement for mine, and they make little reinforcements you can weld in. $17 from the same guy who sells the odometer gears. Forget his name but hes on here. I got my new subframe off a friendly member here parting out his car, definitely hunt around before you buy new!

Those are for the motor mount holes, not control arm.

How's the job replacing the subframe?

You'll need to get the control arms and steering rack out and support the engine, those are the harder parts. But yours looks fine to me.

[pantelones]

That is clearly not a crack... You can see the crater in the start of the weld pool, then as the bead is built up you can see peaks. Too fast for my taste, but that production for ya! It doesn't look like there is anything wrong with it, they just didn't run the bead all the way around.

[nickmcc92]

How's the job replacing the subframe?

[DJLimes]

Quite possibly cracked, its a common issue on our cars. I just got a replacement for mine, and they make little reinforcements you can weld in. $17 from the same guy who sells the odometer gears. Forget his name but hes on here. I got my new subframe off a friendly member here parting out his car, definitely hunt around before you buy new!

[jalopi]

Exactly how 'off' are we talking here? Got any side-to-side pics?

[jlevie]

The camber being off will be; bent control arms, bent strut housing, or frame damage.

[nickmcc92]

Bump