What causes negative front camber???

[Todd Black 88]

Mine was a full 7/8 of an inch out. I even jacked the center of my car to get my bar on, and it was still 1/2" out.
Bar fit perfectly on three of my buddies e30 cars and didn't fit on another buddies. All are no accident cars.
It's a very well known issue.

[BROKINBIMMER]

38 & 1/4" is the measurement.


I'm thinking at this point, maybe the apron/strut tower sheet metal is just sagging from old age/300K miles?

[Todd Black 88]

That is center of strut mount hole to center of strut mount hole?

http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/E30-suspension-steering/e30sb.html

[BROKINBIMMER]

That is center of strut mount hole to center of strut mount hole?

http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/E30-...ing/e30sb.html

Yes, from center of strut mount to center of strut mount.

[BROKINBIMMER]

Ok. Looks like I'm going to remove the struts, and weld the strut holes closed. I'll then measure and redrill while using a strut bar as a rough guide. I'm thinking that if need be, I can always pick up some camber plates to make an further adjustments. Let me know if you guys think this is the correct route to go...

[LJ851]

Your car did not come from the factory with that much camber. Something happened between then and now and the correct route to go is to find out what moved, why, and repair that issue.

[ForcedFirebird]

Your car did not come from the factory with that much camber. Something happened between then and now and the correct route to go is to find out what moved, why, and repair that issue.

This.

And for it to be that much on both sides is suspect to something.

[SmokeE30]

Ok. Looks like I'm going to remove the struts, and weld the strut holes closed. I'll then measure and redrill while using a strut bar as a rough guide. I'm thinking that if need be, I can always pick up some camber plates to make an further adjustments. Let me know if you guys think this is the correct route to go...

I would get a set of camber plates to bring the camber back before I went and made new strut top holes. But that's just me

[BROKINBIMMER]

I would get a set of camber plates to bring the camber back before I went and made new strut top holes. But that's just me

The apron/strut towers are sagging...I'm planning on running a strut bar to add some ridgidity to the front structure. But I'm thinking I won't be able to get a strut bar to fit with how bad it is...

[Todd Black 88]

Jack the car up on the front subframe, and fit a modified bar tight.

Search google,r3v, s14, etc and you will see this is not an abnormal issue. You have a 25 year old unibody chassis with.......what, 300k on it?

[JGood]

The apron/strut towers are sagging...I'm planning on running a strut bar to add some ridgidity to the front structure. But I'm thinking I won't be able to get a strut bar to fit with how bad it is...

Better inspect them closely for any rust issues. My car was the same way, I couldn't fit a strut bar. Turns out I had serious rust issues (see the link in my sig) that required replacing the entire wheel housing/strut tower. After I did that, the strut bar fell right into place.

The strut towers are thick layered steel, even 300k miles of abuse shouldn't cause them to move that much, usually it's cracks/rust that does it.

[Madhatter]

there are certainly two different spacings for E30 strut towers.

One is the 1002mm usually listed, the other comes in at 980mm.

Also, what cab's are you running? They will give you a little extra camber depending on which way you mount them, but there is almost no way known to get 3 degrees per side without something being moved. Typically you get positive camber (or less negative) when things get hit in the front, so I doubt it is bent. Ive got adjustable strut tops on mine and I can only go to 3.2 degrees max per side before the mount hits the sheet metal inside the top of the tower, so no idea how you have 3 degrees each side.

What is your tyre wear like? running mine at 3 degrees I end up with pretty serious inside tread wear at 10,000km and rotate them on the wheels. If your tyres are fine, id be saying the alignment readout is wrong.

[nickmcc92]

So did you find out the problem?
I'm having the same problem on my driver side (-2.8degrees) all stock and new suspension.
Just haven't replaced strut mounts and I'm hoping that's it.

[nickmcc92]

Hey! Did you fix it?

[BROKINBIMMER]

Hey! Did you fix it?

No, not yet. Both sides are -2.5 degrees. I will prob pick up a strut bar and attempt to separate the strut towers enough to install the bar...