Suspension setup and alignment

[Secniv]

Hi guys your advice please. I’m having problems with my suspension setup. Have bilstein shocks and shocks all round.

#1. I rebuilt the rear end with new sub-frame, trailing arm, spring perch and diff bushes. Had a wheel alignment which is giving me neg toe of left 5mm and right 3.5mm.

#2. Front I replaced strut top mounts, spring perch bushes, rear control arm bushes. RH side camber is within spec but LH is -2.25deg. I’ve checked for damage by PO but nothing obvious.




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[Secniv]

Been doing some digging. If the cars straight and looks like it is, something must be bent in the front right suspension, strut or shock rod or steering knuckle?


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[AndrewBird]

Strut tube or control arm is bent most likely. Get another tube from the junk yard and swap out.

[Secniv]

Strut tube or control arm is bent most likely. Get another tube from the junk yard and swap out.

I measured LH strut from spring perch to centre of hub carrier and it was 4mm shorter than the RH strut. Doesn’t seem much but as you say something is out of true so either try some 2nd hand struts or camber plates.


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[Hellabad]

Right strut is hit, and bent in at the bottom.

A shop should be able to tell you this by looking just at those numbers.

If you feel like confirming, measure the gap between the inside of the tire )at the top) and the strut on both sides, and compare.

I am going to guess also that the entire subframe is moved to the left.

[Secniv]

Right strut is hit, and bent in at the bottom.

A shop should be able to tell you this by looking just at those numbers.

If you feel like confirming, measure the gap between the inside of the tire )at the top) and the strut on both sides, and compare.

I am going to guess also that the entire subframe is moved to the left.

Thanks for heads up Hellabad. Car on stands at mo will check when wheels back on and on ground. Is there a way I can check sub-frame while it’s up?


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[Secniv]

So in the end..

Rear: I replaced OEM bushes with aftermarket eccentric hardware with poly bushes.


Front: concern around straightening strut and weakening it. Finding a straight 51mm replacement was going to be hit and miss and expensive so went with adjustable camber plates.

Final analysis with a specialist alignment and handles like it should :)






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[S.J.1981]

So in the end..

Rear: I replaced OEM bushes with aftermarket eccentric hardware with poly bushes.


Front: concern around straightening strut and weakening it. Finding a straight 51mm replacement was going to be hit and miss and expensive so went with adjustable camber plates.

Final analysis with a specialist alignment and handles like it should :)






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I was considering getting eccentric bolts/washers to get some camber adjustment in the rear, instead of pulling out the RSF and welding in the "proper" camber and toe kit.

Those bolts just drop in place? no extra work?

[Secniv]

Suspension setup and alignment

I was considering getting eccentric bolts/washers to get some camber adjustment in the rear, instead of pulling out the RSF and welding in the "proper" camber and toe kit.



Those bolts just drop in place? no extra work?

Yes pretty straight forward. I set them up to minimise negative toe when putting them in but get an alignment specialist to set-up. I’ll prob check them again in 6 months to make sure they haven’t moved.

In New Zealand we have certification rules around modifying suspension parts like using the non OE ‘proper’ plates.


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[S.J.1981]

Yes pretty straight forward. I set them up to minimise negative toe when putting them but get an alignment specialist to set-up. I’ll prob check them again in 6 months to make sure they haven’t moved.

In New Zealand we certification rules around modifying suspension parts like using the non OE ‘proper’ plates.


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Much appreciated, i am planning on getting a reinforced rear subframe that comes with properly welded in toe/camber bolts/plates before summer.

Just considered a quick and easy way to adjust camber in the rear, when i install the lowering H&R springs, incase the rear camber gets too high.

[AndrewBird]

Eccentric bolts don't do anything without slotting the holes and adding the adjuster. Do you mean eccentric bushings perhaps?

[Secniv]

Eccentric bolts don't do anything without slotting the holes and adding the adjuster. Do you mean eccentric bushings perhaps?

Might be talking cross-purposes as the sleeves and bolt heads are off-set. The bush encompasses the sleeve is concentric. Hopefully the photos shows the off-set of the sleeve.






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[S.J.1981]

Eccentric bolts don't do anything without slotting the holes and adding the adjuster. Do you mean eccentric bushings perhaps?

I know what you mean by that, but i am referring to this as a "quick rear camber" adjustment before taking the whole SF off and getting toe/camber kit welded:

https://epytec.de/en/chassis/camber-adjustment-plates/1748/bmw-e30-camber-eccentric-screw-bolt-rear-axle-camber-adjustment