Author Topic: camber correction - offer your input (Read 13456 times)

roundel318 · « **on:** August 10, 2009, 09:03:35 PM »

I have a 91 318i that is lowered 1.5" up front and 1.0" in the back (Eibach Pro Kit w/ Bilstein Sport dampers) and am progressing with some camber correction hardware.
I know what I want in the back, and will be saving that for later.
In the front, I am considering the factory offset upper strut bushing, but it only corrects .5 degrees, and my alignment sheet shows -2.0 (factory specs -1.2 to -0.2.)
This would on paper bring it to -1.5, which is a touch out of the low end of factory spec.
Also, is the factory spec listed of -1.2 to -0.2 (front camber) correct? I presume BMW dials in a bit of negative camber, even seeing X5's with sport packages shows?
The other would be a camber plate to install instead of the rubber, I want to avoid polyeurothane in best effort to preserve ride quality, so I really hesitate on a KMAC or other poly based adjustable plate.
My inner tire wear is moderate, but not overly horrid by any means, and are 205x50x16's all around.

I want to figure this out within a week, but cannot decide.
INPUT??

BraveUlysses · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2009, 09:53:01 AM »

Have you considered IE fixed camber plates?

FWIW, KMAC camber plates are widely regarded as pure trash. I'd get the IE fixed plates or step up to some sweetass camber plates (vorshlag).

roundel318 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2009, 10:58:49 AM »

I presume the solid plates will not preserve ride quality?
Are there any other poly based plates that are not "pure trash"

Thanks for the input!

BraveUlysses · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2009, 09:55:04 AM »

They're just offset brackets, really. They use the stock strut hats, so there shouldn't be any change in ride quality, but I personally haven't used them.

nigel · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2009, 02:38:16 PM »

Do those plates give positive camber? I just checked IE's site and the only ones I could find were for increasing negative camber (presumably for stock suspension).
And does anyone have experience with/suggestions for rear camber correction kits?

BraveUlysses · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2009, 10:16:55 AM »

You don't want positive camber. You can use them on stock or lowered suspensions.

tom d · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2009, 09:00:29 PM »

i first replaced my strut bushings with OEM parts. after 10k miles i replaced the stock rubber with vorshlag camber plates. there was no noticeable difference in either the ride or the noise. this was my e30 m3 and maybe the ride quality is less than that of the e30 318is.

roundel318 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2009, 07:17:22 PM »

Quote from: tom d;76827

i first replaced my strut bushings with OEM parts. after 10k miles i replaced the stock rubber with vorshlag camber plates. there was no noticeable difference in either the ride or the noise. this was my e30 m3 and maybe the ride quality is less than that of the e30 318is.

While there def would be a ride quality diff in a stock M3 and 318i, the 318 has been lowered considerably, and would probably be not too much stiffer than a stock M3.
If your vorshlag plates didn't make much of a diff, that doesn't sound too bad.
Will have to consider that.
THX!

roundel318 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2009, 07:19:10 PM »

Quote from: nigel;76774

Do those plates give positive camber? I just checked IE's site and the only ones I could find were for increasing negative camber (presumably for stock suspension).
And does anyone have experience with/suggestions for rear camber correction kits?

For rear, there are some offset bushing kits, but I hear they are not ideal, and a dual camber / toe kit of adjustable tabs would be best.
Dinan even makes them, along with some others, however this requires dropping the rear subframe as I understand, so the labor for the back is significant.

roundel318 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2009, 07:30:46 PM »

I just checked Vorshlag's site and they buddie'd up with Eibach to make a E30 camber tuning kit for the Eibach Pro-Kit springs.
http://www.vorshlag.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_17_159&products_id=402
I am going to call to find out exactly what they are selling.

nigel · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2009, 08:20:05 PM »

@ ulysses: I know I don't want positive camber. But for where I'm at (about -2.5) I need to go in the positive direction.

roundel, that vorshlag kit looks like it would do the trick nicely. let us know what you find out.

monko141 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2009, 08:56:19 AM »

To reduce your negative camber you need to buy Ground Control plate and flip them. Passenger on driver and driver on passenger. I had to grind a portion of the bottom half of the plate but I believe you won't have to with the new version. I am almost positive you cannot flip the Vorshag plate and it will barely reduce any negative camber.

roundel318 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2009, 12:17:20 AM »

Quote from: monko141;76903

To reduce your negative camber you need to buy Ground Control plate and flip them. Passenger on driver and driver on passenger. I had to grind a portion of the bottom half of the plate but I believe you won't have to with the new version. I am almost positive you cannot flip the Vorshag plate and it will barely reduce any negative camber.

The Vorshlag product's I am referring to are the Eibach camber hardware they developed with Eibach, not the E30 Vorshlag plates.
I was going to ask them how much their normal plates can remove.
The Eibach ones they made list "Front -1.0 / +3.0 degrees of adjustment."
I figure since two negatives make a positive (removing negative camber would equal adding camber) it would address up to 3 degrees?

BraveUlysses · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2009, 10:57:59 AM »

I don't see how that Eibach kit would even work for the front suspension, unless the photos are incorrect. There's no way to adjust camber for the front suspension without moving the strut top.

Furthermore, I don't see how those parts would incorporate into the rear suspension.

I wonder if it's just a expensive eccentric bolt and weld-in plate setup for the rear suspension.

roundel318 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:11:07 PM »

Quote from: BraveUlysses;76974

I don't see how that Eibach kit would even work for the front suspension, unless the photos are incorrect. There's no way to adjust camber for the front suspension without moving the strut top.

Furthermore, I don't see how those parts would incorporate into the rear suspension.

I wonder if it's just a expensive eccentric bolt and weld-in plate setup for the rear suspension.

I figured it was a canned photo and called Vorshlag and indeed it is.
They have plates they designed for Eibach's kits, they say they should not impact ride quality and should be quiet too and not rattle, etc.
They are for the front only, as the back is a totally diff issue.
Steer over to the Eibach site for something that resembles what it probably looks like.
http://eibach.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.exe/01408.2.4693668935200015571