lowering anE30 Tourer

Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:37 pm

Hi guys about 6 months ago I lowerd the car 40 mm and put some 17 inch alloys on and it was looking real sweet but a month ago i could not go above 80/90 Mph without a horrendous vibration going through the car so after some investigation found out that my brand new tyres on the back were worn through to the canvas, obviously the geometry was wrong but looking at the site plenty of cars have lowerd theirs, now are they having the same problem or what is the magic cure does someone have a suspension setup that does not destroy tyres, please help as it looks so cool and dont want to put it to its original ride height.

Tryumffy

Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:44 am

Do you carry a lot of weight in the boot?

Either way, have the rear springs become soft?

I am on my 4th set of springs on the rear because of them collapsing (with no weight in the boot, just 325i style driving hehe)

Powerflex do offset rear trailing arm bushes, which I think I am right in thinking will alter the camber so that the tyre sits in the optimum position relative to the road, but not sure that this will solve your problem as it is excessive.

Andy

Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:45 am

vibration is nothing to do with the worn tyres.. thats the negative camber

offset bushes should sort that a little

Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:00 am

too much negative camber means you will go through tyres much quicker

Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:59 pm

You need a set of eccentric trailing arm bushes.

They will need profesionally setting up by someone with a 4 wheel alignment jig.

BMW actually sell them or you could go for some stiffer ones by an aftermarkey company but I wouldn't recommend stiffer ones.

Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:38 pm

E30Adam wrote:You need a set of eccentric trailing arm bushes.

They will need profesionally setting up by someone with a 4 wheel alignment jig.

Im thinking of lowering my 1.8 tourer 40mm would i need to do the same ? (the wheels are 15s)

Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:56 pm

surely something must be wrong as a -40mm drop isnt excessive and shouldnt cause tyres to wear out in only 5 months? i dropped mine -40 and have had no problems with tyre wear.is it possible the wheels could be buckled?