Suspension / Camber Question

[Incitatus]

For whatever reason my front nearside wheel is running a bit of negative camber. When I bought the car the front tyres needed replacing but the wear on the tyres was fairly even but slightly more worn on the inner edge. The tyres I replaced them with seem to be wearing in very much the same manner.

I am looking to get the suspension changed, with new springs and shocks with a 60/40 lowering rate. My question is that will the lowering on the front amplify the negative camber, and therefore chew the tyres up?

I've heard I can get camber adjusting top mounts, but I don't know anything about those. The car drives well and if you loose the steering it will go in a perfectly straight line.

So will the lowering increase the negative camber on the front?

Thanks!

[Incitatus]

Anyone??

I've searched the previous posts but they're not making much sense...

[Brianmoooore]

Most likely is the strut is bent. Check and compare the distance between the inner wheel rim at the top and the strut tube.

[Lordschleife]

I am looking to get the suspension changed, with new springs and shocks with a 60/40 lowering rate. My question is that will the lowering on the front amplify the negative camber

I would have thought so, though to what extent I cant say?

[Brianmoooore]

The fronts should still be a matching pair, whatever.

[Incitatus]

Most likely is the strut is bent. Check and compare the distance between the inner wheel rim at the top and the strut tube.

Thanks, I'll check that.

When I get the springs/shocks replaced the strut would be replaced, is that correct? Or am I getting my parts mixed up?

[E30Mark]

Most likely is the strut is bent. Check and compare the distance between the inner wheel rim at the top and the strut tube.

Thanks, I'll check that.

When I get the springs/shocks replaced the strut would be replaced, is that correct? Or am I getting my parts mixed up?

Your a little mixed up!

The strut houses the shock insert and also if you take a look under the front wing, the spring is also attached to the top of the strut. The strut can get bent for various reasons over the years, check yours is straight as Brian said before changing the springs & shocks.

The strut does not normally need changing unless damaged.

[ed325i]

And if you lower the car it will increase neg camber on the front and the back. You can get adjustable front top mounts and you can get adjustable bushes for the back. you can get them from here >>
http://www.bmw2002.com/main.html
ED

[Incitatus]

I've checked the distance between the wheel and the strut, but both seem to be the same at about 1cm (it's not easy to measure!). The slightly more subjective and less scientific test is that when I try and prod my finger through the gap it stops at the same point on both sides

Also the struts don't seem damaged but I guess it only has to be slight to make the difference.

When I had the tracking checked a while ago it was spot on. The car drives ok but the steering can be a little sensitive.

What do you think the best route to take is now? And thanks for all your help so far

[ed325i]

Are both the fronts wearing ? If they are it could be the tracking is out. if the tacking is out it will make steering sensitive where did you get it checked before do you think they done it right.


ED

[E30Mark]

Are both the fronts wearing ? If they are it could be the tracking is out. if the tacking is out it will make steering sensitive where did you get it checked before do you think they done it right.


ED

When I had the tracking checked a while ago it was spot on. The car drives ok but the steering can be a little sensitive.

When you had the tracking done did you have all 4 wheels checked?

[ed325i]

Are both the fronts wearing ? If they are it could be the tracking is out. if the tacking is out it will make steering sensitive where did you get it checked before do you think they done it right.


ED

When I had the tracking checked a while ago it was spot on. The car drives ok but the steering can be a little sensitive.

Yes but i had mine done and they said it was spot on and it wasnt the tyres started to wear on the inside so I took it to a lotus garage and they said it was miles out they set it up and it was ok

ED

[Incitatus]

I had the tracking done at Kwik Fit, but I'm not sure if it was 4 wheel or not. I think they may have hung mirrors off the back wheels, but I'm really not certain. It was a Sunday afternoon job when time was short, so they may have not done it correctly... It certainly took them less than ten minutes to annouce it was ok.

The front tyres have worn on the inside of the nearside wheel (with the negative camber), and the outside of the offside wheel. On both sides the front of the tread blocks aren't worn smooth, but the tread is higher at the front of the block, then slopes back and down pretty much straight away. If you run your hand over the tread anti-clockwise it's rough, and clockwise it's smooth. If that makes sense.......

Some crappy camera phone pictures

Offside outside:



Nearside inside (negative camber):



Front view:



Rear view:



The tyres that were on it when I bought the car were worn more in the same places, but not enough to cause the whole tyre to be replaced before it got down to the wear indicators.

What do you think?!?

[E30Mark]

Kwik-Fit

May i suggest you go to a reputable place and get the wheel alignments re-checked. If you drive the car hard, ie drifting round roundabouts, then this may be the reason........

[ed325i]

oh kwik fit they said they wouldnt do mine. Has you car got any signs of having a front end knock? I would take it into a proper wheel alignment place, some can give you a print out so you can see what specs they have set it to and they will tell you if anything is wrong. It will save you money on tyres.

ED

[Incitatus]

Well Kwik Fit, yes...

The thing is that when I get my suspension changed they will do a four wheel alignment then, so I'm a bit reluctant to spend good money and get it done now. The problem is of course that I don't want to get the suspension fitted and then get a nasty suprise of my front tyres wearing out every three miles. That said my tyres are all matched so I can rotate them 'round the car a bit .Bit of a catch 22 you see.

I can't really go less than a 60mm lowering at the front either, because it's running 50 series tyres and I swear my Freelander has less gap between the top of the wheel and the arches.....

I suppose I just need to get the suspension done and see how it looks, and maybe take it from there. Don't really want to spend £400+ and then have to spend more. It upsets me!!

[ed325i]

If you lower the front by 60mm the front tyres will ware out unless you fit ajustable top mounts.

ED