rear camber adjustment Y33

[PMF]

So I have a question... when i took my car in to get alignment done after the coilovers were put on.... the shop said that there was no way to adjust the rear camber. But I looked in the FSM and it says all you have to do is turn one bolt. Unfortunately i do not have the FSM on this computer, but I can put it up if anyone wants to see what I am talking about.

So the question- is the rear camber really that simple, and does this shop deserve my foot up there arse???

[Q45tech]

Usually the rear subframe camber tabs [where arms bolts to] and the rubber bushings on camber arm/hub are deformed such that you cannot adjust camber to perfection [midpoint of range] WITH OEM much less with LOWERING SPRINGS.

As far as I know this applies equally to 90-01Q.

To get my camber correct I changed my rear subframe and all arms [bushings where not available] and still couldn't get perfect but inside the spec range with the 0.8" rear drop of Eibachs.

[maxnix]

Weird, post disappeared!

I would be leery of a shop that couldn't find a standard camber adjustment bolt.

Maybe they said the OEM specified camber could not be acheived within the range of adjustment?

[BadQ45t]

I think you always end up with the camber off when you lower the car. I had mine lowered and a very competent shop did the aligment afterwards and they said "you lowered it, the camber is a bit off but that is what happens when you lower it." So far the tires are wearing just fine...

[maxnix]

With the eibachs on now with KYB SR, the rear camber is -2.0°. Technician noted BMW sedans run this all the time without increased inside edge tire wear.

I will monitor very closely.
Modified by maxnix at 3:17 PM 9/24/2006

[Q45tech]

Rear camber excesses are different from front because there is no caster gain [or toe changes] from turning................2 degrees on the rear is like 0.75-1.0 degrees on the front tire wearwise.

Since the rear only does < 40% of braking the excess camber is less noticeable in braking distance increases.

Remember -0.62 to -0.7 degrees is still ideal.

[BadQ45t]

That is exactly what the piece of paper i got from the aligment shop said, I looked it up in my file. I'm watching it too, I have some tires that are now sort of throw away and I'll see how they wear.