Front Tire Wear and Camber Bolts

[PR1AWRet]

Front Outside Wear on Tires. I have a fully loaded 2002 X5. The only thing it does not have is 2 axle air adjust just the single axle out in the rear. My rear tires are wearing evenly so long as 38 psi are in them. The front have 38 psi in them also. PO said he did this so I continued.

The front edge wear is about on 2 inches of the tread on the outside and are almost worn to the max while the center section and inside have about 3/4 of the tread left.

The complete front control arms, ball joints, tie rods, and anti-sway bars are pretty well rusted, really rusted. Probably the reason the OP sold it. I knew this when I bought it. I am replacing most everything except the axle shafts. The bearings are getting changed also. The rear was done prior to ownership.

The question, what cam bolt kit to get? RealOEM shows that I should have 4 of them but I only have them on the upper holes which is correct. It only shows the nut and bolt but not the specialty washers. So the reason for the after market alignment cam bolt kit.

[g300d]

Is it confirmed that camber is causing your tire wear problem? Out of spec toe can also cause this.

Camber on the front suspensions of these trucks is determined by the relationship of the mounts and bushings and is not adjustable. Out of spec camber is usually worn or bent parts.

I'm conflicted personally on using camber bolts. It would be masking the problem. The thing is, the bushings are usually still perfectly usable aside from the deflection causing a bit of geometry change. So camber bolts will extend the usable life of the bushings a bit.

So if you are doing a full suspension overhaul, barring a bent unibody or lowered ride height you will probably find camber back in spec.

Partial suspension refresh jobs where camber doesnt line up are good candidates for camber bolts if you it ends up being easier than swapping out more parts IMO.

[Ricky Bobby]

You are due for a front and rear suspension rebuild.

[PR1AWRet]

Now the pictures.

Original camber bolt. Must have been an option.


Bottom bolt and upper camber bolt.


Gutted front end. Rust abatement is going to be done.


The rear was done about 2 years ago by the PO.

[PR1AWRet]

Originally Posted by PR1AWRet

The question, what cam bolt kit to get? RealOEM shows that I should have 4 of them but I only have them on the upper holes which is correct. It only shows the nut and bolt but not the specialty washers. So the reason for the after market alignment cam bolt kit.

Real OEM shows the bottom bolt x4 for upper and lower and not the cam bolt in either position. Might be part of the option for the wider tires?

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by PR1AWRet

Front Outside Wear on Tires. I have a fully loaded 2002 X5. The only thing it does not have is 2 axle air adjust just the single axle out in the rear. My rear tires are wearing evenly so long as 38 psi are in them. The front have 38 psi in them also. PO said he did this so I continued.

The front edge wear is about on 2 inches of the tread on the outside and are almost worn to the max while the center section and inside have about 3/4 of the tread left.

The complete front control arms, ball joints, tie rods, and anti-sway bars are pretty well rusted, really rusted. Probably the reason the OP sold it. I knew this when I bought it. I am replacing most everything except the axle shafts. The bearings are getting changed also. The rear was done prior to ownership.

The question, what cam bolt kit to get? RealOEM shows that I should have 4 of them but I only have them on the upper holes which is correct. It only shows the nut and bolt but not the specialty washers. So the reason for the after market alignment cam bolt kit.

Stick to just getting the front end suspension rebuilt. Once done get it aligned. Now if there is front end frame/unibody damage then this presents a whole other variable of concern.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by PR1AWRet

Real OEM shows the bottom bolt x4 for upper and lower and not the cam bolt in either position. Might be part of the option for the wider tires?

Wow your vehicle is a Cali X5. Did the previous owner drive it through salt baths? There is quite a bit of rust forming underneath the vehicle.

[PR1AWRet]

Yea he lived on the beach. Whats weird its only the front clip, the rest of it looks really good underneath.

Wonder why it came with the camber bolts, they are original to this vehicle.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Stick to just getting the front end suspension rebuilt. Once done get it aligned. Now if there is front end frame/unibody damage then this presents a whole other variable of concern.

If you do anything other than a stock rebuild and then it won't align within specs you will not know for sure if the aftermarket parts are the cause or it is something that was wrong before the rebuild.

[PR1AWRet]

Yup stock parts are going in. Then to the alignment shop.