Rear Toe Won't Go In Spec

[SunnyDaze]

Hello all.

I have an 03 X5 with 170,000 mi. I just had the rear suspension rebuilt with a Lemforder kit. I had the subframe bushings checked while I was there.

When it was time for an alignment the camber came into spec (-1.62L, -1.54R) but the toe wouldn't improve beyond -.28L, -.39R.

I just went through a set of tires in 3000 miles hence the rear suspension rebuild. I'd really like to prevent this from happening again.

The guy who did the alignment has never done an X5 before but he did spend a good bit of time trying to get the toe to improve while keeping the camber in spec.

What are my options? Are there toe bolts with greater eccentricity available?

Thanks in advance!

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by SunnyDaze

Hello all.

I have an 03 X5 with 170,000 mi. I just had the rear suspension rebuilt with a Lemforder kit. I checked the subframe bushings while I was down there. They look like they've been replaced already.

When it was time for an alignment the camber came into spec (-1.62L, -1.54R) but the toe wouldn't improve beyond -.28L, -.39R.

I just went through a set of tires in 3000 miles hence the rear suspension rebuild. I'd really like to prevent this from happening again.

The guy who did the alignment has never done an X5 before but he did spend a good bit of time trying to get the toe to improve while keeping the camber in spec.

What are my options? Are there toe bolts with greater eccentricity available?

Thanks in advance!

Did you replace the ball joints as a part of your rear end refresh? How about the swing arm bushings?

[williamx5]

Good day!

I know a lot of BMW's need to be properly weighted when doing an alignment... I'm not positive if BMW got away from doing that or if it doesn't need to be done with our X5's... when I was doing alignments, we had 50kg for both front seats and one for the middle rear... IIRC!! It has been about five years, so my memory could be a little misleading! Oh, and a full tank of gas...

Additionally, if the X has ever been in an accident, it could cause this issue... it tweaks the alignment of the rear sub frame just enough to cause issues...

As fifty150hs mentioned, everything needs to be right before the tech should even start the alignment...

Good luck!

Cheers!

[SunnyDaze]

The rear ball joints are brand spankin' new. The rear swing arm bushings didn't have any noticeable play.

I weighted the car down to some extent. I (coincidentally) had a few bags of mulch in the back seats along with two bags of play sand in the hatch (not coincidental). The gas tank was full as well.

I might order those eccentric strut bolts to see if improving the rear camber a bit more will bring the toe in.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by SunnyDaze

The rear ball joints are brand spankin' new. The rear swing arm bushings didn't have any noticeable play.

I weighted the car down to some extent. I (coincidentally) had a few bags of mulch in the back seats along with two bags of play sand in the hatch (not coincidental). The gas tank was full as well.

I might order those eccentric strut bolts to see if improving the rear camber a bit more will bring the toe in.

New shocks?

[TiAgX5]

If the tech were to pull some of the -camber out (like 1/4 degree), this would decrease the -toe by around 1 degree.

Has the ride height been verified?

[SunnyDaze]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

If the tech were to pull some of the -camber out (like 1/4 degree), this would decrease the -toe by around 1 degree.

Has the ride height been verified?

I don't know if the ride height was verified when they did the alignment.

[bcredliner]

increasing negative camber increases toe out.

If the suspension is in good working order you should be able get toe in spec when camber is in spec.

Suspension components have similar lifecycles. Unless the swing arm bushings are almost completely shot I find it hard to check them accurately unless at least one end is disconnected.

Where were tires wearing most? Inside, outside, cupped, etc.

[SunnyDaze]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

increasing negative camber increases toe out.

If the suspension is in good working order you should be able get toe in spec when camber is in spec.

Suspension components have similar lifecycles. Unless the swing arm bushings are almost completely shot I find it hard to check them accurately unless at least one end is disconnected.

Where were tires wearing most? Inside, outside, cupped, etc.

Of everything that came off, only one of the upper control arms was bad. Everything else looked to be in great shape. The car spent most of its life in Texas. It didn't see salt before 2016.

The rear tires were extremely worn on the very inside edges. The rest of the tires were still nearly new.

I talked to the guy who aligned it. He said the camber is at max adjustment. He also said the subframe isn't bent and the subframe bushings were solid.

Ugh.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by SunnyDaze

Of everything that came off, only one of the upper control arms was bad. Everything else looked to be in great shape. The car spent most of its life in Texas. It didn't see salt before 2016.

The rear tires were extremely worn on the very inside edges. The rest of the tires were still nearly new.

I talked to the guy who aligned it. He said the camber is at max adjustment. He also said the subframe isn't bent and the subframe bushings were solid.

Ugh.

Have you replaced the shocks? When I had that problem my alignment shop thought it was due to sagging shocks. I replaced them and did a full rear suspension refresh and my alignment problem was solved. So, I don't know if it was failing shocks or something else, but something to consider.