wheel alignment question

[lowlows18]

so tomorrow morn im doing my rear upper control arms and guiding arm... i really want to get rid of that rear camber...my question is when i bring it to the wheel alignment shop should i just let them do it to specs or should i ask for something else? thanks

[upallnight]

From your Avatar it looks like you are running different rims What size rim and tire combo are you running? You may want to base the alignment on the wheel tire combo that you have.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by lowlows18

so tomorrow morn im doing my rear upper control arms and guiding arm... i really want to get rid of that rear camber...my question is when i bring it to the wheel alignment shop should i just let them do it to specs or should i ask for something else? thanks

Why don't you want rear camber?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by FSETH

Why don't you want rear camber?

Excess tire wear?

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Excess tire wear?

Toe wears tires, not camber.

If OP is worried about tire wear, he should ask the alignment shop to set the rear toe to the minimum toe in specs from the BMW recommended range. He could always go even closer to zero toe than BMW recommends, but that could possibly be a bit dangerous and lead to handling issues. I wouldn't completely eliminate the rear camber, but he could also have that set to the low end of the specs. Any good alignment shop should be able to do this as long as suspension components aren't worn.

[tmv]

Originally Posted by FSETH

Toe wears tires, not camber. <--This is true.

If OP is worried about tire wear, he should ask the alignment shop to set the rear toe to the minimum toe in specs from the BMW recommended range. He could always go even closer to zero toe than BMW recommends, but that could possibly be a bit dangerous and lead to handling issues. I wouldn't completely eliminate the rear camber, but he could also have that set to the low end of the specs. Any good alignment shop should be able to do this as long as suspension components aren't worn.

Might be to late now for researching, OP. Ask the tech to align to your spec (make sure to do some research) If they must stay within manufacture spec, I'll find some other shop to do it.
I have the camber setting at the low end of BMW spec (the least camber), and toe setting as close to 0 as possible. No handling issue (unless you drive your SAV as a race car) and the Michelin Diamaris no longer have the excessive inner-tire wear that they used to, after about 8K miles so far.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by tmv

Might be to late now for researching, OP. Ask the tech to align to your spec (make sure to do some research) If they must stay within manufacture spec, I'll find some other shop to do it.
I have the camber setting at the low end of BMW spec (the least camber), and toe setting as close to 0 as possible. No handling issue (unless you drive your SAV as a race car) and the Michelin Diamaris no longer have the excessive inner-tire wear that they used to, after about 8K miles so far.

Yeah, you could always have it aligned to your specs as well. Just had this done on my M3 and it dramatically changed the handling of the car. I never realized an alignment could make that much difference. Maxed out camber up front with the stock camber plates, almost zero front toe (erred on the side of slight toe in for straight line stability seeing as I daily the car), and went a little closer to zero toe in the rear than BMW's recommended specs to reduce understeer. Car really wants to turn now and my tire wear should be much better than with the stock settings. I only suggested staying within the low end of BMW's spec ranges for safety reasons.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by FSETH

Toe wears tires, not camber.

If OP is worried about tire wear, he should ask the alignment shop to set the rear toe to the minimum toe in specs from the BMW recommended range. He could always go even closer to zero toe than BMW recommends, but that could possibly be a bit dangerous and lead to handling issues. I wouldn't completely eliminate the rear camber, but he could also have that set to the low end of the specs. Any good alignment shop should be able to do this as long as suspension components aren't worn.

Camber also wear tires either the outside edge or inside edge depending on whether it positive or negative camber.

Front and Rear Tyres.
Sloped wear is commonly caused by excessive positive or negative wheel camber. This condition is often exaggerated by the tyre being under-inflated or the fitment of incorrectly rated tyres with less strength or "stiffness" in their sidewalls.

Positive Camber.
It is defined as positive when "the top of the tyre leans away from the centre of the vehicle". This means that the outside shoulder of the tyre carries a bigger load than the inside shoulder. Excessive wear will take place on the outside shoulder.

Negative Camber
Negative camber is described as “when the top of the tyre leans towards the inside of the vehicle". In this instance the inner shoulder is working harder than the outside and will therefore wear at a faster rate.

A negative camber of between one quarter and half a degree does not cause excessive wear but enhances road holding on most modern vehicles with independent suspensions.

Camber wear leaves the tyre surface “smooth” and is noticeably different from the distinctive rough or "feathered" wear caused by excessive toe.

Advice. Adjust the cambers in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations and the way the tyre is wearing.

You can find out more at this website:

Tyre Damage - Tyre Wear

[FSETH]

^ Camber does have an affect on tire wear, but it is not as critical as toe. You can run significant negative camber and get good tire wear with the toe set at or close to zero. However, if you run excessive toe in or out, it doesn't matter what your camber is set to. Your tires will be shredded regardless.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by FSETH

^ Camber does have an affect on tire wear, but it is not as critical as toe. You can run significant negative camber and get good tire wear with the toe set at or close to zero. However, if you run excessive toe in or out, it doesn't matter what your camber is set to. Your tires will be shredded regardless.

Too much negative camber and the inside edge is worn all the way to the belt and the outside edge is still o.k.



or as previous posted

Originally Posted by tmv

....I have the camber setting at the low end of BMW spec (the least camber), and toe setting as close to 0 as possible. No handling issue (unless you drive your SAV as a race car) and the Michelin Diamaris no longer have the excessive inner-tire wear that they used to, after about 8K miles so far.