H&R front strut camber concentric bolts

[TowX]

Not sure it's been discussed here, but H&R is selling a line of bolts to adjust camber on front strut cars. And they have them for our X5 too. Ordered a pair some months back and finally got around to installing them a few weeks ago.

First, I've had a pull to the right for close to a year. Dealer aligned twice, indy once. Still pulled. They all said they did what they could but the front camber wasn't adjustable. Rear was OK, but front was always off:
LF: -1.8 degrees
RF: -0.6 degrees

Yea, that would cause the left front to push to the right.

Installed just one bolt in the LF, used my bubble camber gauge from the race car and eyeballed to remove about 1 degree of camber. Wow, what a difference even though the toe was now off because of the change. Got it on a good quality alignment rack, operated by a shop that knows what their doing (CPT in the Chicago suburbs) and ended up with this:

LF: -0.6
RF: -0.7
toe: 0.31 degrees

LR:- 2.1
RR: -2.1
toe: 0.30

Now the truck tracks straight and true, no pull at all. And not as twitchy in the steering as it was before. Lots to be said for doing it the right way.

So don't let anyone tell you the camber in the front can't be adjusted. Order a pair of the H&R Triple C bolts. They replace the upper pinch bolts on the strut, and when you loosen the lower bolts, the cam on the upper bolt allows you to adjust camber by turning the bolt, much like older VW and Porsches did. Then tighten down both bolts and you're done. Way simple and it works. Going to order a pair for the old 528 I have so I can add camber to that car for better steering response.

[bankerkys]

Nice information. I just bought a set of Ingalls cam bolts that will go in after I install my Intrax springs and KYB struts. They sell for $22 a set at Tire Rack (bolts replace upper and lower). With the upper and lower bolts installed, you can get up to 4 degrees of adjustment with Ingalls.

[bankerkys]

Ingalls are probably similar to H&R. Ingalls offers 4 degrees of adjustment - not sure about H&R.

[X5girl]

Camber is adjustable as standard on the X5 as the 3 top mount bolt holes are slotted. Remove locking pin, loosen 3 top nuts and adjust. If adjustment is required, factory locking pin is not refitted.

Camber is not adjusted with the eccentric bolts, only the wheel angle because camber is the strut angle, not the wheel angle.

If there is insufficient adjustment on the top mounting bolts, then camberplates are the only real solution.

X5Girl, xxx

[dpgx5]

Thanks for the info! I will be lowering the X with H&R is it worth it to get these as well?

X5girl, what poly bushes do you have along with sways? dinan strut?

[X5girl]

Hiya,

I found a fantastic improvement following the fitment of the camberplates and bushes. I went through the stage 1 - 5 suspension mods offered by Phoenix Motorsport, PhoenixMotorsport home page , the second stage being the alloy camberplates, and the fourth being the poly thrust arm, roll bar and rear subframe bushes. Phoenix manufacture their own strut brace designed not as eye candy, but to resist the extra stresses the chassis can withstand following install of the stage 3 roll bars. I noticed no change fitting the strut brace but have peace of mind knowing the car is strengthened up.

Bush install link........http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tempt-2-a.html

X5Girl, xxx

[bankerkys]

My alignment is back to spec after lowering my front end with Intrax and using Ingalls cam bolts. $40 well spent.

[X5girl]

Originally Posted by dpgx5

Hi, X5girl...

I am looking into the camber plates, i contacted PhoenixMS. The sway bars, what size is the stock diameter ? And what size are the ones provided by PMS?

Stock fronts aare 29mm whilst new ones are about 35mm I believe. My sport rears were 22mm and the new ones about 27mm. Cannot be sure as they came with bushes and I didnt measure them properly.

X5Girl, xxx

[dpgx5]

For the Bolts, Do you need you need a set of four? 2 for each wheel correct R/L?

Thanks