Alignment after lowering

[Lowblock]

Hey guys, for all of you who have lowered your X, has it been difficult to align afterwards? I am debating lowering mine however after getting a flat this weekend and seeing the inside of my rears scrubbed to the point I have to replace both, I don't know if its a good idea.

My brother works for a large local tire chain and he said after talking to his alignment tech that the truck cannot be aligned after lowering. The guy seems to be pretty good as he has worked on both my e39 and e36.

I plan on going with the H&R kit with the springs in front and the little bar that goes in the back for the air bags. Also, I would like to get a set of sway bars, however eibach no longer makes a front bar and turner has a set but its a brand I am not familiar with. Anyone have any experience's?

TIA
Dave

[KyleNatolix5]

You can still get the front and rear sway bars, I have come across a few. Thats the first time I heard it can't be aligned after lowering.

maybe something like this might b useful for you:

Welcome to bavauto.com | Eibach Pro-Plus Kit - set of 4 Pro-Kit Springs + Front & Rear Swaybar Kit

[Lowblock]

I have seen that set that you posted a link too, and after you put it in your cart, it changes the price and says that its a rear bar only.

I have read of good success with the eibach front one, it seems to be difficult to fine now. Anyone with any experience with the alignment issue? The guy states after lowering over an inch, there is no more adjustment to bring it correctly into alignment.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by Lowblock

.....Anyone with any experience with the alignment issue? The guy states after lowering over an inch, there is no more adjustment to bring it correctly into alignment.

With the OE/OEM parts you can't align, with front camber plates and adjustable rear links it's no problem. I'm going this route when I install these.........

[JWMich]

Originally Posted by Lowblock

Hey guys, for all of you who have lowered your X, has it been difficult to align afterwards? I am debating lowering mine however after getting a flat this weekend and seeing the inside of my rears scrubbed to the point I have to replace both, I don't know if its a good idea.

My brother works for a large local tire chain and he said after talking to his alignment tech that the truck cannot be aligned after lowering. The guy seems to be pretty good as he has worked on both my e39 and e36.

I plan on going with the H&R kit with the springs in front and the little bar that goes in the back for the air bags. Also, I would like to get a set of sway bars, however eibach no longer makes a front bar and turner has a set but its a brand I am not familiar with. Anyone have any experience's?

TIA
Dave

Well, I'm not sure what your brother means by difficult to align. I can tell you I've lowered mine with the H&R kit and my shop didn't have any problems doing a four wheel alignment afterward.

However, mine still has the same old spec amount of camber that it did before it was lowered - which has always resulted in inner wear on the rears of all my BMWs. I suppose it's possible you won't be able to dial in the camber differently and reduce the inner wear if you lower, and maybe you could if you left it at stock height. I've never tried, I just make sure they gave the toe good and live with the wear pattern.

[KyleNatolix5]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

With the OE/OEM parts you can't align, with front camber plates and adjustable rear links it's no problem. I'm going this route when I install these.........

WOOT WOOT KW V3's ?!

[Lowblock]

Originally Posted by JWMich

Well, I'm not sure what your brother means by difficult to align. I can tell you I've lowered mine with the H&R kit and my shop didn't have any problems doing a four wheel alignment afterward.

However, mine still has the same old spec amount of camber that it did before it was lowered - which has always resulted in inner wear on the rears of all my BMWs. I suppose it's possible you won't be able to dial in the camber differently and reduce the inner wear if you lower, and maybe you could if you left it at stock height. I've never tried, I just make sure they gave the toe good and live with the wear pattern.

It was said by his alignment tech, who apparently has an X5, and tried to lower it and get it back to factory spec's with it lowered and was unable to do. He also said that at factory height, he tried to get it aligned to the point that he was not buying new rear tires every year. He said after everything was dialed in to not wear tires, the truck handled so poorly that he put it back and decided to just live with it. My brother has stated, at factory specs under normal driving conditions (10-15k a year) that the tires will need to be replaced once a year. Several people at his dealership have confirmed this, and it has been the case on my E39 since I have owned it.

As far as camber plates and adjustable rear links, where does one find these? Is there one manufacture that is better then another?

What about the sway bar, can someone point me into the direction of an eibach front?

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by KyleNatolix5

WOOT WOOT KW V3's ?!

Yeah, found a motivated seller on e-bay with a killer deal.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by Lowblock

......As far as camber plates and adjustable rear links, where does one find these? Is there one manufacture that is better then another?...

I've been looking at the Rogue Engineering stuff. BavAuto and Turner Mo'sport have the goods too. I'm looking at doing a 2" drop with tow/camber settings to BMW minimums.

[bigwave2255]

i lowered mine with eibach coils and the rear camber was excessive and could not be reduced, i ended up fitting a camber kit made by KMAC and now have perfectly even wearing tyres, however that said i do feel that the cornering ability has been slightly compromised and that a little more rear camber would be good.

my intention is to monitor tyre wear and if the fronts start wearing faster than the rear, i,ll get some negative camber dialled in to hopefully even it out