Had to replace rear tires. Going to get an alignment now.

[Thrawn]

So just had an issue with my 2013 x5 rear tires. They wore out badly on the inside. Wires were showing but rest of the tire had around 40% tread left. I put new tires on the rear, and now am trying to get an alignment. Here is what i am planning on asking for if this os correct.

Align to 0°02' (0.03°) toe-in left and right, front and rear. Align camber to 0°20' (0.33°) left and right, front and rear.

Does that sound right? Thanks


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[ard]

Toe is more than I use, but should work. Im a 0.01-0.02 guy


Camber cannot be the same front and rear.


-0.2 front fine


rear about -1.5 (aka 1 degree, 30 minutes)


Both these camber numbers are 'mid BMW spec'.


Ive posted a TON of this, here and over on BF. FWIW.




I think your alignment will show big toe on the rear. The tech will try and tell you 'its the camber'...and offer to minimize it...or tell you 'its BMWs, gotta pay to play'.... and may also tell you the toe needs to be more to handle well. Ignore it all. Stick to your numbers.

[Thrawn]

Awesome Ard! thanks I read a ton of what you posted. great stuff! I know nothing about the specs for wheel alignment. I was looking for something I could tell them exactly what I want. I am going to a alignment specialist. he was aware that BMW has a large tolerance, and said he would set it to what ever I wanted. they do custom cars, race cars, and daily drivers. appointment isn't until Friday the 22nd. he said when I come in just give him a paper with what ever I want, and he will do it.

[ard]

Post the results. Im more interested in the 'before' numbers, since it is these that you can then correlate with the tire wear...

GL!

[andrewwynn]

If there's not much toe in the before, you likely have a worn ball joint usually on the rear control arm or the actual bottom ball joint. (when mine went bad my tires chewed right to the redneck wear bars* in two weeks)

* Steel belts

[Thrawn]

going to take it in soon. I would like to get exactly what I need to hand them written out.


looks like I should say -.02° toe in or is it 0°.02' front and rear. then ask for camber of 0°20' front, and 1°30'

I really don't know and to make it harder to understand, sometimes in the same post like mine both types of measurement are being used.

[ard]

There are two ways to spec toe: degrees and inches.

0 degree 02 minutes. Is almost the same as 0.02inches

Do you understand how this is measured and what it means? There are some good websites that explain this, I wont regurgitate. But simply the ‘degree’ spec is basically ‘what is the angle of the wheel/tire’

The inch spec is actually a measure of how much the front edge of the tire is different from the training edge. THIS measure is dependent on the tire size too, (not grossly so, any tire that fits the car will be close enough… ). I mention it more so you understand.

Here’s the thing- the two measurements are actually really close WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT SMALL TOE. 01 02 03… all fine, jsut the same side to side. This is critical on all adjustments. If toes (and camber) is not balanced, the axle tries to crab.

I had a long thread here on alignments… should have a post or two in there with this.
‘
GL!

[ard]

https://robrobinette.com/ConvertToeInchesToDegrees.htm

A good tool

A degree toe of 03 minutes is 02 inches…1:1.5 conversion, give or take

[Zulu95]

Having to go to the $tealer later today for an alignment. None of the local tire/alignment shops will do it. "Dealer only as it needs special tools we do not have."

[ard]

Originally Posted by Zulu95

Having to go to the $tealer later today for an alignment. None of the local tire/alignment shops will do it. "Dealer only as it needs special tools we do not have."

Huh. Wonder what tool?



anyway there are thousands of posts repeating this nonsense (dealer only) all over the internet. Since the beginning of BMWs.


You generally get crap alignments at dealers as they set it right in the middle- declaring THEY know best.