Got Some 6mm Offset Castor Bushes Made

watrob · #1 05-12-2009, 09:12 AM

This is my 3rd E70 X5 ( RHD for Australia), and I am tied of them driving left all the time. With the lefthand front wheel setting back some 4mm than the right front wheel (great for LHD drive X5's in Europe & the States) and tracking left all the time I had some Castor Bushes made with a 6mm offset.

Will install next week when my X5 arrives.

NOVAX5 · #2 05-12-2009, 09:31 AM

I have no idea what you are talking about or what they are, but they do look cool. Maybe it's the Aussie thing.

Roadster · #3 05-12-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watrob

This is my 3rd E70 X5 ( RHD for Australia), and I am tied of them driving left all the time. With the lefthand front wheel setting back some 4mm than the right front wheel (great for LHD drive X5's in Europe & the States) and tracking left all the time I had some Castor Bushes made with a 6mm offset.

Will install next week when my X5 arrives.

is this because of the 'wrong' camber of the LHD roads for RHD cars?
I thought you guys had only outback roads down there

watrob · #4 05-12-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadster

is this because of the 'wrong' camber of the LHD roads for RHD cars?
I thought you guys had only outback roads down there

Yes, that's correct, you have to constantly keep righthand down pressure on the steering wheel to keep the X5 straight on the road due to our road camber.

It's not so bad around town where there is not must camber but on the highways its a pain in the a**e, so much so on my first X5 e70 BMW they flew in 3 different control arms from Germany to fix the problem, did'nt work so I got a new X5.

The 2nd X5 we altered the setting so much and then had to run 6-8lbs less pressure in the righthand side wheels just to have a half reasonable outcome.

Anyway enough was enough and had these castor bushes made for my new X5 for next week.

Kasyd · #5 05-17-2009, 08:07 AM

Sorry but this must be a Brisbane thing.
I've put some real good km's on my X5 and have travelled all over NSW, Victoria & SA and I can honestly say that I have NEVER experienced this issue watrob.

I can let go of my wheel at any speed including most road surfaces without my wheel wanting to take a turn on it's own.

watrob · #6 05-17-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasyd

Sorry but this must be a Brisbane thing.
I've put some real good km's on my X5 and have travelled all over NSW, Victoria & SA and I can honestly say that I have NEVER experienced this issue watrob.

I can let go of my wheel at any speed including most road surfaces without my wheel wanting to take a turn on it's own.

Well your a lucky one!

What size wheels are you running!

Are your running Adaptive Drive!

And I am talking about roads with camber on them not flat freeways?

My X5 e70 was the first in the country back in June 2007 with adaptive Drive & Active steer. BMW brought another one into Australia mid August for me drive & test, surprise, surprise, it actual drove left worse, hence a new X5 Jan 08 production, this one was not as bad but still ran left.

And for your info the rear diff on the X5 is 2% out, as manufactured on the assembly line, again suited to LHD, which needs to be adjusted by the rear castor, otherwise if not done the X5 will actually drive left a lot worse

And finally every X5 has a shorter wheel base on the lefthand side, fact, and no adjustment available, again suited the LHD. And any engineer worth a pinch of salt and any wheel alignment expert will tell you this should be the other way around for a RHD car.

And to prove I am no dill, here's a chassis I built, by the way when I took it to the wheel alignment shop it was only 3 degrees out and I used a piece of string! not a 600mil assemble line.

Kasyd · #7 05-18-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watrob

Well your a lucky one!

What size wheels are you running!

Are your running Adaptive Drive!

And I am talking about roads with camber on them not flat freeways?

My X5 e70 was the first in the country back in June 2007 with adaptive Drive & Active steer. BMW brought another one into Australia mid August for me drive & test, surprise, surprise, it actual drove left worse, hence a new X5 Jan 08 production, this one was not as bad but still ran left.

And for your info the rear diff on the X5 is 2% out, as manufactured on the assembly line, again suited to LHD, which needs to be adjusted by the rear castor, otherwise if not done the X5 will actually drive left a lot worse

And finally every X5 has a shorter wheel base on the lefthand side, fact, and no adjustment available, again suited the LHD. And any engineer worth a pinch of salt and any wheel alignment expert will tell you this should be the other way around for a RHD car.

And to prove I am no dill, here's a chassis I built, by the way when I took it to the wheel alignment shop it was only 3 degrees out and I used a piece of string! not a 600mil assemble line.

Watrob, with all respect please don't patronise me. no one called you a dill.
My family's been involved in the automotive engineering industry here is Sydney for over 46 years, I was also part of this show full time for 15 of those years which included a race team that I personally started and operated, however the day came when I had enough of looking under the skin of cars and decided to complete my degree in comp science and take things into another direction.
These days I don't want to look at another chassis, engine block or dip stick, I just want to get in a clean car, start and go. I respect you have a deep interest in your vehicle and I enjoy reading about your and others adventures because i personally don't have the energy or deep interest to go through all that myself again.
For your info my X5 is a july 07 built with sports 20" 214, no adaptive drive, driven on countless country roads and YES with camber and no issues here. I've also spoken to many other E70 owners who tell me the same thing. I don't doubt that an issue may exists but just possibly could it be exaggerated by the roads up your way?

y5choi · #8 05-13-2009, 12:14 AM

You know, it's kind of funny, I counter steer to keep my X from following the camber too (i'm in Canada, LHD, it follows the camber and pulls right toward the curb)

watrob · #9 05-13-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by y5choi

You know, it's kind of funny, I counter steer to keep my X from following the camber too (i'm in Canada, LHD, it follows the camber and pulls right toward the curb)

Well a little birdie told (someone in BMW Australia who spent a month in the USA) that knew about my problem told me he drove about 3000 miles in a X5 there and said it drove right, followed the camber of the road.

That's why you need castor bushes to fix the problem, whether its a LHD or a RHD X5, if they pull to the curb it needs adjustment.

Its a simply fix, my AMG Merc has Castor bolts installed and the bolt adjustment suits both lefthand & righthand drive cars, and the wider the wheels you put on the worst it gets.

y5choi · #10 05-13-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watrob

Well a little birdie told (someone in BMW Australia who spent a month in the USA) that knew about my problem told me he drove about 3000 miles in a X5 there and said it drove right, followed the camber of the road.

That's why you need castor bushes to fix the problem, whether its a LHD or a RHD X5, if they pull to the curb it needs adjustment.

Its a simply fix, my AMG Merc has Castor bolts installed and the bolt adjustment suits both lefthand & righthand drive cars, and the wider the wheels you put on the worst it gets.

Yup. 20" with 315 rears, it's most definitely more noticeable. As a matter of fact, I am going in this Friday to drop my car off at the dealers for a break fluid change (yes it's been 2 years already) . I'm going to mention this problem again to them, see what they can do.