Suspension numbers...Comments encouraged!

[DustenT]

These are the numbers from my alignment yesterday. Suspension related mods: HR sports, Bilstein sports, Meyle front control arms, '95 m3 offset CABS, everything else is stock for an Active '97. The RED items were installed yesterday, requiring the new alignment. Notice the extra toe-out (on the before side) from the offset bushings. If anyone knows how to interpret these numbers intelligently, please post!



A close up version (easier to read) is located here: http://180customs.net/v-web/gallery/...ent_001?full=1

Are these numbers good/bad/ugly??

[mischief]

the left side could be caused by going over a pothole
on the left side u where out .88 did u feel it pull a lil to the left

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by mischief

the left side could be caused by going over a pothole
on the left side u where out .88 did u feel it pull a lil to the left

I guess I'm looking for comments on the actual or "after" column. I know the "before" numbers are out of whack. I needed an alignment before the installation of the new parts. Does anyone else have a print out like this? I'm just curious if these numbers (especially the "after" numbers in the red) are in line with what they should be with this setup.

[mischief]

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9062
HERES WHAT I DID TO MY CAR


i did my alignment after suspersion upgrade
this is what it says on the paper
BMW: 3 SERIES - E36 (1992 - 1999) : 318TI : SPORT SUSPENSION (WITH LOWER RIDE-HIEGHT) : 17'' WHEEL

FRONT LEFT
ACTUAL/BEFORE/SPECIFIED RANGE
-1.8 / -1.7 /-1.4 -0.4 CAMBER
4.7 / 4.7 / 3.3 4.3 CASTER
0.14 / -0.30 / 0.08 0.22 TOE

FRONT RIGHT
-1.2 / -1.2 / -1.4 -0.4
4.9 / -0.46 / 3.3 4.3
0.18 / -0.46 / 0.08 0.22

TOTAL
CROSS CAMBER
-0.6 / -0.5 / -0.5 0.5
CROSS CASTER
-0.2 / -0.2 / -0.5 0.5
TOTAL TOE
0.33/ -0.75 / 0.17 0.43

REAR LEFT
ACTUAL/BEFOR/SPECIFIED RANGE ACUTAL/BEFOR/SPECIFIED RANGE
-3.3 /-3.3 /-3.0 -2.0 CAMBER -2.7 /-2.7 /-3.0 -2.0
0.10 /0.10 /0.05 0.55 TOE -0.05 /-0.02 /0.05 0.55
REAR
TOTAL TOE
0.05 / -3.3 / 0.38 0.82
THRUST ANGLE
0.07 / 0.06 /-0.25 0.25

[TiredTi]

Dusten:

The Before numbers are irrelevant, as you know. The After numbers are interesting. I will only comment on the front (I don’t have much experience with rear alignment yet.)

I normally run the same camber on the left and right sides. Wont more negative camber left than right cause a little ‘pulling’ to the right? Maybe that’s what you want.

Your caster looks fine. I do my own alignments and I have never measured mine. I wouldn’t think that the slight variation in caster left to right is a problem.

‘Specified’ toe is toe-in. So you have 0.29” toe-in. That’s a lot of toe in. Too much, I think. I would normally run Zero toe, but I have more negative camber (I have about -2.5° each side.) I would think that you would want 0.125 total toe in at the most. 0.06 or so would be my preference for your set-up. Otherwise, expect premature front tire wear.

These are my thoughts, for what they’re worth.

Steven Park
Burlington Ontario CANADA

[DustenT]

Thank you! This is exactly the kind of comment I was looking for! Can anyone else comment? If it's not setup correctly, I will get it fixed. The problem is that I don't know anything about these numbers, so I couldn't say it was good or bad when I picked the car up. I'm sure Firestone would be willing to work with me, as long as I gave them some numbers to shot for.

Thanks again!!

Originally Posted by TiredTi

Dusten:

The Before numbers are irrelevant, as you know. The After numbers are interesting. I will only comment on the front (I don’t have much experience with rear alignment yet.)

I normally run the same camber on the left and right sides. Wont more negative camber left than right cause a little ‘pulling’ to the right? Maybe that’s what you want.

Your caster looks fine. I do my own alignments and I have never measured mine. I wouldn’t think that the slight variation in caster left to right is a problem.

‘Specified’ toe is toe-in. So you have 0.29” toe-in. That’s a lot of toe in. Too much, I think. I would normally run Zero toe, but I have more negative camber (I have about -2.5° each side.) I would think that you would want 0.125 total toe in at the most. 0.06 or so would be my preference for your set-up. Otherwise, expect premature front tire wear.

These are my thoughts, for what they’re worth.

Steven Park
Burlington Ontario CANADA

[TiredTi]

But do you have adjuster plates for front caster/camber? If no, you can only adjust the Toe.

Many people say they have excessive tire-wear problems when they have high negative camber. In my experience, it is possible to get good tire wear even with high (-2.5° in my case) caster WITH CORRECT TOE SETTINGS. Don't be afraid to go with very small toe-in or even zero toe.

Remember though, eveyone has their own opinions about alignment. This is just mine!

S.

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by TiredTi

But do you have adjuster plates for front caster/camber? If no, you can only adjust the Toe.

This is a good point. I don't have the adjuster plates, but I guess I could get some. Those are the plates that mount on top of the front struts right? I was reading about them on the yahoo list and nobody could really recommend a good set, they all seem to have their faults.