problem with toe, cupping tires - help!

embacpa · 02-17-2012, 10:57 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

i have a 2011 M3 sedan and have had cupping issues. i have found that my camber and caster stay dead on, but the toe is getting out of spec too quickly and easily. the camber bushings are much larger than the toe bushings. my dealership is digging in to see what we can do. i am hopeful we can install a polybronz bushing to help the situation.

here's what i did. knowing that the alignment was out on the last set of cupped tires, i purchased a new set and had an alignment ($150) done when mounting. i then did another alignment ($150) after a couple thousand miles. the camber was still dead on, but the toe was out. So, i did another alignment (don't think they are going to charge me) after a couple thousand miles to find that the camber was dead on, but the toe was out again.

so, something is not holding as it relates to toe. i'll let you know what they come back with.

anyone else have similar issues/findings?

VSmotorsports · 02-17-2012, 11:14 AM

How does your car drive on the street, what are the symptoms that you know your toe is off to go get an alignment? Does it pull, the steering wheel off center? Also what are your toe specs?

The alignment settings can change when you go back on the alignment rack even after getting an alignment just before. Just changing where the person who performs the alignment puts the steering wheel, will change the specs. So if they are an inch to left where they did the alignment last time the toe will show up different on the screen because where the steering wheel was set and toe adjusted from.

Not saying that is your case but that is possible they are just not setting the steering wheel in the same place each time they align it. So it seems toe is always off

RickyBobby · 02-17-2012, 11:48 AM

I had this problem once when the alignment tech didn't tighten the rear toe bolt properly. After a full track season, it hasn't budged (I check my toe before every track day.
Make sure they're tightening the bolts to spec.

embacpa · 02-17-2012, 03:55 PM

what has caused me to keep checking is the cupping. i have the same mechanic do it each time, on the same machine, i fill the tank full with gas each time, and i am with the mechanic each time. that said, the maching could be out of spec. we'll see what comes back from the puma case. good question, thanks

VSmotorsports · 02-17-2012, 04:46 PM

Ok. If its just your edges of the tires that are cupping that could also be a symptom of under inflated tires.

Let us know what the puma case comes back with.

embacpa · 02-18-2012, 09:42 PM

i maintain the pressure weekly. good to know though. i'll stay on top of it.

embacpa · 05-24-2012, 04:40 PM

update: puma resulted in confirmation that toe bushings settle a bit. they are not doing anything about it. i think everything is fine now, but still dissapointing. if they know this, they should at least tell you that you will need to check your alignment frequently during the first 10,000 miles or so.

Malek · 05-24-2012, 05:58 PM

What are you setting the toe values to?

embacpa · 05-24-2012, 06:55 PM

factory spec

Malek · 05-24-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embacpa

factory spec

Post the actual values and I can probably help you figure this out.

02-17-2012, 10:57 AM	#1
embacpa Enlisted Member Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: summerfield, nc Posts: 35 iTrader: (0)	problem with toe, cupping tires - help! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i have a 2011 M3 sedan and have had cupping issues. i have found that my camber and caster stay dead on, but the toe is getting out of spec too quickly and easily. the camber bushings are much larger than the toe bushings. my dealership is digging in to see what we can do. i am hopeful we can install a polybronz bushing to help the situation. here's what i did. knowing that the alignment was out on the last set of cupped tires, i purchased a new set and had an alignment ($150) done when mounting. i then did another alignment ($150) after a couple thousand miles. the camber was still dead on, but the toe was out. So, i did another alignment (don't think they are going to charge me) after a couple thousand miles to find that the camber was dead on, but the toe was out again. so, something is not holding as it relates to toe. i'll let you know what they come back with. anyone else have similar issues/findings?
	Tweet

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

02-17-2012, 11:14 AM	#2
VSmotorsports Lieutenant Colonel Drives: e92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Schaumburg, IL Posts: 1,638 iTrader: (3)	How does your car drive on the street, what are the symptoms that you know your toe is off to go get an alignment? Does it pull, the steering wheel off center? Also what are your toe specs? The alignment settings can change when you go back on the alignment rack even after getting an alignment just before. Just changing where the person who performs the alignment puts the steering wheel, will change the specs. So if they are an inch to left where they did the alignment last time the toe will show up different on the screen because where the steering wheel was set and toe adjusted from. Not saying that is your case but that is possible they are just not setting the steering wheel in the same place each time they align it. So it seems toe is always off

02-17-2012, 11:48 AM	#3
RickyBobby Lieutenant Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NorCal Posts: 400 iTrader: (1)	I had this problem once when the alignment tech didn't tighten the rear toe bolt properly. After a full track season, it hasn't budged (I check my toe before every track day. Make sure they're tightening the bolts to spec.

02-17-2012, 03:55 PM	#4
embacpa Enlisted Member Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: summerfield, nc Posts: 35 iTrader: (0)	what has caused me to keep checking is the cupping. i have the same mechanic do it each time, on the same machine, i fill the tank full with gas each time, and i am with the mechanic each time. that said, the maching could be out of spec. we'll see what comes back from the puma case. good question, thanks

02-17-2012, 04:46 PM	#5
VSmotorsports Lieutenant Colonel Drives: e92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Schaumburg, IL Posts: 1,638 iTrader: (3)	Ok. If its just your edges of the tires that are cupping that could also be a symptom of under inflated tires. Let us know what the puma case comes back with.

02-18-2012, 09:42 PM	#6
embacpa Enlisted Member Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: summerfield, nc Posts: 35 iTrader: (0)	i maintain the pressure weekly. good to know though. i'll stay on top of it.

05-24-2012, 04:40 PM	#7
embacpa Enlisted Member Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: summerfield, nc Posts: 35 iTrader: (0)	update: puma resulted in confirmation that toe bushings settle a bit. they are not doing anything about it. i think everything is fine now, but still dissapointing. if they know this, they should at least tell you that you will need to check your alignment frequently during the first 10,000 miles or so.

05-24-2012, 05:58 PM	#8
Malek Colonel Drives: E92 ZCP Melbourne 6MT Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Irvine, California Posts: 2,804 iTrader: (5)	What are you setting the toe values to?

05-24-2012, 06:55 PM	#9
embacpa Enlisted Member Drives: 2011 M3 Sedan Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: summerfield, nc Posts: 35 iTrader: (0)	factory spec