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      12-12-2009, 12:47 PM   #1
miamie92m3
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Question Dinan Springs & Alignment Issues

Just put on Dinan Springs and 12mm MS spacers all around. Car looks great. No vibration, no body roll. Feels rock solid. However, the car is now pulling to the right. The alignment shop said they aligned it per Dinan specs. Anyone else have issues after putting springs/spacers on? Is this normal?

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      12-12-2009, 01:15 PM   #2
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Not to hijack your thread too much, but do you mind posting pics of your car with the new drop?
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      12-12-2009, 02:00 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miamie92m3 View Post
Just put on Dinan Springs and 12mm MS spacers all around. Car looks great. No vibration, no body roll. Feels rock solid. However, the car is now pulling to the right. The alignment shop said they aligned it per Dinan specs. Anyone else have issues after putting springs/spacers on? Is this normal?

Thanks!
What are the Dinan Specs they aligned it too ? I have Dinan Springs 15mm Front and 12mm rear and no issues .
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      12-12-2009, 02:11 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doba_s View Post
What are the Dinan Specs they aligned it too ? I have Dinan Springs 15mm Front and 12mm rear and no issues .
Speaking to my local Dinan dealer he said they were very close to stock.
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      12-12-2009, 03:42 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STALKER View Post
Speaking to my local Dinan dealer he said they were very close to stock.
Is it safe to say that Dinan specs are within BMW approved specs ?
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      12-12-2009, 04:40 PM   #6
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The spec are probably a little different given the different ride height. Maybe a little more front camber and a little toe? The car shouldn't pull, take it back.
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      12-12-2009, 05:47 PM   #7
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Is it pulling or drifting down from the center crown of the road? Part of the increased camber.
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      12-12-2009, 06:16 PM   #8
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Yes for the most part, BMW and Dinan alignment specs overlap (stage 1 only)
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      12-12-2009, 06:20 PM   #9
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I have the same issue.
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      12-12-2009, 07:36 PM   #10
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If you're alignment is done, next thing I'd do is check your tire pressures.
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      12-12-2009, 11:43 PM   #11
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Can anyone describe how hard the car is pulling? For example, when you let go of the steering wheel, does it gradualy go to the right or does it swerve to the right?
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      12-13-2009, 12:55 AM   #12
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I have no issues whatsoever with my Dinan stage 1.
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      12-13-2009, 01:47 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rldzhao View Post
Yes for the most part, BMW and Dinan alignment specs overlap (stage 1 only)
Richard do you have a Dinan alignment sheet by any chance ?

Thanks.
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      12-13-2009, 02:40 AM   #14
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Basically the car pulls to the right the minute you let off the steering wheel. There is also some tension to the right as you hold the car to go straight. I wouldnt say it swerves the minute you let go. Funny thing is I expected this to happen. Last car I had (987S Boxster S) I put H&R springs and it took 3 alignments to get it right..... not sure why but I hate a car that pulls. Mine ALWAYS go right. Never had a car pull left. I'm taking the M back on MOnday and getting it re-aligned ANyways, on a side note, I also went with a full AA exhaust/X-pipe. Its completely ridiculous. The best part is there is very little cabin drone or noise. It just screams when you want it to. The car also now emits some very mean burbling/back pressure noises that I love. This thing stock was just pitiful. Way too quiet.
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      12-13-2009, 09:11 AM   #15
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I have stage 2 and it goes DOWN HILL because of increased camber ie. down from the crown of the road so in the left lane of a three lane highway it drifts left and to the right in the right lane-it doesn't drift on the crown of a one lane one way road.Dont wanna be stubborn but this could be the issue- I got used to it in a week(alot less annoying than adaptive steering!)
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      12-13-2009, 01:50 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miamie92m3 View Post
Basically the car pulls to the right the minute you let off the steering wheel. There is also some tension to the right as you hold the car to go straight. I wouldnt say it swerves the minute you let go. Funny thing is I expected this to happen. Last car I had (987S Boxster S) I put H&R springs and it took 3 alignments to get it right..... not sure why but I hate a car that pulls. Mine ALWAYS go right. Never had a car pull left. I'm taking the M back on MOnday and getting it re-aligned ANyways, on a side note, I also went with a full AA exhaust/X-pipe. Its completely ridiculous. The best part is there is very little cabin drone or noise. It just screams when you want it to. The car also now emits some very mean burbling/back pressure noises that I love. This thing stock was just pitiful. Way too quiet.
Alright my friend here are a few posibilities for your car to pull right... it could be a single or a combination of these reasons...

1) Your alignment is off. Solution: get it aligned at a BMW dealer (as much as I hate them). Dealer's tech would have more experience with these just because of the volume of cars that go through, so they are more likely to do it correctly. Dealers also have the latest equipment and alignment procedures.

2) Your tires are worn unevenly. When I had my car aligned my steering wheel was still slightly off-centered, and it was due to uneven wear between my left and right tires.

3) You may just be driving on an uneven road. As you already know roads are crowned to drain water, that's why even a perfectly aligned car may pull to the right slightly.

4) You may just be feeling the increased negative camber. Wheels with more negative camber are more inclined to turn. Add this to the crown of the road, and you car will pull.

In sum, a slight pull is ok. And my definition of slight is that at highway speeds, you can let go of the wheel for a good 5 seconds and stay in the same lane. If not, then you should get it corrected.

Hope this helps.
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      12-13-2009, 09:42 PM   #17
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Thank you very much for the input. This is definitely not a slight pull. Within 1 sec the car is already going right and it does this on the left side of the crown as well. Checked tire pressure, have brand new tires, etc. The shop is going to re-align it.
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      12-15-2009, 06:01 PM   #18
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Took the car back to alignment shop, which has a great reputation. He went through a number of exercises and believes the car is pulling because of a tire pull and not related to the alignment specs. My question is, if the car did not pull prior to putting springs on it, and now it does, could the lower stance/spacers cause a tire pull to now appear? I also replaced the rears at the time of spring installation, fronts had plenty of tread on them. All tires were balanced. This is driving me crazy!
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      12-15-2009, 06:03 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miamie92m3 View Post
Took the car back to alignment shop, which has a great reputation. He went through a number of exercises and believes the car is pulling because of a tire pull and not related to the alignment specs. My question is, if the car did not pull prior to putting springs on it, and now it does, could the lower stance/spacers cause a tire pull to now appear? I also replaced the rears at the time of spring installation, fronts had plenty of tread on them. All tires were balanced. This is driving me crazy!
swap the left and right front tires. if it now pulls to the left, the mechanic is right, if not, get your money back and go to a different shop.
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