Bad alignment, extreme camber after coilover install

[swe_m3]

Hey everyone,

I recently had a shop install a set of new Ohlins R & T Coilovers with GC Camber Plates. After trying to do an alignment, the camber won’t go above -2.5 degrees in the front on both sides.

I am confused as to why this is the case, before the install I was at -2.1 on both sides. The shop seems to be stuck on this as well, as my car has been there for the past week.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? All four front control arms have been replaced in the past year or so as well.

[Ervin87]

Ground Control makes a street and race camber plate for the E9X, if I recall. Wonder if one alloes more negative camber than the other?

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by swe_m3

Hey everyone, I recently had a shop install a set of new Ohlins R & T Coilovers with GC Camber Plates. After trying to do an alignment, the camber won’t go above -2.5 degrees in the front on both sides. I am confused as to why this is the case, before the install I was at -2.1 on both sides. The shop seems to be stuck on this as well, as my car has been there for the past week. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? All four front control arms have been replaced in the past year or so as well.

When the car's ride height is altered (either lower or higher) it's camber and toe values will change. It may not be possible to achieve OEM alignment specs with the coil-overs unless the camber plates have enough adjustment variability range. Alignment varies with either dynamic or static ride height changes. This is a function of the suspension design and roll centers. IF the shop can not achieve OEM alignment specs at the desired and current ride height then that is understandably a normal ramification of altered ride height and or the limitations of the camber plates.

[Thumbie]

Did any other arms get changed?

[TboneS54]

Is the car slammed? That would cause camber to farther inward.

Perhaps they installed the plates on the wrong side (left on right side vice versa)

Perhaps camber is set at -2.5 and the adjustment they're doing is caster and they think it's camber?

[swe_m3]

Just the drove the car a bit more and i’m rubbing on the front tires on occasional bumps. Is this expected with aggresive camber?

I was not rubbing before when I was lowered at this same height or even a bit lower on HAS springs.

[Thumbie]

I think it's time to take it to another alignment shop.

[Ajolives]

Is the height adjustment maxed on the coil over?

[swe_m3]

Originally Posted by Ajolives

Is the height adjustment maxed on the coil over?

No it’s not. This was done at a very reputable shop.

I’ll re-align it beginning of next season at a track focused shop, maybe with some adjustable spl arms.

[tlrid3r]

I would mostly like check if the GC camber plates was install on right side. It’s very easy to install left on the right side and vise versa.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by TboneS54

Is the car slammed? That would cause camber to farther inward.

Perhaps they installed the plates on the wrong side (left on right side vice versa)

Perhaps camber is set at -2.5 and the adjustment they're doing is caster and they think it's camber?

Originally Posted by tlrid3r

I would mostly like check if the GC camber plates was install on right side. It’s very easy to install left on the right side and vise versa.

The GC plates have a full range of 23 mm with -16 mm to +7 mm, with 0 mm equal to 0 deg camber, so if installed on the wrong side of the car and assuming the correct max negative camber adjustment is -4.0 deg at -16 mm, the incorrectly installed camber plates would produce a max negative camber of -4.0 deg * 7 mm / 16 mm = -1.75 deg of camber. You cannot reach -2.5 deg of camber if the camber plates are installed incorrectly on the left or right side.

The GC plates do not have a true caster adjustment. Caster is minimally adjusted by the smaller diameter fastener going through the wider camber plate slot in the direction 90 deg off from the camber slot direction; i.e., the castor direction. It’s a small amount of caster adjustment and would have a very small effect on the camber setting.

Something else is limiting the camber to -2.5 deg. I wonder what an e92 camber plate installed on an e92 M3 would do, if it’s possible? Another possibility is something is preventing the knuckle from freely rotating past -2.5 deg of camber?

[Redd]

But what's wrong with -2.5 deg camber? It's perfectly acceptable.

[Thumbie]

I run -2.5 lol. It's awesome compared to stock alignment.

But my friends who track a lot run -4. I've driven one of them (with 200tw tires too) and it HOOKS brother

Not recommended for street driving lol

[LSB M3]

Happened to me, the strut was bent from Ohlins. They had a flawed batch, likely the case here. You can't eyeball it, might have to take it to a shop.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by LSB M3

Happened to me, the strut was bent from Ohlins. They had a flawed batch, likely the case here. You can't eyeball it, might have to take it to a shop.

If it was only a bent piston rod on one side then I might believe it but both front piston rods being bent at the same time I don’t believe it; however, I suppose it could happen albeit with a very, very low probability. IMO, I’d blame the camber plates first and ask GC what the max-min camber range in deg, not mm, of adjustment does the GC street camber plate have?

This was/is an issue with one of the top damper manufacturers had/are having issues with piston rods bending. They now claim their piston rods are ultra-strong so it sounds like this issue has likely been addressed now.