Weird rear camber?

liamduong · 01-12-2013, 06:47 PM

Went to Les Schwab to get an alignment. They told me they can't do the alignment for the rear because it requires a special tool. The tool in question has a part #323030. So, I told them to just do the front. I was looking at the print out measurement sheet that they gave me. The left rear has a camber of -2.4 and the right rear has a camber of -2.1. Now, is that possible without camber plates?

Finnegan · 01-12-2013, 07:49 PM

Camber plates for the front suspension only. You could have that much negative camber in the rear, if the car is lowered (springs, coil kit) or somebody installed adjustable control arms (unlikely).

The other option is that Les Schwab does not know what they're doing. If you stand behind a car you should be able to "see" that much negative camber at 10 to 20 feet. Take a picture from that angle and posted here. Since you don't have anything to compare to I can compare it to mine and see if it looks like there's more.

exdos · 01-13-2013, 12:40 PM

I can't see why an alignment shop can't adjust rear camber without a special tool. I've done my own geometry on my Z4MC and to adjust rear camber you need to adjust the eccentric bolt, Part 10 in the diagram below. Adjustment also affects toe as well, but since the Z4M already has a lot of toe-in at the rear, IMO, reducing -ve camber and toe-in is not a bad thing.

If you reduce the rear camber and then want to adjust rear toe on its own, you need to adjust it by moving Part 17, after slackening off the three retaining bolts.

As Finnegan says, lowering the car will increase negative camber and toe-in.

This isn't difficult to do.

01-12-2013, 06:47 PM	#1
liamduong Enlisted Member 3 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW Z4M Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Clovis iTrader: (1)	Weird rear camber? Went to Les Schwab to get an alignment. They told me they can't do the alignment for the rear because it requires a special tool. The tool in question has a part #323030. So, I told them to just do the front. I was looking at the print out measurement sheet that they gave me. The left rear has a camber of -2.4 and the right rear has a camber of -2.1. Now, is that possible without camber plates?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-12-2013, 07:49 PM	#2
Finnegan Dog Listener 703 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	Camber plates for the front suspension only. You could have that much negative camber in the rear, if the car is lowered (springs, coil kit) or somebody installed adjustable control arms (unlikely). The other option is that Les Schwab does not know what they're doing. If you stand behind a car you should be able to "see" that much negative camber at 10 to 20 feet. Take a picture from that angle and posted here. Since you don't have anything to compare to I can compare it to mine and see if it looks like there's more.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2013, 12:40 PM	#3
exdos Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 222 Posts Drives: Z3 M Coupe(S54) and Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I can't see why an alignment shop can't adjust rear camber without a special tool. I've done my own geometry on my Z4MC and to adjust rear camber you need to adjust the eccentric bolt, Part 10 in the diagram below. Adjustment also affects toe as well, but since the Z4M already has a lot of toe-in at the rear, IMO, reducing -ve camber and toe-in is not a bad thing. If you reduce the rear camber and then want to adjust rear toe on its own, you need to adjust it by moving Part 17, after slackening off the three retaining bolts. As Finnegan says, lowering the car will increase negative camber and toe-in. This isn't difficult to do.
	Appreciate 0 Quote