XSeries-forum

Can some one say with a reasonable amount of confidence which of the two eccentric bolts is for camber.  If you google it's about 50/50. Don't say take it for a wheel alignment. My main reason for asking is that I've had a wheel alignment done some time ago and was told the best they could get the camber was 2.40. Max is supposed to be 2.10. This surprised me as I had basically renewed everything. Having just had a wheel off to spread some copper slip  about to stop the brakes squealing I notice that both eccentrics are roughly in the middle, surely at least one should be on maximum. As they are why can't it be brought within spec?
The next time I go I would like to be armed with more knowledge.

Morning Henry
When I got my 4.6 I had the same issue the car had 75k and a full BMW history, it was showing signs of inner edge wear at the rear tyres so in for alignment. I was told it needed new swing arms as the inner bushes were worn. If the inner bushes were toast I figured so were all the other suspension parts and decided to rebuild the rear suspension. From memory there are 2 eccentric adjustment bolts 1 in the swing arm (rear bush adjusts camber) and 1 in the upper suspension link (adjusts toe)

When I stripped everything the inner bushes looked OK however I had no eccentric bolt in the lower arm instead it had a wrong size M12 bolt still had the eccentric washer fitted that was defomed by the guid welds ?? Whether it was built like that, doubtful. Or someone else had been making adjustments and managed to shear the bolt, highly likely in my opinion. I rebuilt the rear suspension and re-bushed the lower arms new eccentric bolts were fitted upper and lower with copper slip on the bolt shafts. Alignment was done and all has been well for 2 plus years.

[quote="Greydog"]
Morning Henry
When I got my 4.6 I had the same issue the car had 75k and a full BMW history, it was showing signs of inner edge wear at the rear tyres so in for alignment. I was told it needed new swing arms as the inner bushes were worn. If the inner bushes were toast I figured so were all the other suspension parts and decided to rebuild the rear suspension. From memory there are 2 eccentric adjustment bolts 1 in the swing arm (rear bush adjusts camber) and 1 in the upper suspension link (adjusts toe)

When I stripped everything the inner bushes looked OK however I had no eccentric bolt in the lower arm instead it had a wrong size M12 bolt still had the eccentric washer fitted that was defomed by the guid welds ?? Whether it was built like that, doubtful. Or someone else had been making adjustments and managed to shear the bolt, highly likely in my opinion. I rebuilt the rear suspension and re-bushed the lower arms new eccentric bolts were fitted upper and lower with copper slip on the bolt shafts. Alignment was done and all has been well for 2 plus years.
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I have had excessive camber and it has been identified as the lower rose bush - two garages missed the condition of that bush even though I asked them to look for causes of excessive camber (as we had adjusted up to the max and it still wasn't right) Im due to get it fitted in the next week or two so will report back and confirm if that fixed the camber.

But if you are not sure which of the two could you not do one first, counting how many adjustment turns you made, then check visually in the first instance to see if it sorted it. If no luck there then reset it back to where it was and go through the same process with the other?

Smee

Smee

Thanks Greydog for the input. So your saying the lower rear eccentric is camber, it's just that eccentric is mid point and I'm being told it's the best they can do. I'm basically pissed of paying people who seem to know even less than me. I think I'll go down Smee's route and mark up where it is at the moment and have a play myself. Don't get me wrong the current tyres have 20k so it's not bad but it's not perfect. I have a camber tool so I'll have a go with that. I reckon these tyres have another 5k and I want the readings within spec before I renew. If it was perfect there's got to be 35k in a set.

Hi Henry
When I rebuilt the rear suspension and fitted the correct eccentric bolt the amount of adjustment in/out that can be achieved with one rotation of the bolt was huge. I use a BMW specialist who did the final set up and alignment his opinion is toe adjustment and tyre pressure are more important than camber in preserving tyre life.

Greydog, It's interesting that you made that comment about toe, your the second person that's mentioned the importance of toe and tyre pressure over camber. Of course in the ideal camber should be within spec, but I hear what your saying, been told that the nearer 0 you can get toe the more miles you'll get out of tyres.

[quote="Greydog"]
Hi Henry
When I rebuilt the rear suspension and fitted the correct eccentric bolt the amount of adjustment in/out that can be achieved with one rotation of the bolt was huge. I use a BMW specialist who did the final set up and alignment his opinion is toe adjustment and tyre pressure are more important than camber in preserving tyre life.
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Agreed. I have excessive camber (either due to lower rose bush or ball joints - both of which are getting done soon), yet toe and tyre pressures are maintained spot on and there hasn't been an ounce of excessive or unusual tyre wear and the camber is really really really over pronounced