e36 camber

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:48 pm

Well, it's time to pull the trigger on some front camber plates for the 328 so I can stay competitive this year. Right now I'm looking at some KMAC stage 2 plates. The guy at Turner recommended these and I can use them w/ my current non-coilover Bilstein struts. If you have recommendations on other plates that won’t wreak my budget, let me know.

I need to replace the bushings on the rear of the car as well. I'm still on the original stock bushing and w/ 170k on the car, I think it's time to replace at least the trailing arm bushing. I was thinking about replacing the lower control arm bushings with some of the camber bushings that BavAuto has for sale, but I have some concerns there. They are.....

> cost, ~250 for a set of camber bushings
> is using cambered bushings in the lower control arm legal for STS? From what I can tell from 14.8.H, I can replace the upper arm, but that’s price prohibitive at ~600 for the pair from Turner.
> can you get the recommended -2.5deg of rear camber from using stock components?

I’d appreciate some feedback from the bimmer drivers before I spend my money. I have ~1500 to spend and already burned up 500 on tires, and I still need to spend 200 on front hub bearings and 350 on camber plates. I also need to have the tires installed/balanced and have an autox alignment. My remaining money needs to be spent wisely….

Thanks all and have a great New Years!! :lol:

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

RodneyWright wrote:

Well, it's time to pull the trigger on some front camber plates for the 328 so I can stay competitive this year. Right now I'm looking at some KMAC stage 2 plates. The guy at Turner recommended these and I can use them w/ my current non-coilover Bilstein struts. If you have recommendations on other plates that won’t wreak my budget, let me know.

I need to replace the bushings on the rear of the car as well. I'm still on the original stock bushing and w/ 170k on the car, I think it's time to replace at least the trailing arm bushing. I was thinking about replacing the lower control arm bushings with some of the camber bushings that BavAuto has for sale, but I have some concerns there. They are.....

> cost, ~250 for a set of camber bushings
> is using cambered bushings in the lower control arm legal for STS? From what I can tell from 14.8.H, I can replace the upper arm, but that’s price prohibitive at ~600 for the pair from Turner.
> can you get the recommended -2.5deg of rear camber from using stock components?

My recommendations:

- Vorshlag camber plates. About $400 and will work with your springs. Very short stack height and nice design. Never been a fan of kmac personally. No problems using on the street.

- OE replacement RTABs with anyone's poly/delrin limiters. Vorshlag sells those too.

- -2.5 rear camber is a bit excessive. Doable with stock adjustment if the car is lowered. Personally I haven't felt a need to replace the lower arms yet, but others have noted that they are not very strong and may damage easily in an off-track excursion. No idea if it's STS legal; I haven't done them and have no plans to. Are your rear ctrl arm bushings so bad you need to replace them?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:48 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

My recommendations:

- Vorshlag camber plates. About $400 and will work with your springs. Very short stack height and nice design. Never been a fan of kmac personally. No problems using on the street.

- OE replacement RTABs with anyone's poly/delrin limiters. Vorshlag sells those too.

- -2.5 rear camber is a bit excessive. Doable with stock adjustment if the car is lowered. Personally I haven't felt a need to replace the lower arms yet, but others have noted that they are not very strong and may damage easily in an off-track excursion. No idea if it's STS legal; I haven't done them and have no plans to. Are your rear ctrl arm bushings so bad you need to replace them?

Mike.... As for the camber, all that I have read on bimmer forums indicates that the -3.5f/-2.5r is the best setup for autoxing the e36. Since I'm not an expert, I'll take there advice. What camber are you running? For everyone else driving an e36, what are your alignment settings? ...if you care to tell

As for the offset bushings and upper control arms, I was only going to use them if I wasn't able to get the camber I needed with stock parts. I'm also simply concerned about the mileage/abuse I've put on the car. I think right now just a fresh set of OE will do based on what you and others have said about getting camber on a lowered car. Is there a way to visually inspect the control arm bushings to see if they are bad?

You mentioned the Vorshlag camber plates. I've looked on there web site and they will fit my car....as long as I purchase the top plate for my Bilsteins. Total for the Vorshlag would be ~500 total. The KMAC I'm looking at are the stage 2, better build and no poly core. The Turner guy didn't recommend the standard KMAC, but did recommend the stage 2 set.

I appreciate the advice!

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:48 pm

See this thread....

http://www.thscc.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6691

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:58 pm

PhilFausz wrote:

See this thread....

http://www.thscc.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6691

Thanks for the reminder Phil, forgot about that thread... If Keith took to time to pyro check the tires, I think I'll change my way of thinking.... Damn, Mike was right again....

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:18 am

I am currently running 2.9f and 1.7r and it has worked well. I was worried 1.7 would be too much but the car still rotates pretty easily.

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:24 am

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I am currently running 2.9f and 1.7r and it has worked well. I was worried 1.7 would be too much but the car still rotates pretty easily.

One thing I'd like to do this year is step up to a larger size tire width wise and still use my wheels (17x8 Kosi K1's). My car is stock other than the wheels. Anyone have ideas or links on tire size, backspacing/spacers required? I'm a little hessitant to go to bimmer forums as I've seen a bit of conflicting info there.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:52 am

PhilFausz wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I am currently running 2.9f and 1.7r and it has worked well. I was worried 1.7 would be too much but the car still rotates pretty easily.

One thing I'd like to do this year is step up to a larger size tire width wise and still use my wheels (17x8 Kosi K1's). My car is stock other than the wheels. Anyone have ideas or links on tire size, backspacing/spacers required? I'm a little hessitant to go to bimmer forums as I've seen a bit of conflicting info there.

Aren't the Kosei's 17x8.5? I am running 17x9 et40 255/40 victo racers with 15mm spacers up front and rolled rear fenders. I don't have any problem with the fronts but the rears rub on the inside front of the fender well. It just barely rubs.

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:21 pm

MarcusMcRae wrote:

PhilFausz wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I am currently running 2.9f and 1.7r and it has worked well. I was worried 1.7 would be too much but the car still rotates pretty easily.

One thing I'd like to do this year is step up to a larger size tire width wise and still use my wheels (17x8 Kosi K1's). My car is stock other than the wheels. Anyone have ideas or links on tire size, backspacing/spacers required? I'm a little hessitant to go to bimmer forums as I've seen a bit of conflicting info there.

Aren't the Kosei's 17x8.5? I am running 17x9 et40 255/40 victo racers with 15mm spacers up front and rolled rear fenders. I don't have any problem with the fronts but the rears rub on the inside front of the fender well. It just barely rubs.

Yes, you're correct. 17x8.5 with 40mm offset. I hadn't realized you rolled your fenders. Guess I'll spend some time at BimmerForums before buying tires.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:53 pm

PhilFausz wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

PhilFausz wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

I am currently running 2.9f and 1.7r and it has worked well. I was worried 1.7 would be too much but the car still rotates pretty easily.

One thing I'd like to do this year is step up to a larger size tire width wise and still use my wheels (17x8 Kosi K1's). My car is stock other than the wheels. Anyone have ideas or links on tire size, backspacing/spacers required? I'm a little hessitant to go to bimmer forums as I've seen a bit of conflicting info there.

Aren't the Kosei's 17x8.5? I am running 17x9 et40 255/40 victo racers with 15mm spacers up front and rolled rear fenders. I don't have any problem with the fronts but the rears rub on the inside front of the fender well. It just barely rubs.

Yes, you're correct. 17x8.5 with 40mm offset. I hadn't realized you rolled your fenders. Guess I'll spend some time at BimmerForums before buying tires.

I only had to roll the rears. It's really easy to do. How big do want to go?

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

I hope i'm not too late, but

DON'T GET THE KMACS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

biggest pieces of shit i've ever seen.

I got a free set off a friend i used w/ the GC coilovers. Their stack height is GREATER than the stock strut mount and they slipped on me once. And i used a torque wrench on them.

Go w/ the vorshlags as recommended.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:38 am

DanDurusky wrote:

I hope i'm not too late, but

DON'T GET THE KMACS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

biggest pieces of shit i've ever seen.

I got a free set off a friend i used w/ the GC coilovers. Their stack height is GREATER than the stock strut mount and they slipped on me once. And i used a torque wrench on them.

Go w/ the vorshlags as recommended.

+1 M5board has some members with very poor experiences with K-mac. Here is a current thread on bimmerforums with nothing but bad things to say about them:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=909571

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

different vehicle altogether, but I believe Jeb had a pretty negative experience with KMAC camber plates on his 3, maybe he can speak more to it. I thought about buying them from him when he started parting the car out, and he didn't exactly have glowing reviews of them.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:23 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

different vehicle altogether, but I believe Jeb had a pretty negative experience with KMAC camber plates on his 3, maybe he can speak more to it. I thought about buying them from him when he started parting the car out, and he didn't exactly have glowing reviews of them.

Agreed, the standard KMAC are junk, but I was looking at the "stage 2" plate. After some additional investigation, I like the idea of being able to use the Vorshlag camber plate on ANY strut since all you have to do is buy the correct top plate. The price of the Vorshlag is more than I wanted to pay, but it seems to be the better decision from a design and function perspective.

....I'm off to spend money!

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