4 Wheel Alignment Issues

[TheDan]

Hi all,

Took my Z4 to get a full Hunter 4 wheel alignment today.

Before the alignment I had changed the following components:

• Front shocks, springs + top mounts

• Front control arm + lollipop bush

• Front tie rod arm

• Front drop (stabilizer) link

• Rear shocks, springs + top mounts

I have attached a photo of the alignment printout. He said they were really struggling to make the adjustments on the rear due to play and worn bushes. This I can believe as they haven't been changed since the car was new. What I can't understand is how they failed to get the front camber within tolerances when all the components were new.

Can someone outline how the front and rear camber and toe adjustments are done please? This will help me understand what needs to be done so the garage can get the settings within tolerances.

 

[brillomaster]

front camber isnt really adjustable per say - however, if you take the alignment pin out, the front camber can be adjusted by sliding the suspension in or out in their slightly slotted holes.

cant exactly remember how the rear is adjusted, so i'll leave that for someone else.

Also, if you werent happy with your chosen alignment place, i can recommend Spires Technologies on Heathcote industrial estate. Well used to setting up BMW racecars, did a great job setting up my Z4 before a trip to Spa.

also consider swapping rear lower control arms for those off an M3 - they have a ball joint rather than a bush on the end, so have better dynamic toe control.

 

[TheDan]

front camber isnt really adjustable per say - however, if you take the alignment pin out, the front camber can be adjusted by sliding the suspension in or out in their slightly slotted holes.

Thanks for this, really useful info. I removed the alignment pin during the struts and top mounts change, meaning the adjustment should be possible (albeit probably quite tricky to do).

I may have to do some bush refreshes at the rear and then I may try giving Spires a ring. It is my daily car though and I will only be doing a few track days a year.

 

[Zedebee]

According to “current measurements” you have a flat tyre

 

[BladaHugy]

I've had a similar issue on my E86. The front camber is supposed to be adjustable, but the 'shop wasn't interested, said it couldn't be done. I went to BMW who got the manual out for me. You loosen the nuts locating the strut and use a special BMW tool to very slightly reposition the strut, then tighten up. They didn't have the equipment to do it though. From what I could see there was almost no room to move, and actually I had very little confidence that the camber was being measured accurately enough to measure the change, but you might have an advantage being in an advanced manufacturing nation and all. :lol:

 

[brillomaster]

Special tool!?! Once the alignment pin is out and the three nuts holding the top mount are loosened, you can move the strut by hand! It probably gives 0.3 degrees of adjustment, but it should be enough to get both sides equal.

To get more than that you need adjustable camber plates, or adjustable lower control arms, or both.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

Took my Z4 to get a full Hunter 4 wheel alignment today.

Before the alignment I had changed the following components:

• Front shocks, springs + top mounts

• Front control arm + lollipop bush

• Front tie rod arm

• Front drop (stabilizer) link

• Rear shocks, springs + top mounts

Hi, did you manage to get any joy on this? Ive just done the exact same thing and im concerned that i might run into the same problems.

 

[TheDan]

Hi, did you manage to get any joy on this? Ive just done the exact same thing and im concerned that i might run into the same problems.

Haven't yet sorted anything in terms of replacing components or getting another alignment done. The front toe and rear toe + camber are far better than they were and I can certainly notice. At some point in Jan I am hoping to take it to Spires Technologies and get their assessment on whether any rear bushes will need to be replaced to get the rear camber and toe within tolerances. I am pretty sure the front left camber is adjustable to within tolerances, not sure why the garage couldn't do it though.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, i'll keep an eye out on this thread for updates. Im nowhere near completion just yet as Autodoc sent out a wrong shock anyway....

Ive been talking to these guys:
https://www.iarc.co.uk/
As they are a BMW approved repair centre with a Hunter alignment jig and the owner races BMW's im hoping they might be a bit more flexible in their approach to solving any problems.