Ex-Marlon E85 Update & Help Request

[Smartbear]

When I got my car ten years ago it had epic and dangerous tramlining on it's original worn runflats, a change to Falkens and a 4 wheel alignment cured it. A few years later I swapped to staggered 18's with Goodyear Eagles and tramlining was back. I then spent 12 months going through new rear springs, lots of bushes including lollypops and anti-roll bars, track rod ends etc which got rid of most of it. Finally got it sorted with a competent 4 wheel alignment by someone who understood that it's no use using factory settings on a car which has been changed from it's factory, wheels, tyres, springs and bushes. It now runs true with no wiggle even on inside lane canyons or greasy white lines.

Having done a LOT of reading during all this I came to the conclusion that 50% of the issue is tyre construction and tread pattern. A piece I found and posted a while ago explained that the stiffer the tyre and more 'square' the edge profile the more likely it is to sit in ruts and lines and not climb out, which makes sense. Supported by my experience with Falkens, which were quite forgiving and have a rounded edge profile and were fine, and Eagles that are stiffer and square edged. So it's worth considering the edge profile when choosing tyres and getting a really competent 4 wheel alignment.

Thanks for your detailed feedback, this is much appreciated. The second alignment is being done tomorrow morning and I will make sure they weight the car correctly and reset the steering angle sensor. If that doesn't improve it, I will try without spacers and if that doesn't work my first expenditure will be on new front tyres for sure. Thanks again.

You may need to fit standard length wheel bolts after removing the spacers, longer ones are normally needed when spacers are fitted
Rob

 

[n1cecupoftea]

When I got my car ten years ago it had epic and dangerous tramlining on it's original worn runflats, a change to Falkens and a 4 wheel alignment cured it. A few years later I swapped to staggered 18's with Goodyear Eagles and tramlining was back. I then spent 12 months going through new rear springs, lots of bushes including lollypops and anti-roll bars, track rod ends etc which got rid of most of it. Finally got it sorted with a competent 4 wheel alignment by someone who understood that it's no use using factory settings on a car which has been changed from it's factory, wheels, tyres, springs and bushes. It now runs true with no wiggle even on inside lane canyons or greasy white lines.

Having done a LOT of reading during all this I came to the conclusion that 50% of the issue is tyre construction and tread pattern. A piece I found and posted a while ago explained that the stiffer the tyre and more 'square' the edge profile the more likely it is to sit in ruts and lines and not climb out, which makes sense. Supported by my experience with Falkens, which were quite forgiving and have a rounded edge profile and were fine, and Eagles that are stiffer and square edged. So it's worth considering the edge profile when choosing tyres and getting a really competent 4 wheel alignment.

Thanks for your detailed feedback, this is much appreciated. The second alignment is being done tomorrow morning and I will make sure they weight the car correctly and reset the steering angle sensor. If that doesn't improve it, I will try without spacers and if that doesn't work my first expenditure will be on new front tyres for sure. Thanks again.

You may need to fit standard length wheel bolts after removing the spacers, longer ones are normally needed when spacers are fitted
Rob

Good point! Thank you Sir!

 

[n1cecupoftea]

Update; the 2nd alignment was done this morning.

I made sure they adjusted the tyre pressure, added the BMW specified ballast weight and locked the steering bang on straight first.

With the extra weight in the car the rear camber was within spec but the front and rear toe was marginally out. They adjusted this and reset the steering angle sensor.

I then went on an 80 mile drive on mostly B roads, including the long straight bumpy B road I use for testing comparison. It now feels a lot better. I now need to decide if I want to try without spacers or swapping the front tyres. My current thought is to leave it as is because I like the look with the spacers and I can live with the current minor amount of straight line instability.

Please see results below.

Thanks again all for you help with this.