PDA

View Full Version : Should I get a set of camber plates?



Anton CH.
04-08-2007, 02:01 PM
As a little background, I had my Konis installed about 1.5 years ago. From pretty much day one one of the shocks was leaking, in addition the shock mount was slowly giving away, could be a coincidence. But now the driver front shock leaks at an unacceptable rate.

Should I go ahead and get camber plates as well? Right now I autocross my car and the tires don't have enough camber. But eventually I will buy a second car and keep this as a daily.

Ground control:
http://www.ground-control-store.com/images/datapage/CCPe28_dp.jpg

IR plates:
https://secure7.nexternal.com/ireland/images/e30streetcamber1.JPG

Jeff N.
04-08-2007, 03:22 PM
Get the fixed Ireland Engineering plates.

You'll find the extra camber really improves the turn in. Some minor impact on edge wear.

I've had mine (adjustable) for years - love them. Only thing I would do different is get the fixed ones as I have never adjusted mine once in.

Be sure to swap in the 3mm front spring pads at the same time to offset the impact of the added thickness of the plate.

Anton CH.
04-08-2007, 06:32 PM
Right now I wouldn't mind the extra wear on the inside of the tire.

How much camber do you have now, and are you maxing them out?

The adjustable Ireland Engineering plates add a bit more camber. Plus I need new mounts anyway, so might as well as go for the better ones.


Get the fixed Ireland Engineering plates.

You'll find the extra camber really improves the turn in. Some minor impact on edge wear.

I've had mine (adjustable) for years - love them. Only thing I would do different is get the fixed ones as I have never adjusted mine once in.

Be sure to swap in the 3mm front spring pads at the same time to offset the impact of the added thickness of the plate.

BigKriss
04-08-2007, 07:26 PM
I bought the IE fixed ones but have yet to install them. When you purchase new strut mounts, as you suggested you are going to do, the price is nearing towards a set of adjustables anyway.

632 Regal
04-08-2007, 07:40 PM
Invalid poll, no who is Winfred option.

the ground control plates look real nice.

Anton CH.
04-08-2007, 09:45 PM
Where is Winfred anyway?

Found some UUC ones which are supposed to retain the stock ride height, 350 though :-O

http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/suspension/camber/camber.jpg

Jeff N.
04-08-2007, 10:10 PM
All the plates have the same physical limit: The top of the spring hat can only move so far over in the strut tower. The IE's pretty much have the hat over as far as it will go. After that, you have to start to change the lower geometry with different mounts or bending the strut base.

Here's a few things I can share after likely about 30k miles with the plates installed.

- change in the inner/outer wear in day to day driving is minimal. My tires wear nice and even.
- marginal improvement on track days on outer edge scrub. It was better but I would still kill the outer 1/3 of the tire.
- significant improvement in turn-in. Love that.

If you need new mounts, you have some options at the mounts are about $80 a pop.

My setup is currently this:

Dinan Springs (about 1" drop in the nose)
RD sways
IE cambers
+1 rims

Car's tight and corners well. I can stay with E36 M3's on the track in momentum corners (they power out much better than me but we have similar stick).

Jeff




Right now I wouldn't mind the extra wear on the inside of the tire.

How much camber do you have now, and are you maxing them out?

The adjustable Ireland Engineering plates add a bit more camber. Plus I need new mounts anyway, so might as well as go for the better ones.

Boom n Zoom
04-09-2007, 07:10 PM
It look as though the CG Camber/Caster kits you have pictured won't fit unless you have coilovers fitted. The only option is the Spec E30 Plates at another $100.00 each.

Cheers!

BnZ

BigKriss
04-19-2007, 01:17 AM
K-mac now make some newer deisgn front strut camber plates (http://www.k-mac.com.au/pages/fromfrontpage/camberinfo.htm). I'm thinking the full solid ones would transmit too much road noise, but I don't mind the thought of a solid mount. Noltec don't make a camber plate for my car, so they are out of the question. Any other thoughts about this here?

I was quoted usd$102 each for stock strut mounts.

Anton CH.
04-19-2007, 11:54 AM
It look as though the CG Camber/Caster kits you have pictured won't fit unless you have coilovers fitted. The only option is the Spec E30 Plates at another $100.00 each.

Cheers!

BnZ

Yup, you are right, they wont fit. They looked very well designed too.

Anton CH.
04-19-2007, 11:59 AM
K-mac now make some newer deisgn front strut camber plates (http://www.k-mac.com.au/pages/fromfrontpage/camberinfo.htm). I'm thinking the full solid ones would transmit too much road noise, but I don't mind the thought of a solid mount. Noltec don't make a camber plate for my car, so they are out of the question. Any other thoughts about this here?

I was quoted usd$102 each for stock strut mounts.

I wouldn't get the K-macs if I were you. Not a road car anyway. I hear bad things about them getting out of alignment with time and difficulty of adjustment. Plus with solid mounts I'd be really worried about cracking the shock tower.

I am not sure if we have any other options. From my research, basically whatever works on the e30, will work on the e34 chassis.

As of now I am leaning towards the UUC ones:

No change in ride height
OEM style bearing
Not a solid mount


I contacted Rob at UUC, he said that e30 ones will work with our chassis.

BigKriss
04-23-2007, 07:55 AM
What do you guys think of Meyle "Heavy Duty" front strut mounts?

http://www.meyle.com/html/uploads/techtips/StrutMount_BMW_07.04_EN.pdf

genphreak
04-23-2007, 08:04 AM
What do you guys think of Meyle "Heavy Duty" front strut mounts?

http://www.meyle.com/html/uploads/techtips/StrutMount_BMW_07.04_EN.pdf

I have a set if you need em.

New OEM BMW ones. I was keeping keep them for mine- but I have good ones on her so that'd be OK. I probably also still have my old set- there is nothing wrong with them but they may not last :) Nick