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View Full Version : Is this normal? Large wheel gap after jacking up car


stejus
10-13-2007, 08:50 PM
This is my first BMW and I really noticed a huge wheel gap (around 4") after raising and lowering the front back to the ground.

I've jacked up several cars in my lifetime but never really noticed if there was a large wheel gap after lowering it.

I want to drive to see if it settles back down but i have to wait 24 hrs for the G2 paint to dry...
greenie99
10-13-2007, 09:23 PM
This is my first BMW and I really noticed a huge wheel gap (around 4") after raising and lowering the front back to the ground.

I've jacked up several cars in my lifetime but never really noticed if there was a large wheel gap after lowering it.

I want to drive to see if it settles back down but i have to wait 24 hrs for the G2 paint to dry...

This is normal. The suspension will settle.
stejus
10-13-2007, 09:33 PM
greenie99
Thanks. I thought it was but i wanted to make sure. My last car (Acura CL-S) had more wheel gap than my new car.

Thanks for your help.

Steve
Grumpa72
10-13-2007, 10:08 PM
Yep, it will all settle in once you drive it again.
greenie99
10-14-2007, 10:01 AM
Steve, when I first experienced this with my Audi, I pinched myself to make sure that I was seeing correctly! But if you REALLY want to experience something surreal, well, Ive been there. The A8 has 4 settings for suspension height that has a central controller that is computer driven. I always drive in the "dynamic" mode because of the handling and, quite frankly, the looks. One day, the system went haywire and when I returned to the car, it had moved to the "jacking" setting which is about 6" higher than dynamic. I felt as though I was climbing in to a Hummer!!
stejus
10-15-2007, 12:55 PM
It seems to have settled after driving it to work today. I’m not sure why this happened. Most likely the shocks didn’t release the pressure and driving it was the only way to let the pressure out of the shock?
dougman
10-15-2007, 04:53 PM
No, most likely more camber gain--which means the tires tilt in at the top as they compress. This keeps the tire more vertical with respect to ground when you are cornering. But it also means the contact patch is moving back and forth slightly as the wheel goes up and down.

When you're rolling, this is unnoticeable. But when you lower the car back down statically, the tires are "pushing in" and holding the car up a bit.

You would have seen them settle by rolling the car a couple of feet.
stejus
10-15-2007, 07:42 PM
No, most likely more camber gain--which means the tires tilt in at the top as they compress. This keeps the tire more vertical with respect to ground when you are cornering. But it also means the contact patch is moving back and forth slightly as the wheel goes up and down.

When you're rolling, this is unnoticeable. But when you lower the car back down statically, the tires are "pushing in" and holding the car up a bit.

You would have seen them settle by rolling the car a couple of feet.

That's a very detailed answer. Thanks. It makes sence because i even pushed up and down the front end thinking the gap would settle, and it didn't.

All is good now that i drove it. Best thing about it is i will not have to lift it up again for another 6 months or so (to clean the inner wheel).

Thanks,
Steve
stejus
10-15-2007, 08:54 PM
Finally, back to normal after painting the calipers.


http://www.mypicshare.com/thumbs/20071016/lw370x8n.jpg (http://www.mypicshare.com/lw370x8npic.html)
http://www.mypicshare.com/thumbs/20071016/wlkjsaif.jpg (http://www.mypicshare.com/wlkjsaifpic.html)
http://www.mypicshare.com/thumbs/20071016/wjk5ltsl.jpg (http://www.mypicshare.com/wjk5ltslpic.html)
http://www.mypicshare.com/thumbs/20071016/tg3ytpqz.jpg (http://www.mypicshare.com/tg3ytpqzpic.html)


http://www.mypicshare.com/thumbs/20071016/v4dvg933.jpg (http://www.mypicshare.com/v4dvg933pic.html)

http://www.mypicshare.com/thumbs/20071016/ioyp6gdm.jpg (http://www.mypicshare.com/ioyp6gdmpic.html)
335iDriver
10-16-2007, 12:00 PM
What color did you paint them? Red would look cool on the Alpine White. Oh, looks like they are silver.
stejus
10-16-2007, 12:06 PM
What color did you paint them? Red would look cool on the Alpine White. Oh, looks like they are silver.

I went with Silver because they blend in with the wheel color (sort of a neutral look). I didn't want to be so bold with a red or yellow fearing it would make it look ricey.
335iDriver
10-16-2007, 12:10 PM
True that, or you bought a BMW and really want a Porsche.
mryakan
10-16-2007, 12:11 PM
weren't they silver to begin with? :stickoutt
stejus
10-16-2007, 07:29 PM
weren't they silver to begin with? :stickoutt

Yes, they were. This G2 makes them stay Silver and not get all black and rusty.
mryakan
10-17-2007, 10:43 AM
Yes, they were. This G2 makes them stay Silver and not get all black and rusty.
i c. So it doesn't peel even with high heat, moisture, etc?
stejus
10-17-2007, 03:46 PM
i c. So it doesn't peel even with high heat, moisture, etc?


Nope, notta, absolutely not! I had this same paint on my 03 CL-S. I painted them in April 2003 and when I sold it a few weeks ago, the paint looked the same as it did back in 2003. This paint is as good as any powder coat paint. It goes on extremely easy and the finish is smooth as silk when it dries.