Alignment Numbers?

[VaTechE36]

Just got the car back from an alignment after hitting a curb and the guy tells me that I should get camber plates to further adjust camber and castor...

Kind of annoying, but the car came back with

FL: -1.6deg camber
8.1deg caster
.1deg toe

FR: -2.6deg camber
8.4deg caster
.09deg toe

RL: -2.8deg camber
.22deg toe

RR: -2.4deg camber
-0.2 degree toe <--maxxed out.

I hit a curb with the right side of the car and was wondering if there was something I could have bent up in the rear. I did not hit the curb much in the rear, just enough to chunk the tire, but I'm thinking it could have bent maybe a trailing arm or worse the subframe...

Anyway have any comments on these numbers? The guy said the RR would wear out a lot faster, but these specs don't seem to be way far apart...

I alsogot charged $90 because the car is lowered on h&r sports...if I go back should I tell them it isn't lowered? The guy said it makes a big difference and is then harder to align...

As far as camber kits go, would that be something worth looking into? I just bought brand new strut hats for the front and would hate to have to replace those already...

Also for the rear, are adjustable trailing arms something I should look into as well?

Any advice would be great!

Thanks!

[thejlevie]

Those numbers would make me think that you have bent parts on the right front & rear. My suggestion would be to have an experienced BMW tech (at a dealer or indie shop) look at the car.

[VaTechE36]

Well I replaced the front tie road and control arms and couldn't think what else I could have bent unless the strut could have bent...

I need to get under the car and check out the rear and see whats going on back there. Hopefully I wont have to pay another $90 to have them re-align the rear...

[VaTechE36]

bump

[joenationwide]

to fix your front camber imbalance, id get some shims and add some neg. camber to the side that only has the -1.6 deg. Do a search on camber shims.

to fix the rear, it sounds like you may need a new lower control arm. these arms are very weak and act like a fuse when something gets hit. if you look under the car they should be straight. compare them to the other side and see if you notice a difference. if it is bent, you should be able to find a good used one for say $40 or so. contact bimmerworld in radford.

another thing that alignment shop must be pathetic to charge you $90 cuz its lowered. what kind of rack are they using? (dont worry about answering that). anyway, i'd do some more searching on bf.c about alignments and such so you can see how the settings they were able to give you sucked in the first place. (you dont need toe in at the front, and only need about total of 0.20-0.30 toe in at rear).

good luck. maybe try to find another alignment shop :dunno

[VaTechE36]

Thanks Joe, I'll be under the car this weekend...I wish I could get under there sooner, but I'm just slammed with the semester coming to a close...

That is the same advice the guys at bimmerworld said about the rear control arm. Maybe now is a good time to do the rear bushings as well and new control arms :cool

I'll do some searching and see what I can dig up on some alignment specs...I was kind of pissed about the alignment anyway and their rediculous charge.

They charged me $122 to mount and balance 4 wheels and tires that I supplied...I'm not a big fan actually...