Negative front wheel camber. What to replace?
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Sounds like we're a lot alike. About the only thing I'll have done in a shop is a front end alignment, but only because I don't have an alignment rack. (Don't get along well with auto transmissions either, but can rebuild one if forced to...)
I work with heavy equipment as well, and right now am doing commercial construction. I do all the repairs and maintenance on our equipment, as well as operate it.
I work with heavy equipment as well, and right now am doing commercial construction. I do all the repairs and maintenance on our equipment, as well as operate it.
!["Beemer Nut"'s Avatar](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 50 50'><circle class='avatar-circle-default' fill='%23bc5285' cx='25px' cy='25px' r='20px'></circle><text class='avatar-text-default' x='49%' y='53%' fill='white' text-anchor='middle' alignment-baseline='middle'>"</text></svg>)
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
j.foster62; got a question for ya.
Just purchased a black 87 325is, missing
air dam and fog lights have the mounting brackets.
The "IS" series dam is too low I like the standard ones plus
standard is more common.
Looking for a black standard 325 series not "es or "is" dam,
fog lights and brackets if brackets are different than on
"es" or "is" series. Want without damage or cracks, anything at your end?
I'm left coast S.F. bay area. PM is ok.
Back to topic before Dan comes down my way and thumps me on the head.
It's 80 F and windy Dan today.
You being in heavy equipment with mechanical ability you would
know or learn more than many repair shops on replacing king pins
and bushings. The reamer is the big ticket item especially a specical
reamer with pilot to ream correctly. Best of luck and keep that great
looking truck away from salt.
Just purchased a black 87 325is, missing
air dam and fog lights have the mounting brackets.
The "IS" series dam is too low I like the standard ones plus
standard is more common.
Looking for a black standard 325 series not "es or "is" dam,
fog lights and brackets if brackets are different than on
"es" or "is" series. Want without damage or cracks, anything at your end?
I'm left coast S.F. bay area. PM is ok.
Back to topic before Dan comes down my way and thumps me on the head.
It's 80 F and windy Dan today.
You being in heavy equipment with mechanical ability you would
know or learn more than many repair shops on replacing king pins
and bushings. The reamer is the big ticket item especially a specical
reamer with pilot to ream correctly. Best of luck and keep that great
looking truck away from salt.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Beemer Nut
j.foster62; got a question for ya.
Just purchased a black 87 325is, missing
air dam and fog lights have the mounting brackets.
The "IS" series dam is too low I like the standard ones plus
standard is more common.
Looking for a black standard 325 series not "es or "is" dam,
fog lights and brackets if brackets are different than on
"es" or "is" series. Want without damage or cracks, anything at your end?
I'm left coast S.F. bay area. PM is ok.
.
Just purchased a black 87 325is, missing
air dam and fog lights have the mounting brackets.
The "IS" series dam is too low I like the standard ones plus
standard is more common.
Looking for a black standard 325 series not "es or "is" dam,
fog lights and brackets if brackets are different than on
"es" or "is" series. Want without damage or cracks, anything at your end?
I'm left coast S.F. bay area. PM is ok.
.
The bMW e30 front steel valance and plastic air dams changed over the years. It is a little confusing.
Pre-7/88 (big bumpers) "iS" and "eS" only had 1 front air dam and they are identical.
http://www.astheroundelturns.com/gal.../my_84_318.jpg
I don't have any as I put the last one I had on my Red '89 325i (small bumper).
http://www.astheroundelturns.com/gal..._001.sized.jpg
I don't know what this "standard spoiler" thing is you're talking about?
The NON "s" "spoiler" on a pre-7/88 is actually a steel valance with plastic lower lip .
http://www.astheroundelturns.com/gal...orclient1b.jpg
In '88, right before the small bumpers came in ...the post 7/88 steel valance (with foglights incorporated into them) came on a few of the last big bumpered cars like this '88 325 (super ETA).
http://www.astheroundelturns.com/gal..._sale_014b.jpg
Then the small bumpers (post 7/'88) with the newer valance was standard on all "s" and non "s".
http://www.vwgolf-mk2.com/owners/onosan/onosan3/003.jpg
The post 7/88 "s" may have had a lower add-on.
http://www.bmwpugetsound.com/member_...0_325is_02.jpg
Last edited by TigerDan; May 6, 2007 at 06:57 PM.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Okay guys, this is a truck forum, not Beemers-R-Us...
(Probably my own fault for bringing it up in the first place...
)
Jon, I changed your pics into links so the rest of us don't have to have our eyeballs assaulted by all that German steel. (Not that I'm one to talk with a Mercedes 280E sitting on the trailer in the driveway right now that I just dragged home... 
)
(Probably my own fault for bringing it up in the first place...
)Jon, I changed your pics into links so the rest of us don't have to have our eyeballs assaulted by all that German steel.
(Not that I'm one to talk with a Mercedes 280E sitting on the trailer in the driveway right now that I just dragged home... )
Last edited by TigerDan; May 6, 2007 at 06:58 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 1
From: Near Fresno, California
I guess I missed something - isn't this a straight axle? If so you set the caster by bending the axle. You can do it yourself with a Carpenter's level, log chains and a hydraulic jack, but I take mine into a truck alignment shop (big trucks!) as they have all the tools and specifications.
You take it to an alignment shop that does mostly cars and all they will do is set the toe in - they do not have the jacks to bend the axle.
You take it to an alignment shop that does mostly cars and all they will do is set the toe in - they do not have the jacks to bend the axle.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
The above is precisely why I take mine to a shop. U could futz around for hours, spend big bucks on tools, maybe break something, throw the caster off, and still not get it right especially if it needs king pins. At a heavy truck shop they can get you in and out quick since they have the tools and knowledge gained by doing this many thousands of times. No need to go to a dealer tho. Toe-in is easy to set with a set of trammel points, tire chalk, and a scribe.
If you need springs repair or replace them before you go to the front end shop. I build up my own leaf springs normally from several used packs but sometimes it is easier and even cheaper to go to a spring shop.
If you need springs repair or replace them before you go to the front end shop. I build up my own leaf springs normally from several used packs but sometimes it is easier and even cheaper to go to a spring shop.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
Likes: 1
From: Near Fresno, California
Yea - the heavy duty truck shop I use was glad to do something lite for a change - they used the same rack for a Kenworth tractor just before mine. Only charged $75 too.
I had to find some bushings I had ordered from one of those vintage catalogs, when they sent the wrong ones on my '59. The local spring shop had them in stock for less money. In fact, they offered all the parts and to do all the work, including installing the king pins, for less money than I had spent on vintage parts.
I had already installed the king pins (reamed them out myself), but the next time . . .
I had to find some bushings I had ordered from one of those vintage catalogs, when they sent the wrong ones on my '59. The local spring shop had them in stock for less money. In fact, they offered all the parts and to do all the work, including installing the king pins, for less money than I had spent on vintage parts.
I had already installed the king pins (reamed them out myself), but the next time . . .
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
"NumberDummy" has directed me in PM's on where to get the parts. He pointed me to the sponser(s) here ,yet when I contacted DirectFordParts., they said they no longer carry this part.
Therefore I called Green Sales (in Ohio) and they were very helpful.
They have the parts in stock at a very reasonable price. (I hope they are a sponsor here as this might be construed a "plug").
I mentioned FTE...and I think that helped?
Anyhow...I will proceed with the king pin/bushing replacement first.
I will take measurements before and after the repair to see if the repair was significant.
Then...(if required) I will proceed with some Yankee Ingenuity :
However, I prefer plumb bobs over a carpenter's level.
If worst comes to worst, I can always flip-flop the rubber on the rims so they wear evenly(i have a tire machine and have done huge loader tires myself/ I have used a com-a-long to lift the rim/rubber up-over & onto the machine). The truck does not get any long distance driving anywho. I have put maybe 500 miles on it in 5 years.
Therefore I called Green Sales (in Ohio) and they were very helpful.
They have the parts in stock at a very reasonable price. (I hope they are a sponsor here as this might be construed a "plug").
I mentioned FTE...and I think that helped?
Anyhow...I will proceed with the king pin/bushing replacement first.
I will take measurements before and after the repair to see if the repair was significant.
Then...(if required) I will proceed with some Yankee Ingenuity :
set the caster by bending the axle. You can do it yourself with a Carpenter's level, log chains and a hydraulic jack
If worst comes to worst, I can always flip-flop the rubber on the rims so they wear evenly(i have a tire machine and have done huge loader tires myself/ I have used a com-a-long to lift the rim/rubber up-over & onto the machine). The truck does not get any long distance driving anywho. I have put maybe 500 miles on it in 5 years.
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