Excessive Rear Tire Wear - BMW Forum

R_Atkinson · 05-28-2007, 12:05 PM

The rear tires on my 86 325 are incredibly worn on the inside. I believe this to an alignment problem, but I don't know how to realign the rear end. Can anyone help?

bimmerguy82 · 05-28-2007, 02:02 PM

take it to a shop that does alignments, ie: Les Schwab or something and they can do it.

SpeedInfusion · 05-28-2007, 03:38 PM

could be ur RTABs

gotKRAUT · 05-28-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshsanders82

take it to a shop that does alignments, ie: Les Schwab or something and they can do it.

rear alignment is non adjustable, they cant do anything

it has to be bent suspension components or bad bushings, most likely bad bushings

on second thought is it lowered? if so the rear camber is increased...just turn faster and it will wear even

R_Atkinson · 05-28-2007, 07:35 PM

It isn't lowered. If it's not alignment, is the camber adjustable? If so, how do I do it?

Starmavin · 05-29-2007, 01:22 AM

It was said before, the rear is non-adjustable in any direction. Your rear bushings are shot.

You have two options:

#1 Replace the stock bushings (this is a good fix so long as the rest of the rear is in good shape, also the cheaper route)

#2 Replace the bushings with adjustable aftermarket bushings (although a bit more expensive, it will allow the rear to be fully adjustable, the best for stock or lowered cars)

P.S. E30's use an alignment technique called KDS and has special alignment requirements that must be met (weights have to be placed in your car, 100lbs drivers side, 100lbs passenger side some in the back and in the trunk with a full tank) to properly align the car. If not done correctly your car will handle differently and can eat tires up. I have done it both ways (with and with out weights, and the car defiantly handles better using the weights.)

gotKRAUT · 05-29-2007, 01:44 AM

starmavin summed it up for ya

R_Atkinson · 05-29-2007, 01:21 PM

I dunno. My bushings aren't in too bad of shape, but the struts look like they're slightly crooked. The rubber on the bushings is completely intact. Would the struts cause this?

bimmerguy82 · 05-29-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotKRAUT

rear alignment is non adjustable, they cant do anything

it has to be bent suspension components or bad bushings, most likely bad bushings

on second thought is it lowered? if so the rear camber is increased...just turn faster and it will wear even

Kraut is this true only for e30s? i've had my e36 have a 4 way alignment before. i've watched them loosen and adjust the rear.

Rfitz25 · 05-29-2007, 02:41 PM

MIne was wearing inside of rear tires slightly more than outside one side slightly more than the other.
It seemed to get worse the more they wore down.
It was because it was lowered and has more camber.
I put new tires on and they seem to be wearing evenly so far.
Of course I took Krauts advice and drive harder now. LOL
My rear mounts were shot too when I got the car a year ago and I replaced them ASAP.
Eyball your camber from the rear. You should be able to see it, compare to front. Are they straight up or leaned inward. Are they about the same left compared to right?
It may be toe in from something else being out of wack.
You can measure the distance from one side to the other as high up and as close to center as possible compare distance between front of tires and rear of tires. I think if they are toed out they wear on inside likr the front tires can. There are OEM offset bushings to correct this too. There are also OEM spring pads to adjust ride height whgich can correct camber issues.
But I'm just a garage hack most of this Ive read or heard from the pros like starmavin. Listen to him he rules!

gotKRAUT · 05-29-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshsanders82

Kraut is this true only for e30s? i've had my e36 have a 4 way alignment before. i've watched them loosen and adjust the rear.

ya E30 only...im almost positive you either bent something in the suspension of your subframe / rear trailing arm bushings are shot if the tire wear is that bad...

the other thing is, BMW's run a decent amount of camber...for a reason...and if you dont push it in the turns now and again its going to wear on the inside...especially if you ever "burn out" or do donuts its wearing just on the inside...

and the driving harder thing works

even with over -2* of camber my tires wear even

im not saying to speed or break any laws, just pitch it through the turns a tad faster...thats all

R_Atkinson · 05-29-2007, 11:32 PM

I'm going tomorrow in the back up car (My mom's 94 oldsmobile) to autozone to buy replacement bushings. I'm now quite sure this is the problem, but it just blows my mind that the bushings went out on both sides at the same time. Is this a common occurence? Maybe I just didn't notice. The car seemed to eat the last set of tires really fast towards the end there.

gotKRAUT · 05-30-2007, 02:29 AM

they carry them at autozone? i have never thought to buy factory quality parts at the local autozone lol

hope it all works out

Starmavin · 05-30-2007, 06:23 AM

How exactly do you plan to press the old bushings out and the new ones in? Anybody that tired to change them on the ground with a hammer just ended up damaging the bushings and mauled up their control arms....

R_Atkinson · 05-30-2007, 08:17 AM

short of going to a shop, does anyone have any suggestions? Autozone does have a tool loan program for specialized tools such as this. I better check that first I guess.