HELP! need Ireland Camber plates quick!

#1

Hello

It looks like thge ireland front camber plates I ordered will not be ready for VIR…does anyone have some sitting that they will not need?? I will replace with my new ones when they arrive…I need them for VIR.

Thanks

Fartbref

#2

I just installed my IE camber plates yesterday so I can’t offer you mine. If you are looking for the stock strut hats you are welcome to have mine. Let me know.

#3

I’m waiting on mine to come in from Bimmerworld. I don’t need mine until the end of the month which is when I plan on tackling the job of rebuilding the front axle. According to Rob they should have shipped by now. Dunno, I’m waiting on front sway bar endlinks from IE as well…

#4

If you Email me by 10:15 Thursday morning with your info, I’ll mail them to you. My profile’s got my email address. B)

If you have home made toe plates, here’s the link to a excel spreadsheet I made. Creates a chart to tape to them. It’s SUPER easy to use and works with any width. :cheer:

http://home.ec.rr.com/halford/files/Toe_Chart.zip

Post edited by: Teufelauto, at: 2006/02/09 01:16

#5

If you bought the IE fixed offset "maxi" plates, then don’t bother w/ them. (I went though a hell of an ordeal w/ them, and had to issue a chargeback) They don’t provide as much offset as they say, as you need, and are overpriced (because you need the crash bushings (an addtl $70/ea?) to max them out)

Take your stock bushings, press out the studs, and drill new holes exactly 0.75 offset. The "outside" hole will actually move off the plate, so you’ll have to weld a tab or use large washers. The "inside" holes get close to the actual bushing, but a standard M8 bolt still fits fine. Is gets you max camber (the strut spring housing will nearly touch the body), doesn’t raise the front end, and is esentially free. I have pics around somewhere if you need to see them.

RRT used to make REAL maxi offset plates, but they aren’t avail anymore (or they weren’t when I figured out IE was lying to me.)

SMD

#6

I’m still happy with my KMAC camber plates. The bolt in and work great. 3.1 deg neg camber both sides. I got mine from Turner

brain

#7

but it’s not strictly legal - the only legal things are adjustable camber plates. Fixed plates or drilling new holes aren’t.
cheers,
bruce

smdubovsky wrote:

[quote]If you bought the IE fixed offset "maxi" plates, then don’t bother w/ them. (I went though a hell of an ordeal w/ them, and had to issue a chargeback) They don’t provide as much offset as they say, as you need, and are overpriced (because you need the crash bushings (an addtl $70/ea?) to max them out)

Take your stock bushings, press out the studs, and drill new holes exactly 0.75 offset. The "outside" hole will actually move off the plate, so you’ll have to weld a tab or use large washers. The "inside" holes get close to the actual bushing, but a standard M8 bolt still fits fine. Is gets you max camber (the strut spring housing will nearly touch the body), doesn’t raise the front end, and is esentially free. I have pics around somewhere if you need to see them.

RRT used to make REAL maxi offset plates, but they aren’t avail anymore (or they weren’t when I figured out IE was lying to me.)

SMD[/quote]

#8

Please. Thats reading a bit too literal. Adding the plates makes them "adjustable". (turn them around for another setting;) The factory set of holes and the offset ones would strictly qualify w/ your interpretation. Its all moot anyway as 9.3.8.2 allows for eccentric/offset bushings at the strut bearing. So, they’re legal.

Far more folks are running fixed plates than adjustable ones. The E30 is camber limited (the lower spring housing hits the body), so the "adjustable" ones are just going to end up maxed out anyway - no real advantage for more $$$.

SMD

#9

9.3.8.1. Any adjustable camber or camber/caster plate is allowed, unless specified in these regulations.
9.3.8.2. Use of eccentric/offset bushings at the control arm pivot points or at the strut-to-bearing-carrier joint is permitted.

First of all, you don’t determine what is legal, we do. It does sounds like you were giving your opinion more than trying to make the ruling but everyone should know that opinions are fine but final rulings are made by Spec E30 officials.

With that said, reading the first rule above, my initial interpretation is that adjustable camber plates are allowed, which means that the car should either be kept as it came from the factory, or it is allowed to have adjustable plates…that is, the plate itself can be adjusted in its mounting plate. It does not say that a fixed offset plate can be swaped around to have two fixed settings, and is thus, "adjustable."

The second rule above does allow an offset bushing at the strut-to-bearing carrier joint but under the first rule, the plate is still supposed to be adjustable.

Regarding your statement that "Far more people are running fixed plates than adjustable ones." - I don’t know if that is correct or not. Even if it is, it doesn’t make them legal.

We do understand that several drivers are using fixed plates…and it hasn’t been seen as a significant performance advantage, thus no offical action at this time. However, I do suggest using adjustable plate camber plates if someone is currently building a car, if anything, to avoid a problem in the future.

Carter
Spec E30 Administrator

#10

Hey Yall

Jamie came to the rescue and brought me his plates!!!\

Still burning the midnight oil but i should make VIR…

Fartbref

#11

Disclaimer: Stating my opinion here.

9.3.8. Suspension
9.3.8.1. Any adjustable camber or camber/caster plate is allowed, unless specified in these regulations.

Carter, I got your back when it comes to the rules, but I agree with Stephen’s interpretation that fixed camber plates are legal.

The rules don’t state that an adjustable plate has to be adjusted in its mounting plate. In fact, it states that ANY adjustable camber plate is allowed.

Fixed camber plates are adjustable - there are 4 discrete camber settings (each plate has 2 settings). This is the exact same way that our rear sway bars are adjustable - they have 2 holes on each side -> 4 settings. There is no mention of an infinite range, or discrete vs. analog … just adjustable.

I think that the technical gurus will back me up on this one. In fact, I believe that Barry Battle designed his RRT fixed camber plates with Spec E30 as his focus.

#12

Carter, you know I mean no offense. I know its hard to read into the ‘intent’ of email sometimes.

FWIW, I agree completely w/ Vic, but if you (the series admin) don’t think the rule covers a fixed plate than thats-that. But, PLEASE clarify that wording in the rules. It could be hard for us out here building cars to the rules (because thats all we have to go on) only to find they aren’t legal. Now, I can’t say Im building a car in a vacuum since I’ve seen many of them, but anyone outside the mid-atlantic region doesn’t have that luxury.

Ok, so back to the topic: Does an offset carrier bushing not comply w/ 9.3.8.2? It specifically states its allowed.

See you at VIR!
SMD