IE camber plate install

#1

So, I’ve installed my recently delivered IE camber plates and I find that with the spring touching the inner fender, I can’t get the second set of bolts in the camber plate. Or the other way around, if I install all four bolts, I can’t install the strut/spring/plate assembly because of interference with the inner fender.

Any one else had this problem?

Second question - once I do get the bolts in there, it doesn’t seem like that’ll leave any room for adjustment.

Thanks,
Gareth

#2

There should be 3 holes in each slot, into which you thread the two bolts. In the picture below, threading the bolts through holes B and C allow the max camber, whereas threading them through holes A and B allow less camber. I’d check this first - it sounds like you’re in holes A and B.

Passenger side plate
Front of car ^

  A B C
  (ooo)
  (ooo)
#3

I had the same problem when I installed my IE camber plates. It seems to me that IE should provide some instructions with these since so many people have trouble installing them. For the most part I’d say the the Spec E30 group is pretty mechanically inclined and I have heard numerous complaints about the installation of the camber plates.

On a side note, I think that the four hex head screws on the top of the plates should be flush or counter sunk to allow for more range of movement for maximum camber adjustment.

#4

I have experienced the same issue. I seem to be just shy of being able to use the B and C holes in Steve’s illustration.

Picture of Steve’s A and B configuration.

Post edited by: m3donnelly, at: 2006/07/20 20:58

IEPlate.jpg680x510


Post edited by: m3donnelly, at: 2006/07/20 21:00

#5

Correct, there are three holes on each side. I’m guessing I could get the "less camber" setting fine. I was expecting to be able to use the "more camber" setting though.

Here’s a pic of my driver’s side, this is with the spring perch touching the inner fender. The purple line is approx where I’d expect clearance to get the bolt in (but don’t have it.)

I’d agree that IE should consider instructions or at least an assembly diagram & parts list with their parts. I consider myself mechanically inclined - but if it weren’t for this group I wouldn’t have known what the 1/2" washers were for. No, they should be 14mm spacers, if I understand previous posts correctly, but mine are 1/2" stainless washers. I digress.

Thanks for the help - any further insight would be appreciated.

Gareth

Post edited by: ghw, at: 2006/07/20 21:04

#6

I just installed mine last weekend. Just use two bolts instead of 4. The Ground Control plates I had on there before had the same issue. I ran with 2 bolts just fine and that was with a much more aggressive suspension.

Also, a word of warning. There is a circlip that holds the spherical bearing in the camber plate. On one of my IE plates, the slot that the circlip sits in was not machined to spec which caused the circlip to not seat properly in the slot. When I went to go put the strut assembly into the car, the whole thing fell right out. Luckily it happened then and not out on the track. I was able to fix the problem, but oh man that’s another ding in my book for IE. Either their engineering is lousy or their machinist is. Every product I’ve bought from them has required some level of modification.

#7

I’ve got all 4 bolts in mine and didn’t have any issue installing them, but I did find that they are not adjustable in the least. I gather that they are only "adjustable" so that they meet the SpecE30 rules, not so that you can actaully vary the camber!

Sasha

#8

My IE plates have allen bolts with much smaller heads than the ones pictured.

#9

Chris - I used the same holes that you did, and my installation looks pretty much identical to yours.

Though it is tight, I had no troubles fitting the screws. Also, I found that I could tweak the amount of camber by rotating the plate slightly after it was installed. When put them on I basically just pushed the plate until it the spring perch touched the fender and then backed it off a tad. There is a bit of play in the two slots that allow you to rotate it slightly, and by doing so I was able to pickup another .25 degree of neg camber and still keep the perch off of the fender. Something that those of you who are having troubles may want to try.