How does this work

[Dr.AK]

cracking strut towers happens on track cars, you will get struck by lightning twice before you crack a strut tower with under 17K springs in a DD.

That's where you're wrong. I've seen it happen on normal, street driven E36s. My dad's 323ti had a small crack on the driver's side strut tower, for example.

Of course you're right in that it's way more likely on a track car, but I've seen it ~3 times personally on an E36.

[Eric M]

My shock tower is cracked on my e36 through the GC reinforcement plate along with another friends both with around 600lb spring rates in front. My buddies e30 also did the same with 600lb front rate

[firelizard3]

So what you guys are saying is that strut towers cracking is normal....


...on E36s.

[deckard]

it can happen on any car, i think this thread just shows that e36 drivers go ham all day. e36 is the general lee of BMWs.

[1badg35]

alright, so we have established adding caster angle will allow for more clearance. Anyone have any good tips on adjusting caster? i would like to be able to tuck quite a bit more tire up front so i can lower the car all around, but be able to clear the fender.

[Jesus Christ]

What about FMU gold wheels? the rear shocks came up through the shock towers it tore the tower apart.
Also i think if i remember correctly that Sean's M3 stated that his front towers started to crack in the front. This was about 1 or 2 years ago.

And i ask again, what is this PS you are talking about? Is it power steering if so the statement is wrong.
Its the Caster that will lift the car also will it add more camber when you are turning witch will help when you are trying to get a tight fitment. Caster plays a big role in not rubbing when turning.
Older cars with out power steering will also lift but not as much because they have less caster. this is because caster makes the car heavier to turn and older cars this was not wanted. But with the addition of power steering the engineers were able to add more caster and the car would still be lighter to turn. they added caster to increase stability in a straight line when going faster.

I know how PS works, I know a hydraulic pump on my engine doesn't raise the car when I turn. my sarcasm wasn't very clear apparently so I'll try and be clearer

Zic is right. Its the caster, PS just helps make it easy haha


Also Ive cracked quite a few strut towers with much less than 17kg spring rates. Imo the street is harsher on strut towers than the track just as youre much more likely to damage a wheel on the street than the track

on e36s? So you worry about your high spring rates on your m cracking your strut towers? I certainly don't and will soon be running 15k up front with a back up 16k just in case.

I know seans were cracked but Sean drives hard as hell, but its still a valid point cause he had reinforcement plates too. Not saying it doesn't happen but in my opinion I will be struck by lightning twice before it happens to me while tooling around town and going to meets. I just think it's a overhyped bimmerforum thing, people told me they destroyed a 318 rear end with 150 whp and I've doubled that going on 1k miles so I rely on my personal experience haha.

I was completely talking out my ass

No shit


Cliffs: it doesn't hurt to reinforce. They will be ok for a while if you don't put them under shitty conditions but if left exposed for a prolonged period of time you might get some damage. Your car lifts up from locking the wheel because PS fluid fills your shocks.

I'm on 550 or 600 lbs rates on a full size GC strut that constantly bottoms out while being physically as low as possible just for reference.

[Kielan]

BMWs also have notoriously weak strut towers... Just saying.

[DDM]

Maybe this is relevant too:
McPherson struts raise the car when turning because the total length from top to bottom increases, whereas Double Wishbone doesn't.
More Caster can be added with Camberplates, or modifying the point in you car where your strut mounts (moving it backwards). This is for Mcpherson.
For Double Wishbone, more caster is added by moving the upper wishbone backwards. This will prove a lot more difficult than the Mcpherson method.
TBH, I have no idea what Z32's run up front?

[NeedingAnAudi]

I need to see a video of the wheels turning.

[Jozi]

I'd guess his spring rates are in the high teens to twenties. pretty sure he has a video on youtube showing the wheel clearance while driving
Edit: I take that back. He says his widebody flexes. Seems like if he DID hit a large bump that fender is going to be shattered:
Rear wheel fitment, Work Meister S1 19x12.5 +5 with 285/30 Hankook Ventus V12 - YouTube

I need to see a video of the wheels turning.

See above

[NeedingAnAudi]

See above

I see no video of turning.

[Kielan]

I see no video of turning.

The link...

[DDM]

The link...

You can't see the front wheels turning in that link though...

[Jozi]

I see no video of turning.

Sorry, thought you meant wheel turning, but you meant the front wheel turning

[1badg35]

yeah i need one of the wheel turning also, or maybe a picture of the wheel turning to see if it just forces the fender outward. apparently i cant add much more caster to mine as its already pretty well out, so i am just going to have to add some more camber or figure something else out altogether