Camber Plates Design Comparison

[FaRKle!]

For a while I've thought, "All the monoball camber plates are pretty much the same." Having the recent luxury of having three different makes of monball camber plates (Ground Control, Vorshlag, and Millway) and inspecting them further I've found that my perception was really wrong. There are clear design differences with each, translating into strengths and weaknesses.

Originally Posted by Index

-0:00 Intro
-0:25 Ground Control Overview
-2:21 Ground Control Thrust Bearing/Spring Perch
-3:50 Ground Control Strut Brace Ring
-5:59 Ground Control Camber Adjustment
-6:58 Ground Control Monoball
-9:34 Vorshlag Overview
-10:48 Vorshlag Monoball
-12:45 Vorshlag Camber Adjustment
-13:05 Vorshlag Thrust Bearing/Spring Perch
-15:39 Millway Overview
-17:14 Millway Thrust Bearing/Spring Perch
-18:49 Millway Monoball
-21:50 Camber Plate Mounting Hardware
-23:26 Closing Thoughts

*EDIT*
As a follow up, if you're wondering how to replace the monoballs in the Millway camber plates I made the video below on the process.

Originally Posted by Index

-0:00 Intro
-0:16 Monoball sleeve/shim removal
-1:26 Locking ring removal
-3:59 Pressing out the monoball
-6:09 Pressing in the new monoball
-9:25 Locking ring installation.
-11:51 Monoball sleeve/shim installation
-12:34 Monoball dimensions and closing remarks

[dvq]

Great video as usual, you're gonna annoy some people with this video lol. A couple of those reasons is why I went with Vorshlag after looking at the ground controls. It's interesting that you mentioned the spring binding in the GC/millway plates but you also recommend the street millways with the polyurethane bushing. I haven't ever tried it myself but in my mind, adding 2-2.5 degrees of camber on the poly bushing would add binding the the shock shaft as well (depending on the damper design) wouldn't it? I'm not sure if that would cause any issues with the piston, inner body of the damper or mess with the performance of the damper.

[kaiv]

Originally Posted by dvq

Great video as usual, you're gonna annoy some people with this video lol. A couple of those reasons is why I went with Vorshlag after looking at the ground controls. It's interesting that you mentioned the spring binding in the GC/millway plates but you also recommend the street millways with the polyurethane bushing. I haven't ever tried it myself but in my mind, adding 2-2.5 degrees of camber on the poly bushing would add binding the the shock shaft as well (depending on the damper design) wouldn't it? I'm not sure if that would cause any issues with the piston, inner body of the damper or mess with the performance of the damper.

I asked Millway about that, here's their reply.

Q: RE: SKU 90481-M4 Should I be concerned about potential damage due to the strut shaft possibly binding in the poly bushing -especially at higher camber levels- since there is no bearing allowing for articulation?

A: We have polyurethane bushings that flex and take up the bindings that occurs with added camber. Just like an oem top mount.
To get the best alignment of the damper we have made the camber plate angled in 1 degree. So at middle settings it has zero bindings.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by dvq

you also recommend the street millways with the polyurethane bushing. I haven't ever tried it myself but in my mind, adding 2-2.5 degrees of camber on the poly bushing would add binding the the shock shaft as well (depending on the damper design) wouldn't it? I'm not sure if that would cause any issues with the piston, inner body of the damper or mess with the performance of the damper.

Originally Posted by kaiv

I asked Millway about that, here's their reply.

Q: RE: SKU 90481-M4 Should I be concerned about potential damage due to the strut shaft possibly binding in the poly bushing -especially at higher camber levels- since there is no bearing allowing for articulation?

A: We have polyurethane bushings that flex and take up the bindings that occurs with added camber. Just like an oem top mount.
To get the best alignment of the damper we have made the camber plate angled in 1 degree. So at middle settings it has zero bindings.

Cool info kaiv! I didn't know Millway angled their bushing for this.

I will say that I ran eccentric LCAs to increase camber before going with the Millway street plates, and there weren't any issues with bind on the stock top mounts (ran this way for 10s of thousands of miles). On the Millway street plates the metal washer the shock shaft mounts to can rotate between the PU pieces, but the same isn't true for the OE top mounts since the material the mounting washer is in is bonded to the washer.

[irunalot]

I wish I could use the Milways but they do not offer an adapter for the 2.25 inch springs.

[x.shell]

Finally an in-depth review of the popular camber plates. Thank you!

EDIT:
Just checked out your other videos. This is the best youtube channel I've ever seen that is specific to the F8X. Subscribed.



*thumbs up.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by x.shell

Finally an in-depth review of the popular camber plates. Thank you!

EDIT:
Just checked out your other videos. This is the best youtube channel I've ever seen that is specific to the F8X. Subscribed.



*thumbs up.

Thanks! I've got a bunch more exploration and learning planned for this platform.

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by x.shell

Finally an in-depth review of the popular camber plates. Thank you!

EDIT:
Just checked out your other videos. This is the best youtube channel I've ever seen that is specific to the F8X. Subscribed.



*thumbs up.

Agree 100%

@[FaRKle!](contact:323262 thank you for the informative videos

[FaRKle!]

As a follow up, if you're wondering how to replace the monoballs in the Millway camber plates I made the video below on the process.

Originally Posted by Index

-0:00 Intro
-0:16 Monoball sleeve/shim removal
-1:26 Locking ring removal
-3:59 Pressing out the monoball
-6:09 Pressing in the new monoball
-9:25 Locking ring installation.
-11:51 Monoball sleeve/shim installation
-12:34 Monoball dimensions and closing remarks

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

you reviewed the camber adjustments, but do they also allow for caster too?

i run the gc race plates in my e46 and while it's awesome to have infinite camber/caster adjustment, it also means that my DIY alignments at home are infinitely more cumbersome.

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by sc_tr0jan_m3

you reviewed the camber adjustments, but do they also allow for caster too?

i run the gc race plates in my e46 and while it's awesome to have infinite camber/caster adjustment, it also means that my DIY alignments at home are infinitely more cumbersome.

None of these plates have caster adjustment capability.

[dvq]

Originally Posted by FaRKle!

None of these plates have caster adjustment capability.

Yeah haven't seen any that do except for the Nitron plates.

[richf80]

Originally Posted by dvq

Yeah haven't seen any that do except for the Nitron plates.

Ground control does state that their camber plates allow for some corrective caster adjustment. I've never had any caster adjustment with their plates though.

[dvq]

Originally Posted by richf80

Ground control does state that their camber plates allow for some corrective caster adjustment. I've never had any caster adjustment with their plates though.

I think those GC camber plates are slotted at an angle that adds caster, so it's a fixed amount of caster depending on the amount of camber added. Someone correct me if that's not the case.

[WEPNM3]

Here is a company in Australia that makes suspension parts for our cars. They make a strut top that allows both adjustable Camber and Caster.

https://k-mac-camber-kits.com/produc...ace-192716-2p/

[rovert94]

Hi, I know this is a M3/M4 section, are you using these on your F31? The reason I am asking is from what I have seen, xDrive cars can only handle a certain amount of negative camber, at least if it is changed by changing the control arms. Too much negative camber, and you will end up snapping CV axles. Do camber plates avoid this?

[FaRKle!]

Originally Posted by rovert94

Hi, I know this is a M3/M4 section, are you using these on your F31? The reason I am asking is from what I have seen, xDrive cars can only handle a certain amount of negative camber, at least if it is changed by changing the control arms. Too much negative camber, and you will end up snapping CV axles. Do camber plates avoid this?

Yes I have Millway street camber plates on my F31. Adjusting camber with plates doesn't pose risk to popping the front axles with xDrive like lengthening the LCA does.

[itsrichierich]

Drew, you're always providing great information! I think a few of us owe you a beer

[hC1001]

Originally Posted by richf80

Ground control does state that their camber plates allow for some corrective caster adjustment. I've never had any caster adjustment with their plates though.

Strange. Mine are slotted and when i installed them i made sure to pull them towards the windshield. I DIY my alignments so i cant say how much adjustment there is but its there.