The BMW E36 is one of the most legendary platforms for drifting, road racing, and high-performance driving, but one of its weak points is the rear suspension geometry. If you’ve lowered your E36 or are looking to fine-tune its handling characteristics, upgrading to adjustable E36 rear camber arms is one of the most important modifications you can make.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about E36 rear camber arms, including why they’re important, how they improve handling, and why CNC-machined camber arms are the best option for serious drivers.
What Are Rear Camber Arms?
Rear camber arms control the camber angle of your rear wheels—the tilt of the wheels in relation to the ground. Camber adjustments directly affect grip, stability, and tire wear, making them an essential tuning tool for track cars, drift cars, and high-performance street builds.
✔ Negative Camber: The top of the wheel tilts inward. This increases grip in corners but can lead to excessive inner tire wear.
✔ Positive Camber: The top of the wheel tilts outward. This generally reduces grip and makes the car feel unstable.
✔ Neutral Camber: The wheels are perfectly upright, which maximizes even tire wear but reduces cornering ability.
The stock E36 rear camber arms have limited adjustability, which makes fine-tuning camber difficult, especially for lowered cars or performance-focused setups. Upgrading to adjustable rear camber arms is essential for getting the most out of your E36’s suspension.
Why Upgrade to CNC-Machined E36 Rear Camber Arms?
The factory BMW E36 rear camber arms are weak and prone to flex under load, which can negatively impact handling and make precise alignment adjustments impossible. CNC-machined rear camber arms provide maximum strength, adjustability, and durability, making them a must-have upgrade for any performance-oriented E36 build.
🔥 Key Benefits of Upgrading to Adjustable E36 Rear Camber Arms:
✔ Stronger Than OEM Arms – CNC-machined from high-strength aluminum, these arms are 5x stronger than stock and will not flex under heavy loads.
✔ Lightweight & Race-Proven – Weighing just 2.5 lbs per arm (compared to the 2.7 lbs factory arms), reducing unsprung weight for improved suspension response.
✔ Full Camber Adjustability – Allows you to fine-tune rear camber settings, ensuring optimal tire contact, better cornering grip, and reduced tire wear.
✔ No Inner Adjuster for Better Fitment – Many aftermarket camber arms have inner adjusters that interfere with exhaust and underbody aero—our CNC-machined arms are designed to fit cleanly with no clearance issues.
✔ Eliminates Drivetrain Slop – Ensures maximum stability and precision under high-speed cornering and acceleration.
✔ Perfect for Drifting, Road Racing, & Track Days – These camber arms are built for high-performance abuse, making them ideal for competitive drifting, time attack, and aggressive street driving.
How Adjustable E36 Rear Camber Arms Improve Handling
The E36 rear suspension naturally gains excessive negative camber when lowered, which can lead to uneven tire wear and reduced acceleration grip. Adjustable rear camber arms allow you to dial in the exact camber settings needed for your driving style and suspension setup.
Best Camber Settings for Different Driving Styles
| Driving Style | Recommended Rear Camber | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Driving | -1.0° to -1.5° | Even tire wear, improved comfort |
| Canyon / Aggressive Street | -1.5° to -2.5° | Increased cornering grip |
| Track / Time Attack | -2.5° to -3.5° | Maximum lateral grip |
| Drifting | -0.5° to -2.0° | Balanced rear grip for better slide control |
By using adjustable rear camber arms, you can optimize rear grip levels, ensuring your car remains predictable and stable in all conditions.
Why Rear Camber Adjustability is Essential for Drifting & Racing
🔥 Drifting Applications
- Too much negative camber in the rear can reduce forward grip, making it harder to exit corners with control.
- With adjustable camber arms, you can fine-tune the rear grip levels, helping with smoother drift transitions and better acceleration out of corners.
🏁 Road Racing & Track Use
- A proper camber setup is critical for fast lap times. Excessive camber will reduce straight-line traction, while too little camber will reduce grip in corners.
- CNC-machined camber arms ensure zero flex, maintaining precise alignment at all times.
🚗 High-Performance Street Driving
- Lowered E36s naturally develop excessive negative camber, leading to inner tire wear and poor acceleration grip.
- Adjustable camber arms allow you to correct camber settings for even tire wear and improved stability.
Regardless of whether your E36 is built for drifting, grip driving, or aggressive street use, adjustable rear camber arms are a must-have upgrade.
Installation Guide – How to Replace E36 Rear Camber Arms
Installing E36 rear camber arms is a straightforward process, requiring basic tools and mechanical experience.
Tools Needed:
✔ Jack & Jack Stands – To lift and secure the rear of the car.
✔ Socket Set & Ratchet – 18mm and 21mm sockets.
✔ Torque Wrench – Ensures proper tightening of bolts.
✔ Alignment Tools (Recommended) – To set camber correctly after installation.
Step-by-Step Installation:
1️⃣ Lift the rear of the car and remove the wheels.
2️⃣ Unbolt the factory rear camber arms and remove them.
3️⃣ Install the CNC-machined adjustable camber arms, securing them with the included hardware.
4️⃣ Adjust camber settings to match your driving style.
5️⃣ Reinstall wheels and lower the car.
6️⃣ Get a professional alignment to dial in precise camber settings.
Pro Tip: Always get an alignment after installing adjustable camber arms to ensure optimal tire wear and handling performance.
Why CNC-Machined E36 Rear Camber Arms Are the Best Choice
When choosing aftermarket suspension components, it’s important to select parts that offer both adjustability and durability.
✔ No Inner Adjuster Design – No clearance issues with exhaust and underbody aero.
✔ 5x Stronger Than OEM Arms – Built to handle the demands of racing and drifting.
✔ Perfect Fitment – Works with all E36 models, including M3 and track-prepped builds.
For serious racers, drifters, and performance enthusiasts, upgrading to CNC-machined rear camber arms is one of the most effective ways to improve handling, tire wear, and suspension geometry.
Final Thoughts – Are E36 Rear Camber Arms Worth It?
If you’re serious about performance driving, upgrading to adjustable E36 rear camber arms is a game-changing suspension upgrade. Whether you’re tracking, drifting, or just trying to improve handling on your lowered E36, having full control over camber settings ensures maximum grip and tire longevity.
💨 Key Takeaways:
✔ Improves cornering grip & high-speed stability
✔ Prevents excessive rear tire wear on lowered cars
✔ 5x stronger than OEM camber arms for durability
✔ Essential for drifting, track racing, and aggressive street driving
🔧 Ready to upgrade? Swap out your weak factory arms for CNC-machined E36 rear camber arms and take your BMW’s handling to the next level! 🔧
