Rear wheel alignment and bearings
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 2
From: Cumming GA
Rear wheel alignment and bearings
Is it possible that when the rear wheel bearings are replaced something could be done incorrectly and would cause the rear toe on one side to be so bad out that it could not be aligned properly? I recently had bearings replaced and soon after had tires and alignment done. A couple of weeks ago I noticed abnormal tire wear on one rear wheel and took it to a different shop to have the alignment checked where they told me the right rear toe was out so bad it could not be aligned. I took the car to a third shop that was recommended to me and they said the same thing. The car has always worn tires very well and had no problems. I am the only driver and it has not hit anything. The only thing that has been done to the rear was the wheel bearings replaced.
Any thoughts?
Andy
Any thoughts?
Andy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Is it possible that when the rear wheel bearings are replaced something could be done incorrectly and would cause the rear toe on one side to be so bad out that it could not be aligned properly? I recently had bearings replaced and soon after had tires and alignment done. A couple of weeks ago I noticed abnormal tire wear on one rear wheel and took it to a different shop to have the alignment checked where they told me the right rear toe was out so bad it could not be aligned. I took the car to a third shop that was recommended to me and they said the same thing. The car has always worn tires very well and had no problems. I am the only driver and it has not hit anything. The only thing that has been done to the rear was the wheel bearings replaced.
Any thoughts?
Andy
Any thoughts?
Andy
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Andy-
You might want to look at the arm for dents in the side and a buckle on top or bottom. If the arm is bent it will usually buckle the top outer edge. It is not common to have such a problem unless as someone used a bench press or some other tool to pull the bearings out.
However, if a bench press is used to remove the bearings the caliper mounting bracket will break usually before the spindle will come out. It is common for normal shops with no vette experience to put the trailing arms in a bench press and the best indicator of this is when they come in to purchase a caliper mounting bracket.
Also, when you had the bearings replace did they even pull the arm and/or did they inspect the condition of the front trailing arm bushings.
Willcox
You might want to look at the arm for dents in the side and a buckle on top or bottom. If the arm is bent it will usually buckle the top outer edge. It is not common to have such a problem unless as someone used a bench press or some other tool to pull the bearings out.
However, if a bench press is used to remove the bearings the caliper mounting bracket will break usually before the spindle will come out. It is common for normal shops with no vette experience to put the trailing arms in a bench press and the best indicator of this is when they come in to purchase a caliper mounting bracket.
Also, when you had the bearings replace did they even pull the arm and/or did they inspect the condition of the front trailing arm bushings.
Willcox
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
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From: North Easton Mass
The best thing to do if you want help on the forum is to post several pictures of the trailing arm, shims, general setup, etc. There are plenty of people on the forum who can help you but word descriptions are notoriously unreliable and you may miss some key item that someone else will spot right away.
Rick B.
Rick B.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 172
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From: Cumming GA
I agree on the pictures and will try to get some this weekend to post. Maybe I can try out the new camera I bought my wife for Christmas to insure it works…
….ok, maybe not. If I remember correctly all the shims were on the outside of the trailing arm but I will verify which side. There were no shims on the other side. The trailing arm bushings were replaced about 8 years ago so hopefully there is nothing wrong there.
Wilcox you may well be “right on” with your post. I do remember the mechanic saying how difficult it was to get the old ones out and he also remarked about a large bench press they had to use. I will certainly look for the bend or buckle you described.
Thanks to all for the help, I will be back with pictures.
Andy
….ok, maybe not. If I remember correctly all the shims were on the outside of the trailing arm but I will verify which side. There were no shims on the other side. The trailing arm bushings were replaced about 8 years ago so hopefully there is nothing wrong there. Wilcox you may well be “right on” with your post. I do remember the mechanic saying how difficult it was to get the old ones out and he also remarked about a large bench press they had to use. I will certainly look for the bend or buckle you described.
Thanks to all for the help, I will be back with pictures.
Andy
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From: London England
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 172
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From: Cumming GA
I should have explained better, I am only talking about the right side trailing arm. All the shims are on one side of the trailing arm pushing the toe in as much as possible but it needs to go further. The drivers side trailing arm has no problem, adjusted fine.
Andy
Andy
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From: Green Bay Wisconsin
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Cumming GA
I really believe the arm did get bent during the bearing change but I hope to find more tomorrow when I get under the car.
No it is not a woman, that is my buddy Bear. He is a 110 pound mutt that thinks the car belongs to him on weekends and I am just there to drive it. He always goes with me on weekends and gets his hotdogs at the corner store. I do not have to worry about locking the car when he is in it. During hot weather I can leave it running with the A/C on for him with no worries about someone stealing the car.
No it is not a woman, that is my buddy Bear. He is a 110 pound mutt that thinks the car belongs to him on weekends and I am just there to drive it. He always goes with me on weekends and gets his hotdogs at the corner store. I do not have to worry about locking the car when he is in it. During hot weather I can leave it running with the A/C on for him with no worries about someone stealing the car.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I ran this by my shop yesterday and we all seem to think the arm is bent. I would get under the car and look at the arm as I described above! You should be able to see the sign's of this in the arm especially if all the shims are to one side.
Willcox
Willcox
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Cumming GA
Not sure if this picture will help or not but you can see the shims to the right side of the arm. I could not see or feel any place on the arm that had been distorted or buckled but I still feel sure that is the problem.
Each time I took the car for alignment I also left a shim pack in the front seat in case new shims was needed but the pack was never opened.
Each time I took the car for alignment I also left a shim pack in the front seat in case new shims was needed but the pack was never opened.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The shims don't look like they have been out of the car and they look old, the cotter pin looks new.. whats that space between the arm and the shims on the right side. It looks like there is over 1/4 inch between the last shim and the arm. (Could be just be optical)
Can you try to snap a picture of the rest of the arm and maybe some of the other parts back there? And maybe snap one of the right side and shim view. Post as many pictures as possible, maybe we can figure this out for you. I know that if the arms bent there is a good chance I or someone else here will spot it!
I'll take a peak back later to see.
Willcox
Can you try to snap a picture of the rest of the arm and maybe some of the other parts back there? And maybe snap one of the right side and shim view. Post as many pictures as possible, maybe we can figure this out for you. I know that if the arms bent there is a good chance I or someone else here will spot it!
I'll take a peak back later to see.
Willcox
