Alignment Keeps Going Bad?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,280
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From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Alignment Keeps Going Bad?
I had my car aligned less than a week ago. It drove like it never had before. Now, it's pulling to the left just like it did before I brought it. I admit I'm not experienced with suspension or front ends. But what do you know from experience that causes this? Ball joints? Tie Rods?
Thanks for your help.
:cheers:
Stephen
Thanks for your help.
:cheers:
Stephen
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (VolVette)
Does it pull all of the time or does the behavior vary? If it varies, I'd guess a worn ball joint that is moving on you. If it is persistent, and you are certain the front and rear alignment settings are correct, you may want to have the frame looked at (or try a different alignment shop).
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (VolVette)
Check underneath to see if lower control arm bolts have come loose. I have had to retighten mine twice so far. i have the poly bushings and im lucky I havnt lost one yet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
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From: Moro IL
Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (VolVette)
It very possibly could be a tire pull, a simple check is to swap the front tires left to right, if the pull is gone or pulls the other way then the tires are at fault. If this isn't the case then you probably have something moving under there on you.
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
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Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (VolVette)
All great suggestions, maybe check the calibration of your power steering control valve if so equipped. :cheers:
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (VolVette)
Also keep in mind the roadway. Most roadways have a crown in the middle and others slope slightly to one side or the other to get the rain water to run off. If yur alignment is perfect but you are driving on a road with crown or slope, and you let go of the wheel the car will usually drift off the road in the direction of the fall. In order to feel a perfect alignment going perfectly straight, you would need to be driving on a perfectly level surface, which there are practically none of such. Just another thought to rattle yur brain. :D
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (VolVette)
Stock specs call for very little caster. I go for 2.75 caster. I set camber at -minus .75 and toe at 1/16th. I also want both side equal. Stock specs are very low and just because they are in specs side to side doesn't mean both sides are equal.
Go with these specs and ask them to make them equal side to side and you want a final printout and the car will steer alot better.
Go with these specs and ask them to make them equal side to side and you want a final printout and the car will steer alot better.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 922
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From: Maine
Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (norvalwilhelm)
Have you brought the car back? It's possible (but unlikely) that they didn't properly tighten something. Also, has anyone mentioned possible frame cracking or other structural problem? Any good shop will check components for wear before aligning but may not see frame cracks. Another thought: did they do a 4-wheel alignment? Are the trailing arm bushings worn? Could be something in the rear suspension...
good luck!
good luck!
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Re: Alignment Keeps Going Bad? (VolVette)
What are the suspension settings that the car was set to?
I'd bring the car back to the shop where it was aligned and have them check it. Unless you really whacked something in the past week, there's no good reason anything should be different now than then.
Dave
I'd bring the car back to the shop where it was aligned and have them check it. Unless you really whacked something in the past week, there's no good reason anything should be different now than then.
Dave
