Poor Allignment?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Poor Allignment?
Just had my 85 aligned because the tires were not wearing well and had a slight pull to right on the road.
They showed me the before and after specs. The before were all red, way out of alignment and after all green, within specs. They said the car still pulled right after alignment and was due to a radial pull.
Took it out and almost went off the road because the car pulled so severely right.
Went right back and they said that it was due to the radial pull in one of my tires. They volunteered to rotate tires front to back and is now much better, but the pull right is not completely gone.
Never heard of a radial pull. Are they full of it?
They showed me the before and after specs. The before were all red, way out of alignment and after all green, within specs. They said the car still pulled right after alignment and was due to a radial pull.
Took it out and almost went off the road because the car pulled so severely right.
Went right back and they said that it was due to the radial pull in one of my tires. They volunteered to rotate tires front to back and is now much better, but the pull right is not completely gone.
Never heard of a radial pull. Are they full of it?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,228
Likes: 698
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Yes as other posters have said an uneven worn tire can have some wandering, you can help that and any wandering effect with more positive caster. 3deg caster is standard and i have my caster set at 6 deg, another issue is what specs do they use?.
They may be using what they think is right, GM spent a lot of time getting a good comprimise between handling and stability.
The handbook that came with your car will have the specs GM used, show that to the alignment technician.
Did they check the ball joints and tie rod ends etc for wear? Tire wear can pull a little but should not do what you are describing.
It takes time to do an alignment correctly, check the bushes ball joints tyie rod ends and shock absorbers. Tire pressure must be the same, any camber and caster adjustment means adding or removing shims then checking the result. Most align shops tend to check the toe in and go. take your car elsewhere and get a second opinion, the car also needs to be settled after attaching the equipment to the wheel.
bouncing the suspension helps but i have found the best results with alignment shop that has rollers that you drive the car on, that simulates the road and has the suspension settled and that is the only place i take my vette to for a 4 wheel alignment.
They may be using what they think is right, GM spent a lot of time getting a good comprimise between handling and stability.
The handbook that came with your car will have the specs GM used, show that to the alignment technician.
Did they check the ball joints and tie rod ends etc for wear? Tire wear can pull a little but should not do what you are describing.
It takes time to do an alignment correctly, check the bushes ball joints tyie rod ends and shock absorbers. Tire pressure must be the same, any camber and caster adjustment means adding or removing shims then checking the result. Most align shops tend to check the toe in and go. take your car elsewhere and get a second opinion, the car also needs to be settled after attaching the equipment to the wheel.
bouncing the suspension helps but i have found the best results with alignment shop that has rollers that you drive the car on, that simulates the road and has the suspension settled and that is the only place i take my vette to for a 4 wheel alignment.
