Too much camber or is this normal?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 27
Likes: 2
Too much camber or is this normal?
I pulled my front tires to give the insides of the wheel wells a good cleaning and found the following.......
So very clearly the girl needs a new pair of shoes, however what I'm looking for is whether this is a normal wear pattern or if there is too much camber on the suspension????
For the record, these are the original Eagle F1's with about 20K on them. I've owned the car for about the last 500 miles of that and don't believe that the car has ever really been driven all that aggressively. Both fronts appear to have the same wear pattern on the inside shoulder like that. The rear's are fairly even across the tread pattern with about 50% left on them.
Thanks for the input!
So very clearly the girl needs a new pair of shoes, however what I'm looking for is whether this is a normal wear pattern or if there is too much camber on the suspension????
For the record, these are the original Eagle F1's with about 20K on them. I've owned the car for about the last 500 miles of that and don't believe that the car has ever really been driven all that aggressively. Both fronts appear to have the same wear pattern on the inside shoulder like that. The rear's are fairly even across the tread pattern with about 50% left on them.
Thanks for the input!
Last edited by kachow; Jul 5, 2016 at 03:17 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Rockland County NY
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2016 C5 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '12, '14
Too much camber and toe most likely. I just had to adjust my settings after experiencing the same kind of aggressive wear
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Especially at the price of tires on these things it's a good idea to keep an eye on wear. If it looks wrong, it is. Center wear can be acceleration wear, but if it's on the fronts it's due to overinflation. Same can be true for the rears actually. Edge wear like that generally manifests itself as stepped wear on the outside treads. If you watch when they're newer, you'll probably see the leading edge of one is worn more than the trailing edge of the one in front of it. That's telling you something is wrong. Generally just what was said above, camber or toe. It can also be telling you you've got bushings in the suspension that are shot, and sometimes can be caused by shocks that are hoofed. Those you should be able to tell almost without looking. You'll feel strange changes in attitude that are not being put there by you and the steering wheel. When the car tends to lurch around side to side, you've got something amiss.
"My Dad's a TV Repairman"
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 471
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From: San Diego
The factory C5 camber settings are very neutral- Very slight (-.1 or so) negative in back, so I would definitely look at your set up. If you're lowered, you'll push in negative, but not really that much. Some cars (BMWs specifically) have up to negative 2.0 in the back, but eat tires mercilessly on the inner tread...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 27
Likes: 2
Good input guys, thanks! As far as I know the alignment hasn't been touched from Factory. I have noticed that the car can be a bit darty but I usually can attribute that to uneven road surfaces. She's very stable in the corners and doesn't pull to either side on straight and level roads. Regarding the shocks, while I had the wheels out I peeked at them and they don't appear to be leaking (thank goodness). I'm not feeling any roughness or bouncing that might indicate a bad shock.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Good input guys, thanks! As far as I know the alignment hasn't been touched from Factory. I have noticed that the car can be a bit darty but I usually can attribute that to uneven road surfaces. She's very stable in the corners and doesn't pull to either side on straight and level roads. Regarding the shocks, while I had the wheels out I peeked at them and they don't appear to be leaking (thank goodness). I'm not feeling any roughness or bouncing that might indicate a bad shock.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
NO..no...no.... your car should NOT be doing that, we have the worst roads in America and the ruts in the hiway are horrible from wheat trucks, salt water haulers, oil tankers, etc... and it doesn't dart...tires and alignment should fix that issue, unless you have some other front end problems
The only way a car won't behave properly is if the suspension isn't hanging on to the wheels properly. Either bushings shot, loose, ball joints shot, something broke, shock rubbers disintegrated, spring rubbers same, could be almost anything. But needing to 'chase' the car when driving ain't right.
I had a problem with my rear suspension so I took mine to an alignment shop to have them put it on a lift and check it out. I was a week from back surgery and didn't want to touch it. They told me everything was A-ok. I argued that no it isn't, may I take a look. Wasn't strong enough to reef on stuff but had them do what I could not and low and behold, the rear tierod ends were loose.
I felt like saying, "Look, if I say there is something wrong, there is something WRONG."
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
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From: Houston TX
My C5Z had an aggressive alignment when I bought it and gave the tires similar wear. Cords were showing on the inside while the outer tread blocks looked nearly new. A fresh alignment fixed it and it hasn't given me problems since.
My BMW has negative camber, around -2.2* up front and -2.0* out back and it doesn't eat tires like this. It's most likely from having too aggressive of toe settings with your current alignment. Are both sides worn the same or only one?
My BMW has negative camber, around -2.2* up front and -2.0* out back and it doesn't eat tires like this. It's most likely from having too aggressive of toe settings with your current alignment. Are both sides worn the same or only one?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,092
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From: orlando florida
St. Jude Donor '15
20k miles most lilely never aligned. Springs have gotten old and settled, thus causing more negative camber and negative toe.
Get it aligned to exact camber and toe specs with caster being 0.30 higher on the right versus left.
Signed - the algnment guy
Get it aligned to exact camber and toe specs with caster being 0.30 higher on the right versus left.
Signed - the algnment guy
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 27
Likes: 2
Yes, nearly identical wear on both front corners. AFAIK this may be the first time the wheels have been removed since it rolled off the line so I doubt that a full alignment has been performed in over 13 years. I do not believe that it has been lowered from stock.
Sounds like an alignment is in order. I had planned on bringing it into a local Chevy dealer that my neighbor works for and says their corvette guys is good (I trust my neighbor) for an inspection. I'll make sure he takes a close look at the front end.
Thanks for the input guys, very helpful!
Sounds like an alignment is in order. I had planned on bringing it into a local Chevy dealer that my neighbor works for and says their corvette guys is good (I trust my neighbor) for an inspection. I'll make sure he takes a close look at the front end.
Thanks for the input guys, very helpful!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,256
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From: Pennsylvania
She definitely needs aligned but even with 20k miles there can be a worn component remember these vehicles are mass produced and parts can have defects. Take it to a reputable alignment shop and have them shake it down before they align it.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 789
From: Hernando MS
Those 13+ year old hard as a rock run flats are probably what's making the car feel darty.
My car was the same way when I bought it a few years ago..it also had the same bald inner shoulders. Mine had 12,000 miles, was sitting on 15 year old rubber and it drove terrible. The alignment was out by only the slightest amount. You needed tires anyway
My car was the same way when I bought it a few years ago..it also had the same bald inner shoulders. Mine had 12,000 miles, was sitting on 15 year old rubber and it drove terrible. The alignment was out by only the slightest amount. You needed tires anyway
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 27
Likes: 2
Ok, just got her back from the shop. the Previous Owner had lowered it and didn't have the alignment corrected for the new geometry. Tech was able to reset the factory for me and said everything else looked OK. Car is so much more stable to drive! Glad i didn't just settle for some new tires.
10 points for those that kept questioning about it being lowered
Thanks again for the input and advice!
10 points for those that kept questioning about it being lowered
Thanks again for the input and advice!