Front Wheel Camber Problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 243
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From: Staten Island NY
Front Wheel -Wheel Alignment & Camber Problem
Today I went for a 4 wheel - wheel alignment. I asked for the spec sheet. Not really sure what the hell I was reading until I got home and sat down. Seems that the LEFT front wheel camber is really off. The spec range for this shop was -0.5* to -0.1* camber. The right wheel is -0.1* and looks ok by eye. The left wheel was -1.0* and when I look at the wheel the top of the tire/wheel looks to be in toward the center of the car compared to the left wheel that looks almost straight from top to bottom. I went back very, very upset and asked if the upper control arm looked ok? The mechanic said it looked ok by eye, he said the car is fine the way it was. Long story short - I got a refund. Not sure where to go from here?
Last edited by C5TORCHED; Dec 22, 2007 at 10:40 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,032
Likes: 9,789
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
You need to get the alignment set to the Service preferred settings not just within the tolerance. The tolerance allows you to custom set the alignment for things like running on the track, etc. For the street Service Preferred should be selected by most people with the front toe set to toward the toe in side of the tolerance to keep wandering down. With my car I start with Service Preferred and then choose the camber, caster and toe tolerances I want and tell the tech to hit them exactly unless he has permission from me to do something else.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island NY
So basically what you are saying is If I want my camber set -0.1 for both front wheels and 0 camber for for the both rear wheels , and pick my other numbers(toe, caster) thats what I tell the tech and there should be no reason they can't set to those numbers unless something is bent(like upper control arm)? One front wheel should not be -1.0 and the other front wheel -0.1 ?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,032
Likes: 9,789
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
So basically what you are saying is If I want my camber set -0.1 for both front wheels and 0 camber for for the both rear wheels , and pick my other numbers(toe, caster) thats what I tell the tech and there should be no reason they can't set to those numbers unless something is bent(like upper control arm)? One front wheel should not be -1.0 and the other front wheel -0.1 ?
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Dec 26, 2007 at 02:38 PM.
