Positive Camber Issue
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 188
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From: Wesley Chapel, FL
Positive Camber Issue I have a 2002 Camaro SS with Hotkiss lowering springs and Bilstein shocks. Never had an alignment problem until now. The passenger front tire will not allign. The camber is something like +6 camber. I've taken it to three different shops and noone can get the alignment right. Anyone have any suggestions as to what's wrong?
On The Tree
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 151
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From: So Cal
Having just rebuilt the entire suspension on an 02 I have to say there is NOT much adjustment possible with the OEM upper and lower A-Arms....there is some but not much.
If the alignment shop has maxed out the - camber adjustment of the lower a-arm (the only adjustment point), then the next place to look would be a bushing failure......on the upper or lower arms or a strut mount failure.....those could create camber issues.
When I took my 02 lower arms off, some of the bushings were so deteriorated I could see through them......
Ask them to inspect your front bushings, mounts and ball joints.
+6 is big.....like dune buggy big.
If the alignment shop has maxed out the - camber adjustment of the lower a-arm (the only adjustment point), then the next place to look would be a bushing failure......on the upper or lower arms or a strut mount failure.....those could create camber issues.
When I took my 02 lower arms off, some of the bushings were so deteriorated I could see through them......
Ask them to inspect your front bushings, mounts and ball joints.
+6 is big.....like dune buggy big.
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6 degrees is alot. Do you have any vibrations or sounds while driving? Sounds to me like a control arm bushing has gone bad, possibly an upper strut mount. Get that checked out
Last edited by BMR Tech2; Nov 18, 2013 at 11:54 AM.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel, FL
Actually no. The only reason I even took it to the shop was because of the uneven tire wear.
Are you running stock control arms still? Is the tire noticeably leaning outwards? Can you post pictures of the suspension, and one looking down the side of the car at the front wheel area? I'm trying to figure out if the top of the tire is leaning out, or the bottom is pulled in.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel, FL
Are you running stock control arms still? Is the tire noticeably leaning outwards? Can you post pictures of the suspension, and one looking down the side of the car at the front wheel area? I'm trying to figure out if the top of the tire is leaning out, or the bottom is pulled in.
Let's assume, for a moment, that the people that you've had look at this car are legally blind. They'd have to be, not to notice something wrong, as +6* of camber is HUGE! If they've adjusted the lower control arms to the furthest outboard position, as they would in an effort to reduce positive camber, and the measurement is 6* positive, then the problem quite possibly is with the spindle itself being bent, the upper a-arm is somehow damaged, the upper ball joint is ready to fall apart, or the upper control arm bushings crumbled and fell out.
Does the car shake and/or vibrate when you drive it? Does the steering have a lot of play?
Does the car shake and/or vibrate when you drive it? Does the steering have a lot of play?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel, FL
Let's assume, for a moment, that the people that you've had look at this car are legally blind. They'd have to be, not to notice something wrong, as +6* of camber is HUGE! If they've adjusted the lower control arms to the furthest outboard position, as they would in an effort to reduce positive camber, and the measurement is 6* positive, then the problem quite possibly is with the spindle itself being bent, the upper a-arm is somehow damaged, the upper ball joint is ready to fall apart, or the upper control arm bushings crumbled and fell out.
Does the car shake and/or vibrate when you drive it? Does the steering have a lot of play?
Does the car shake and/or vibrate when you drive it? Does the steering have a lot of play?
look at the lower control arm bolt position in the mounting hole. is it pulled all the way to the outboard position? If they have been trying to take the camber out, assuming they have half an idea of what they are doing, it should be all the way as far to the outside as it can get. If it is already there, then you have a damaged/worn component somewhere in the setup. if not, take it back and point this adjustment out to them and see if they can get it dialed in with that.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel, FL
look at the lower control arm bolt position in the mounting hole. is it pulled all the way to the outboard position? If they have been trying to take the camber out, assuming they have half an idea of what they are doing, it should be all the way as far to the outside as it can get. If it is already there, then you have a damaged/worn component somewhere in the setup. if not, take it back and point this adjustment out to them and see if they can get it dialed in with that.
this is the are you should be looking at. I have circled the mounting area, the arrow is pointing to an exposed gap in the adjustment slot on my car in the normal position. Is this gap present on yours or is it to the inside of the bolt head?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 188
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From: Wesley Chapel, FL
I don't know. I'll have to look. No one ever messed with that so I'm assuming it's in the stock position.