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Alignment problems, what solution?

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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 11:29 AM
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Default Alignment problems, what solution?

Here is a copy of my alignment:


This is the best they could do (no more room for adjustment). No visible damage or other probs.

If I went with the UMI K-member, would that provide me with enough adjustability to get my alignment in spec (their website claims "A-Arm Slots Lengthened a 1/2" Over Factory for Additional Adjustment when Needed")? Or will I need to go with the lower A-arms? Or could it be another problem?

My thrust angle is also off, its at 0.46.

I have BMR lowering springs with Bilsteins.

Thanks in advance.
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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 01:19 PM
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WOW!!!

That is way off. No more room for adjustment would mean that the right arm is all the way in on the slots and the left is all the way out and its still not even close by a long shot.

Getting some adjustable upper and lower arms I would think would give you enough to get it where one side matches the other.

Are you sure nothing is bent? maybe your steering knuckle or something? That just seems way to far off.
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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 02:23 PM
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I would take the car to another alignment shop and get another "opinion". Could their machine or equipment be out of calibration? Operator error? Those numbers seem way off for a car that hasn't been in an accident or has some other bent parts.
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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Chevy053
WOW!!!

That is way off. No more room for adjustment would mean that the right arm is all the way in on the slots and the left is all the way out and its still not even close by a long shot.

Getting some adjustable upper and lower arms I would think would give you enough to get it where one side matches the other.

Are you sure nothing is bent? maybe your steering knuckle or something? That just seems way to far off.
Visually nothing is bent and nothing is damaged. Both the shop and I independently confirmed this. BUT, this doesn't rule out frame damage, or so I am told. I may go get the frame lasered just to make sure.

Another factor may be that the rear is not aligned??? I don't know for sure, but I have an adjustable PHR because its lowered and it may not be centered correctly.
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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by jb442
I would take the car to another alignment shop and get another "opinion". Could their machine or equipment be out of calibration? Operator error? Those numbers seem way off for a car that hasn't been in an accident or has some other bent parts.
I may end up doing that. The flip side is its just another $60 to confirm what we already know, but at least its piece of mind, so I hear what you're saying.

I just wish someone could say "hey, its xyz, so fix xyz and you're set".

FWIW, this shop said they would check it out again (free) after a few hundred miles.
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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 06:58 PM
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I don't know if this helps, but the reason I brought the car to get aligned is because I had the driver's side front tire replaced because it wore down on the outside edge. The wear pattern was substantially different than the passenger side front.
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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 07:23 PM
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your rear end being off center is not a huge deal ,with respect to the front ! being an alignment tech the first thing that caught my eye is your sai [short for steering axis inclanation]i'm sure i spelled that wrong .when you have more than a degree different's from side to side. it tell's me a steering knuckle or a suspension part is bad control arm ,frame damage ,etc....i would take it to another alignment shop and compare spec's .if they are close you can ruleout a faulty machine ,no matter what you find in the end you do need more adjustment from an aftermarket frame or control arm 's to correct your problem .i'm in shock that your complaint was about your left front tire and not your right front tire looking at the spec's there's alot of negative camber there to wipe out that tire alot sooner than the drivers side...
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Old Apr 25, 2007 | 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by chevysol73
your rear end being off center is not a huge deal ,with respect to the front ! being an alignment tech the first thing that caught my eye is your sai [short for steering axis inclanation]i'm sure i spelled that wrong .when you have more than a degree different's from side to side. it tell's me a steering knuckle or a suspension part is bad control arm ,frame damage ,etc....i would take it to another alignment shop and compare spec's .if they are close you can ruleout a faulty machine ,no matter what you find in the end you do need more adjustment from an aftermarket frame or control arm 's to correct your problem .i'm in shock that your complaint was about your left front tire and not your right front tire looking at the spec's there's alot of negative camber there to wipe out that tire alot sooner than the drivers side...
Thanks for your feedback.

The info posted above was done AFTER the tire replacement. So the "Before" number would represent what the alignment was prior to the tire change.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 06:41 PM
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Gonna have to bump this one. Need to know if the thrust angle affects the front alignment to this degree.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

Last edited by BigDaddyBry; Apr 27, 2007 at 11:41 AM.
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 11:42 AM
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Anybody have any ideas?
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 02:12 PM
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Originally Posted by BigDaddyBry
Gonna have to bump this one. Need to know if the thrust angle affects the front alignment to this degree.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help.
Short answer, No. The thrust angle is the relationship between your rear axle and the front wheels (vehicle centerline, actually).
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