alignment problem: pulls right, got it aligned, still pulls to the right...
08-13-2007, 08:47 PM
#1
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alignment problem: pulls right, got it aligned, still pulls to the right... just got my car aligned, but it feels the same as before, still pulls to the right.
i went through a car wash but i'd turned off the ignition while it was still rolling on the tracks. so i'm pretty sure the wheel/steering was fighting with the metal tracks as it rolled through it. it has been pulling to the right since then.
took it to get it aligned today and gave them specific specs (for high speed stability).
caster: +4.5*
camber: -.7*
toe in: 1/32
my question is, do they perform the alignment (change the degree) relative to it's current state?
i would think they would have to correct the problem first, THEN apply the changes i want.
i went through a car wash but i'd turned off the ignition while it was still rolling on the tracks. so i'm pretty sure the wheel/steering was fighting with the metal tracks as it rolled through it. it has been pulling to the right since then.
took it to get it aligned today and gave them specific specs (for high speed stability).
caster: +4.5*
camber: -.7*
toe in: 1/32
my question is, do they perform the alignment (change the degree) relative to it's current state?
i would think they would have to correct the problem first, THEN apply the changes i want.
08-13-2007, 09:12 PM
#3
Have you recently curbed the car or hit a big pot hole? When you look at the camber adjustment bolts on either side, are they fairly even in the adjustment slot?
Bending a knuckle (some folks call it a spindle) is a lot easier than you might think. In my road racing car, hopping an FIA apex curb I have tweaked a knuckle before.
Did teh alignment tech perform a camber sweep? Basically, if the knuckle is bent, it will arc the wheel in a strange curve. There is a tolerance.
Or it might be as simple as the tech didn't tighten the camber or caster bolts tight enough and they've moved. It's happened before and something I always check before I load the car to head for the track ... those and the torque arm bolts.
Bending a knuckle (some folks call it a spindle) is a lot easier than you might think. In my road racing car, hopping an FIA apex curb I have tweaked a knuckle before.
Did teh alignment tech perform a camber sweep? Basically, if the knuckle is bent, it will arc the wheel in a strange curve. There is a tolerance.
Or it might be as simple as the tech didn't tighten the camber or caster bolts tight enough and they've moved. It's happened before and something I always check before I load the car to head for the track ... those and the torque arm bolts.
08-13-2007, 11:20 PM
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well, when it went trough the carwash, the steering wheel was turned very slightly to the left. the ignition was off, so the steering wheel was locked, couldn't move it.
so if the steering wheel was turned a little to the left, i'm thinking the carwash rail was pushing against my front driver side wheel/tire.
something like this:
what exactly is a camber sweep? is that like "reseting" it? moving it to the max each way and finding the center?
so if the steering wheel was turned a little to the left, i'm thinking the carwash rail was pushing against my front driver side wheel/tire.
something like this:
what exactly is a camber sweep? is that like "reseting" it? moving it to the max each way and finding the center?
08-13-2007, 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by 2 SLOW
you might have tire pull. what tires are on the front of the car?
08-13-2007, 11:35 PM
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i guess the carwash damaged the sidewalls on your tires, thus causing tire pull....since you said it was rubing on the rails. Switch the L/F tire with the R/F tire and see what happens.
Do you have the paper that shows what the actual specs were set at for the alignment?
Do you have the paper that shows what the actual specs were set at for the alignment?
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08-13-2007, 11:43 PM
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Originally Posted by reject
well if he has directional tires then he'll want to change with the same side of the car
08-14-2007, 06:35 AM
#13
Originally Posted by Reznor
what exactly is a camber sweep? is that like "reseting" it? moving it to the max each way and finding the center?
It will indicate if a knuckle is bent.
08-14-2007, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Reznor
left front
camber: -.7*
caster: 4.2*
Toe: .06*
right front
camber: -.6*
caster: 4.7*
Toe: .06*
camber: -.7*
caster: 4.2*
Toe: .06*
right front
camber: -.6*
caster: 4.7*
Toe: .06*
08-14-2007, 08:43 PM
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All those answers are good ones. Id start with a bent wheel though. spin it on a balancer and see how bad it wobbles. The alignment is obviously good enough to keep from a massive pull. the side with more negative camber will cause a pull in opposite direction.
left front
camber: -.7*
caster: 4.2*
Toe: .06*
right front
camber: -.6*
caster: 4.7*
Toe: .06*
for instance it will pull a hair to the right.
where as the side with the lowest caster will pull in that direction. so it would pull left. Camber pulls twice as much as caster.
next question. is it a legitamate pull or is the steering wheel just off center.
There is a big difference. Tires will cause a pull. If they are non directional then just swap the left and right. if they are directional you'd have to swap the tires and wheels around.
Next up. When I and my co-workers do alignment we set them to pull slighty to the left with a caster pull. Remember caster is a non-wearing angle. We get cambers dead even and offset thecaster to compensate for the natural road crown. Roads in texas do have a pretty bad road crown.
Hope this helps. Good luck. Its one of the above.
left front
camber: -.7*
caster: 4.2*
Toe: .06*
right front
camber: -.6*
caster: 4.7*
Toe: .06*
for instance it will pull a hair to the right.
where as the side with the lowest caster will pull in that direction. so it would pull left. Camber pulls twice as much as caster.
next question. is it a legitamate pull or is the steering wheel just off center.
There is a big difference. Tires will cause a pull. If they are non directional then just swap the left and right. if they are directional you'd have to swap the tires and wheels around.
Next up. When I and my co-workers do alignment we set them to pull slighty to the left with a caster pull. Remember caster is a non-wearing angle. We get cambers dead even and offset thecaster to compensate for the natural road crown. Roads in texas do have a pretty bad road crown.
Hope this helps. Good luck. Its one of the above.
