Wheel alignment agony

[Cool]

Ok guys.. here is my story

 

Somewhere in Feb, when I lower my car using Tanabe springs, my wheel alignment was slightly out. THen, recently when I put on the new TRD kit, the alignment worsen.

 

On Sunday, got wheel alignment done. THe reading was bad -2.75 right and -2.09 left.

 

Happily got it resolved... then, here is the irony. I realised my wheels are rather "unbalance". So, on monday, did On wheel balancing and off wheel balancing for my rear.

 

Here is the biggest joke.. my right front tyre was deteced with bad uneven wear. Therefore, by doing wheel alignment, it made the ride more uncomfortable. The worst was only the front right tyre and not both. Else, changing tyres made more sense. !!!

 

Sigh !!! something I have to live with it until my tyres wears out...

 

[Cool]

Did it in stamford tyres... did alignment cos my steering wheel is not going straight.

[Madarmour]

Cool, when you lower your car, the alignment settings are different from the stock suspension. Try to check your manual and see whether there's any suggested settings for lowered suspension. You'll notice that once lowered, the camber becomes more negative. A negative camber improves cornering stability but will increase inner tyre wear.

 

Some cars, like mine, the only adjustable part is toe-in, with a fixed camber and caster. So when I lower my babe, the camber automatically becomes more negative than stock setting and when I go for alignment, the only thing that gets adjusted is the toe-in. So I pay full price just to have the toe-in adjusted. If I really want to, I can get the camber adjusted buy it involves some modification to the suspension, a risk I'm not willing to take.

 

So now I get accelerated wear on my inner tyre. I get by by rotating the tyres, left to right, not only front to back. A bit leceh, as the tyres gotta come off. But, heck, cornering feels good, man!

 

You should check with BM of the three parameters, toe-in, camber and caster, which one can be adjusted. This will help you to understand this alignment thingy more!

 

My $0.02.

[Cardinal]

Cool, bro, you should have checked on your alignment long long ago, immediately after installing your shocks...

 

What Mike said is correct. When I did my Konis, I immediately noticed my alignment was out. about 1 week later, giving a few days for the suspension to "settle", I sent my car to Leong Seng tire shop to adjust the toe-in/out and the steering alignment. My manual, in the specifications section, specifies all the data. So do check on yours.

 

The uneven wear is probably caused by the fact that you drove for a few months without ensuring proper alignment, but never mind, just take it as lesson learned, after all, 15" tires aren't that expensive to replace right?

 

As for camber, there's probably no way to adjust it, unless you get an aftermarket camber adjustment kit. Then again, if you wanted to lower your car, you probably wanted to do some nice cornering which the negative camber will enhance right?

[Freemason]

Hi Cardinal and all,

 

 

anyone of u out there noe lokyang rd there got any good and not so ex workshop doing wheel alignment?

 

was quoted 80 by stamford tyres......whew

 

 

 

 

hope some1 will answer my prayer....cos gotta go do it at lunch time

 

 

thanks

[Cardinal]

I believe I was quoted much less than that by Leong Seng at Ubi.. it's the same row as Mcwell, further up the block. Maybe around half that price? can't remember..

[Freemason]

hi cardinal,

 

 

thanks for the info...i called up leong seng, they quoted me 60...

 

but anyway i went to 1 of a workshop near to jeepchee....and had my alignment done for 38.50

[Cardinal]

you lower your car, means you get negative camber, which means the top of the wheels are closer together than the bottom. ie it looks like /--- whereas positive camber is like ---/ when seen from the front of the car.

 

Usually a 1 inch drop, or 2 fingers, is not enough to warrant changing camber, so how many fingers did you drop?

 

Also, there is nothing wrong with having -ve camber, except that the inner part of your tire will wear out faster. But the upside is that your cornering ability is better.

 

Did the shop you did your alignment at give you the number of degrees of camber in your wheel?

[Cardinal]

BTW, someone earlier in this thread posted a link to a very comprehensive discussion on camber and alignment. I suggest you click on that link. got pictures too..

[Freemason]

i tink is 2 finger drop.

 

ya i was right beside the computer when he was aligning my wheels.....showed negative

[Freemason]

ya.....saw that link......but now seems to lose it and cant find it...haha.....but i tink i remember seeing that tyre......one sided botak

 

quite terok leh......tink i'll just learn from another fellow member here, try to rotate the wheels more often......wouldnt wanna lose out the cornering feeling also

[Cardinal]

if I'm not wrong, rotating the tires aren't going to help if your tires are directional, cos the same part of the tire gets to be the inner part.

[Freemason]

hmm....ya hor.......

 

 

looks like will have to get the pair of cambers.....

[Cool]

Hey Freemanson..

 

Where is the shop ?? Putting up the camber is not cheap.

 

For myself, I am waiting for the wear to get new sets of tyres.. I don't drive hard so it is ok..

Edited August 13, 2002 by Cool

[Madarmour]

Negative camber is good as it will improve cornering stability. Too much will increase inner tyre wear, though. Do check your manual for the stock camber settings. I'm sure it's negative. Naturally when you lower your car, the camber will become more negative.

[Madarmour]

Actually you can still rotate a unidirectional tyre, provided both side of the tyre is of the same pattern. A bit more troublesome as you've gotta remove the tyre from the left rims and fit it back to the right rims and vice versa. So this kinda rotation you can't DIY!

[Freemason]

you know Jeep Chee's the other shop? the one thats hiding on the inside stretch?

that shop i went to is actually along Jeep Chee and further down. Its Name is called People's Auto Trading but they're Fong Kims signboard.

 

that guy quoted me 120....i was like....hmmm

 

actually i have no idea how much the camber would cost on the market

[Freemason]

*sigh*

 

if only i got my car's manual....cos mine is a 10 yr ol car.....so duno what the ex owner did to the manual also