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Alignment check

1.3K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  UncleGuido  
#1 ·
How does this look? Feels like it still pulls to the right.
 

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#2 ·
As far as the alignment itself:
They needed to adjust the left rear toe-in to match the right rear, or split the difference between the two to achieve a 0 degree thrust angle. You've got some left-pointing thrust angle there. FYI ,one cam bolt controls toe and camber simultaneously so it's a bit of a dance to split all the numbers and find a happy medium. But thrust angle would be my first concern.

Also your right caster is 1 degree less positive than your left. A vehicle will pull toward the less positive caster angle (the angle closer to vertical). This isn't an adjustable angle so I'm not sure why it's out. That being said, PDC (Pull/Drift compensation) thats built into the software of the electric power steering rack should definitely make up for the 1 degree caster split as well as changing road crown, and mask this minor difference.

Now, regarding my outside opinion on the pull. Before you do anything else, if you do not have directional tires, swap them left to right and see if the car now pulls left. If they are directional, rotate them front to rear and see if the pull to the right lessens.
 
#6 ·
depends on what you feel is a concern.

safety? nope wont hurt anything.
tire wear? nothing really worse than what youve already experienced.
handling? it'll be a little twitchy but nothing major. you probably wont even notice a difference if you 'fixed' it.

if it's that much of a concern, you can get some pricy bushings.

me personally? I'd find a performance alignment shop that specializes in this and ask them to realign it. The quick tire shop places set to green and ship it.
 
#8 ·
No. Nothing on the subframe.

Where did you get this alignment done at? If it was a Firestone or similar location, policy is get to Green and ship it. They dont care as evident that they could've got your rear toe better in about 4 minutes worth of work and didn't.

I bet if you took it to a specialty alignment shop, they could probably get it in spec without needing to do anything drastic.

If you need tips on where to go, find your local SCCA group and ask them.
 
#15 ·
@Crazyjayb How confident are you that your pull to the right isn’t a function of the crowning built into the road?

If you go on the interstate, get into the left lane, set your wheel to go straight, do you still get pulled into the right lane, onto the shoulder, and off the road unless you intervene?
 
#16 ·
I understand
@Crazyjayb How confident are you that your pull to the right isn’t a function of the crowning built into the road?

If you go on the interstate, get into the left lane, set your wheel to go straight, do you still get pulled into the right lane, onto the shoulder, and off the road unless you intervene?
Very confident that it isn't just the crowning of the road. Unfortunately remember how it used to drive. Idk if it means anything that it goes straight when I set the wheels straight. It just doesn't go straight when I let go. Thanks
 
#18 ·
Mine will pull to the right under any acceleration, and even cruising, but if you clutch in or put in neutral, it will go perfectly straight no matter the crown of the road. It would definitely hit a curb if I wasn’t holding on even under the lightest acceleration.

I believe the behavior is normal for mine at least. I’m not sure that yours is normal.
 
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#19 ·
Nothing about what you’re describing falls into what I’d call ‘normal’.
 
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