17 replies to this topic

[Matthew Wolfe]

I was attempting to set up my new to me 99 this weekend and I ran into an issue with the front camber. I can only get 1.9 on the left and 1.7 on the right. The ride height is 4 5/8 and it is 50% cross weight. Any ideas on what can be off or what I may be doing wrong?

Thanks

Matt

[LarryKing]

Sounds like something is bent.

[Matthew Wolfe]

That’s what I thought at first but what could be bent that would affect both sides equally? Seems strange to me that both LCA could be bent the same.

[Qik Nip]

That’s what I thought at first but what could be bent that would affect both sides equally? Seems strange to me that both LCA could be bent the same.

I hate to offer this explaination, but both LCA's are attached to the sub frame. If it's bent in a "bellied-up" mode it would give you the result you're seeing.
Rick

[Matthew Wolfe]

Is there any way to measure this and specs I should look for? I would like to be sure before dropping $400 and missing my first race.

[Charlie Hayes]

Kind of rough but measure in between the two camber eccentrics and compare to a good subframe/car.

[Bench Racer]

Is there any way to measure this and specs I should look for? I would like to be sure before dropping $400 and missing my first race.

As Charlie mentioned measure & compare to another hopefully known good sub frame. For a tool look at Advanced Autosports tools, Dave Wheeler has a fixed tool to measure the rear eccentrics. Make a similar tool out of wood with one end being fixed & the other end being a pivot. Just like with a measuring caliper touch the ouutside diameter of the two ecentric bolts, carefully remove the tool & measure with a tape measure.

[Keith Novak]

It's probably difficult to bend the subframe without also bending the lower control arms. With ones I've had bent that showed similar numbers, I coudn't see it or determine for myself using a straight edge but a really knowledgeable friend was able to eyeball it and say, "Yeah I think that LCA is bent." Sure enough, it was. I replaced a front subframe last year that turned out to be bent and try as I did, I couldn't find a way to measure it was bent even as it sat on the floor. I thought I was wasting a lot of time and it was subtle but cost me about half a degree of camber.

Point being, you might have a helluva time trying to figure out what really is bent but if you suspect it's the subframe and plan to change that, consider that the LCAs probably bent also in whatever event bent the freakin huge piece that doubles as the engine support, and be ready to swap out the little bent up sheet metal bits that hang off it holding the bottom of the upright too.

[makus0025]

I was attempting to set up my new to me 99 this weekend and I ran into an issue with the front camber. I can only get 1.9 on the left and 1.7 on the right. The ride height is 4 5/8 and it is 50% cross weight. Any ideas on what can be off or what I may be doing wrong?

Thanks

Matt

Matt
I am new to SM and I had this same problem last year
But mine was an easy fix I didn't have blue printed front spindles

[Bench Racer]

I'll pass along a further note on camber. With a brand new 90/97 sub frame & brand new control arms. With all OEM parts (none cheated up) I can get - 3* camber at all four corners. Please note, I didn't say how much clearance I have to the FatCat bump stops.

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

IMHO it is entirely possible that both LCA's are bent. I bent both of mine in a rather minor off 2 weeks ago at TWS in the rain. The most I could get was 2.1'ish. That is on a 99' with a good front subframe (already been replaced) sitting at 4 1/2" ride height. The LCA's are extremely easy to bend on these cars. If I were in your position, I would replace both LCA's first. If I still couldn't get the kind of camber I wanted then I would start looking harder at the subframe.

The most camber I can get in my car with a brand new subframe and new LCA and upper control arms is -2.8. That was at 4 1/4" ride height. YMMV.

[FTodaro]

What are you using to take the measurement, is the floor totally level? I was doing measurements on my lift, I leveled the lift., but on one of my ramps there awe a bit of flex, which distorted my numbers.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

one other ting to check is get a heavy crow bar in there and pull on all the control arms when you have them loose and then tightne them down a bit and see what you get.

[Matthew Wolfe]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

What are you using to take the measurement, is the floor totally level? I was doing measurements on my lift, I leveled the lift., but on one of my ramps there awe a bit of flex, which distorted my numbers.

I was using a set up pad that I leveled with a laser level. I then used a longacre caster camber gage and the angle gage that came with the iron canyon complete kit.

[Newton]

Doing alignments everyday for a living........if most everyone is getting 3+ degrees with known good stuff.......and you cant even get 2 degrees......it has to be a fairly obvious problem. A degree of camber is alot, easily noticeable by just looking at the tire. Dont exclude the UCAs as well, certainly a possiblity. Less likely I think, but still possible.

Also remember a hard and fast rule about alignments and suspension geometry.
Suspension WEAR always results in camber going more negative. This means that you certainly dont have any worn bushings or balljoints.

[Keith Novak]

It's totally obvious if you do it for a living but for most, it's not. A slight bend in the LCA took me from about 3.5 to 1.9 of camber. I tried to stick a straight edge on it every way I could with all the curvy bends but couldn't find a problem. Someone who knows the car inside and out looked at it an said, "I'm pretty sure that's bent." My old rule of thumb wen it comes to somethings off way over here and I think the problem is way back here...one degree of error turns into roughly .5" off at 30" from the target. I've used that so many times it's become a rule of thumb. It's also amazing how little it takes to be off 1* You won't see it unless you know what you're looking for.

[Rob Gibson]

Change the lower ball joints too. We had 2 degrees of camber and 2 degrees of caster with the original LCAs and ball joints. Changed the ball joints first and got it to -2.75 camber and 3 caster. Then changed the LCAs and got -3 camber and 6 degrees caster. Doubt its the uca since if it bends it would tend to give you more negative camber.

[Rob Gibson]

Multiple post.