alignment

[linksys42]

Hello, I just had an alignment done because the outside of my front tires were getting ate up. When I brought it in it drove in a perfect strait line. but then I got the car (92 FWD eagle talon) back it pulled to the right I thought it might be the worn tires. Then I rotated them to put the good tires on the front and it stilled pulled. Well then I took it back to the and had them align it again and put new tires on and it know pulls hard to the left???? This is really pissing me off. the printed sheet I got back from them says caster left is 3.5 degrees and right is 3.0, camber left is 0.1 degrees and right is -0.4 degrees. Toe for the left is -0.05 degrees and the right is -0.05 degrees total is -0.10 it says that the spec is supposed to be -0.15 for toe????? I know it is way out because it has never pulled like this, I am afraid to take it back in because I am afraid they will jack it up more!!!! My question is what it the spec for caster, camber and toe for a 1992 Eagle talon FWD tsi???? I appreciate the help. Thanks

 

[steve]

1G 2.0L FWD

Camber 5' +- 30'
Caster 2 degrees 24' +- 30'
Toe 0 +- .12in

Steve

 

[linksys42]

so -.12in is the same as -.12 degrees? if that is right then my toe (-0.05 for left and right) is within the spec's. but why did it pull to the right the first time they did the alignment, then after they aligned it the second time it pulls to the left hard? something isnt right????
thanks for the help.

 

[99redgst]

You should cross rotate the front tires just to rule those out. Even new tires can pull. Looking at the specs I don't see any reason for it to pull. Lets examine:

Left Right
Caster
3.5 3.0
Camber
0.1 -0.4
Toe
0.05 0.05

Now if you have a difference more than .5 in either camber or caster it can cause a pull, toe will not really cause a pull so lets forget about those numbers. Being that you have a split of .5 on camber and caster, its right on the edge, I wouldn't expect much of a pull if any. We can dig a little deeper though, as far as caster is concered it would pull towards the lower number, so if anything that would make it pull right. Camber will pull to the more positive number, in this case to the left. So in conclusion the caster would want to pull right and the camber pull left basicly equaling them out. So therefore I see no reason for the alignment to be causing this pull unless these are not the correct numbers. I have to assume your tie rod ends and ball joint are tight, I hope they wouldn't do an alignment with bad front end parts. Now as I said earlier I would reccomend rotating the front tires, leave the rears where they are. Move the left front to right front and vice versa. If it still pulls the same direction after that I would assume the numbers they gave you are wrong. If it changes direction you know its the tires, then you can try to either rotate the rears to the front or go back to the shop you got the tires and they may put some new ones on. Sorry for the novel but I just want you to know what the numbers actually mean so you can go in there and show them whats up, I also figuered that there are alot of people that are clueless as to what the numbers really mean and how they can affect the handling of the vehical.

 

[linksys42]

the tires are dirctional so i dont think i can rotate the front ones from one side to the other? and the tie rod ends and ball joints arein good cond. so i dont know what the prob is? i am thinking of taking it to another shop? thanks for all the info

 

[99redgst]

You an still rotate them just to see if the pull changes. Obviosly you wouldn't leave them like that, but at least you know. Why take it to a different shop and spend more money there? Take it back and demand they fix it if they can't tell them they are incompetent and want a refund for the alignment. If you are not satisfied with the results they should do something to compensate you.

 

[linksys42]

See the problem is that my friend is the service manager. And he said that I needed camber plates. But I really don’t think he knows what he is talking about, I think one of his mechanics is telling him this and he is just regurgitating it to me. but i dont want to call him incompetent. thanks again

 

[jtmcinder]

Does it actually pull to one side or is it merely a case of the steering wheel not being straight when you are driving straight ahead?

- Jtoby

 

[linksys42]

no it pulls.

 

[jtmcinder]

OK. Did the alignment sheet have "before" data? If so, I'm interested in the caster. It is strange to have more left caster than right, since slightly mis-matched caster is a way to keep cars going straight when the road has a high center. And since caster causes a push, this means that I expected to see more right caster than left. Higher left caster could be the reason the car now pulls to the right, especially on humped roads.

Also, did they measure your rear toe or did I just miss those values?

- Jtoby

 

[linksys42]

I don’t thin you can adjust the caster on a dsm FWD or the camber with out an adjustment plate. It is just set at the factory. The only thing I think you can adjust is toe. On the rear toe it was dead on the money. It says that when I brought it in the toe was way off -0.70 and -0.10 degrees which I find hard to believe because it ran strait as an arrow when I brought it in???? the tires where just wearing really bad on the outer edge.