Help!! Crazy Alignment

Moberg12 · 01-30-2008, 07:41 PM

My brother has been getting a car ready to run his first HPDE at CMP next weekend. We got the car back from the alignment shop earlier

Front Left:-1.4 camber
8.4 caster
.09 toe

Front Right:-2.3 camber
8.4 caster
.09 toe

Left Rear: -2.3 camber
.02 toe

Right Rear: -2.3 camber
-1.14 toe(what could cause this?)

all these number are within the specified range except Right rear toe.

My question is when you turn the wheel full lock to the left the car pulls hard to the left when driving. Now when you stop, if you turn the wheel full lock to the right and continue to drive the car pulls hard to the right. What could cause this? We are running out of time!!!

kishg · 01-30-2008, 07:53 PM

tweaked ta? probably wont make a huge difference if the car is tracking ok, esp for a first DE.

Moberg12 · 01-30-2008, 07:57 PM

The right ta is of some concern, but the main issue is definitely in the front end.

e30evolution · 01-30-2008, 08:12 PM

worn bushings.... bent suspension....For the front check the strut bearings.... you could have installed the front suspension incorrectly causing this

nando · 01-31-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moberg12

The right ta is of some concern, but the main issue is definitely in the front end.

are you kidding? do you have any idea how having toe out in the rear affects the car?

look for a bent subframe, trailing arm or worn out bushings for sure. the camber is a minor concern - that's not going to cause your car to snap oversteer suddenly or "rear steer" around a corner..

Scott///M · 01-31-2008, 08:55 AM

Based on the parts you have replaced (I've read one of your other posts)... I'm inclined to think—the car has been hit or has hit something. Have you inspected the seams for signs of fatigue? I'd also inspect strut housings, rear trailing arms and frame.

How does the car feel on the road?

Moberg12 · 01-31-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nando

are you kidding? do you have any idea how having toe out in the rear affects the car?

look for a bent subframe, trailing arm or worn out bushings for sure. the camber is a minor concern - that's not going to cause your car to snap oversteer suddenly or "rear steer" around a corner..

I know we need to fix it. But we are focused on fixing why it pulls hard left or right after turning the wheel full lock.

We dropped it back off at the alignment shop. I am in the process of tracking down a right trailing arm.

Moberg12 · 01-31-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott///M

Based on the parts you have replaced (I've read one of your other posts)... I'm inclined to think—the car has been hit or has hit something. Have you inspected the seams for signs of fatigue? I'd also inspect strut housings, rear trailing arms and frame.

How does the car feel on the road?

everything feels tight, except for it pulling right or left, We think the struts might be binding somehow.

Scott///M · 01-31-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moberg12

I know we need to fix it. But we are focused on fixing why it pulls hard left or right after turning the wheel full lock.

We dropped it back off at the alignment shop. I am in the process of tracking down a right trailing arm.

Check with Steven540 on the spec e30 board... he has a pretty nice collection of parts.

Moberg12 · 01-31-2008, 11:27 AM

I've got a guy locally that probably has one, just can't get him on the phone. If not we will just steal one off my dad's beater airport car!

155///MPH · 01-31-2008, 03:44 PM

I would put my money on an improper strut assembly assembly. The washers have to go back on in a very particular order.

speedblind · 01-31-2008, 06:39 PM

I had a very, very similar problem in the rear. turned out to be a bent subframe that was only identifiable with two cars in the air and a measuring tape. New r. subframe totally fixed the problem, and gave me an excuse to install the weld-in alignment kit from IE. In your case, though, I'd look at the trailing arm first.

Good luck!

mazur · 02-04-2008, 11:24 AM

I have the same problem with rear toe. Though it doesn't seem bad on the track.

Moberg12 · 02-14-2008, 12:21 PM

Update:

We had a strut installation problem got it worked out, and the car ran fine. The right rear toe didn't give us any problems. We did get a new right side trailing arm so we can fix the problem before the next track event.

Thanks for all your help.

01-30-2008, 07:41 PM	#1
Moberg12 Wrencher Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Franklin, NC Posts: 196	Help!! Crazy Alignment My brother has been getting a car ready to run his first HPDE at CMP next weekend. We got the car back from the alignment shop earlier Front Left:-1.4 camber 8.4 caster .09 toe Front Right:-2.3 camber 8.4 caster .09 toe Left Rear: -2.3 camber .02 toe Right Rear: -2.3 camber -1.14 toe(what could cause this?) all these number are within the specified range except Right rear toe. My question is when you turn the wheel full lock to the left the car pulls hard to the left when driving. Now when you stop, if you turn the wheel full lock to the right and continue to drive the car pulls hard to the right. What could cause this? We are running out of time!!!

01-30-2008, 07:53 PM	#2
kishg R3VLimited Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,625	tweaked ta? probably wont make a huge difference if the car is tracking ok, esp for a first DE. __________________ '12 F30 328i Sport Line '91 SpecE30 #523 '00 Ford F-350 Dually Tow Vehicle BMWCCA #360858 NASA # 128290

01-30-2008, 08:12 PM	#4
e30evolution West Werks Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,866	worn bushings.... bent suspension....For the front check the strut bearings.... you could have installed the front suspension incorrectly causing this __________________ http://www.westwerksauto.com

01-31-2008, 08:55 AM	#6
Scott///M Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NC Posts: 135	Based on the parts you have replaced (I've read one of your other posts)... I'm inclined to think—the car has been hit or has hit something. Have you inspected the seams for signs of fatigue? I'd also inspect strut housings, rear trailing arms and frame. How does the car feel on the road? __________________ Scott///M \| 1988 325is \| 2004 Z71 Suburban \| 2003 325i

01-31-2008, 03:44 PM	#11
155///MPH E30 Addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Near Charlotte, NC Posts: 457 Images: 2	I would put my money on an improper strut assembly assembly. The washers have to go back on in a very particular order. __________________ DE's are a tease. Build a racecar.

01-30-2008, 07:57 PM	#3
Moberg12 Wrencher Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Franklin, NC Posts: 196	The right ta is of some concern, but the main issue is definitely in the front end.

01-31-2008, 11:27 AM	#10
Moberg12 Wrencher Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Franklin, NC Posts: 196	I've got a guy locally that probably has one, just can't get him on the phone. If not we will just steal one off my dad's beater airport car!

01-31-2008, 06:39 PM	#12
speedblind Wrencher Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: CA Posts: 249	I had a very, very similar problem in the rear. turned out to be a bent subframe that was only identifiable with two cars in the air and a measuring tape. New r. subframe totally fixed the problem, and gave me an excuse to install the weld-in alignment kit from IE. In your case, though, I'd look at the trailing arm first. Good luck!

02-04-2008, 11:24 AM	#13
mazur Mod Crazy Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 715	I have the same problem with rear toe. Though it doesn't seem bad on the track. __________________

02-14-2008, 12:21 PM	#14
Moberg12 Wrencher Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Franklin, NC Posts: 196	Update: We had a strut installation problem got it worked out, and the car ran fine. The right rear toe didn't give us any problems. We did get a new right side trailing arm so we can fix the problem before the next track event. Thanks for all your help.