This happened to me when I first got my RX-7. Two different alignment shops
both told me the same thing -- and they showed me under the car, the
adjustment was at the limits yet one side could only get -1.0 degrees camber
and the other could get -2.5 degrees (both with the same caster at +4.5).
On the advice of some of the RX-7 guys I had the subframe assembly checked. It
was misaligned by about 5 mm and after Paul at Rotorsport realigned it, the
alignment shop got both sides to -1.75 degrees with +5.5 of caster. The car
was never bumped or crashed, so I can only assume it was misaligned at the
factory, during shipment or dealer prep. I was amazed that only 5 mm made such
a big difference, thought maybe he meant inches.
It is normal to get more positive caster only at the expense of less negative
camber. But if it is not even on both sides, then it sounds like you might
have something bent, broken or misaligned under your car. Done any curb
hopping or parking by braille lately? ;)
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of James Creasy
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 14:40
To: Navid Kahangi; ba-autox@autox.team.net
Subject: acceptable alignment tolerances?
(sorry if this shows up twice, my posts do not seem to be getting to the
list)
my desired caster was 3.5 degrees. the alignment place said the closest
they could get it was 3.0 on one side and 3.7 on the other. other shops
have had no problem, and this is well within the adjustments on my car.
i think i want to go and tell them that this is not good enough (as my car
felt terrible sunday), but i want to make sure that a normal shop should be
able to do better than this.
i paid $85 for this two wheel alignment at Auto Options in berkeley.
thanks,
-james creasy
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