Bad Camber! ideas?
08-08-2011, 04:34 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: southeast, wisconsin
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bad Camber! ideas?
ok, my truck is an 87 runner with stock ifs... when i bought my truck it had horrible camber on both wheels, one was negative other was positive... wound up having to replace both knuckles. one side went straight while the other didnt... went to firestone and got the lifetime alignment from them, they did what they could, was told the one sides camber was perfect, and they have no idea whats wrong with the other side... the other day i was under my truck and saw something funny and would like opinions if this could be a reason or if theres another possibilty. included is a picture of what i found
08-08-2011, 06:15 PM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thats how you adjust camber and caster. they do not have to be the same on both sides. the top pic is pulling the camber all the way in. if it is maxed out then there is nothing they can do. i suggest taking it to a shop that can align it to different specs than the factory ones while still wearing the tires normally
08-09-2011, 12:26 PM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: southeast, wisconsin
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
look at the part that is circled in red on the first pic compared to the second one, i know that one is maxed out, just look at it closely where is has been circled. something doesnt seem right
08-09-2011, 12:56 PM
#7
Registered User
It's common for the cam adjuster supports to bend if the spindle and LCA takes a hard hit. Loosen the adjuster, move the cam over, then try and straighten out the supports with a screwdriver or prybar and a hammer. Then you can lay a weld bead behind it to give it extra support.
Trending Topics
08-09-2011, 06:52 PM
#9
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: southeast, wisconsin
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's common for the cam adjuster supports to bend if the spindle and LCA takes a hard hit. Loosen the adjuster, move the cam over, then try and straighten out the supports with a screwdriver or prybar and a hammer. Then you can lay a weld bead behind it to give it extra support.
08-10-2011, 09:41 AM
#12
Registered User
08-10-2011, 02:37 PM
#14
Registered User
It's common for the cam adjuster supports to bend if the spindle and LCA takes a hard hit. Loosen the adjuster, move the cam over, then try and straighten out the supports with a screwdriver or prybar and a hammer. Then you can lay a weld bead behind it to give it extra support.
Nail, meet hammer.
Nail, meet hammer.
Happens on MKIII Supras as well. I had to bend all mine back out and lay a weld bead behind each one so it doesn't flatten out again. My alignment tech loved me for it.
08-10-2011, 02:39 PM
#15
Registered User
Wow, the alignment guys had no idea what was wrong with that?? I wouldn't take my truck back there (after you get it redone for free, of course). Yes, it should not be bent like that, and is probably the cause of the problem.
08-10-2011, 03:13 PM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Lake Tapps, Washington
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We tend to get alot of ppl from firestone coming to our store for alignments, lifetime alignment is the dumbest idea. They tend to go out of alignment especially for a offroad rig. Something definetly looks bent, just replace it, get it aligned and call it a day.
08-12-2011, 08:25 AM
#19
Registered User
I'm also wondering if the eccentric bolt is seized to the inner bushing sleeve, and someone put an impact gun on it to loosen it, thus causing the inner sleeve to tear out of the bushing, and then spin the eccentric bolt too much, too fast and bend that tab out.
I certainly wouldn't put it past most shops to do that...
Can you tell if they actually took the nut off the back side of the bent one? If so, pull the nut off, and try to knock the eccentric bolt out with a small hammer. (small because you don't actually want the bolt to come out, just see if it moves forward/backward)
If it moves, then the truck can still be aligned. If it doesn't, it's likely seized to the center bushing sleeve, and will need to be replaced along with the bushing (which is probably torn out at this point form someone using an impact gun on it).
Let us know what you find.
I certainly wouldn't put it past most shops to do that...
Can you tell if they actually took the nut off the back side of the bent one? If so, pull the nut off, and try to knock the eccentric bolt out with a small hammer. (small because you don't actually want the bolt to come out, just see if it moves forward/backward)
If it moves, then the truck can still be aligned. If it doesn't, it's likely seized to the center bushing sleeve, and will need to be replaced along with the bushing (which is probably torn out at this point form someone using an impact gun on it).
Let us know what you find.
08-12-2011, 01:13 PM
#20
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: southeast, wisconsin
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well the bolt moves freely, which sounds like is a good thing from what I read... but I'm having a hard time pounding that bracket back to how it should be... it looks like the bolt wasnt tight enough when it was aligned last, before I bought the truck, so now it has a small lip on the inside as well... suggestions?
