Alignment woes

albertj wrote:

...............................Sometimes I wonder if all this fuss is worth it -- until I am driving the Riv down an open 2- or 4+ lane highway. Boy when the Riv is running right (it usually is) it is a dream to drive, and gets me where I'm going without tiring me or forcing contortions.......................

Albertj

Amen to that! After finally getting things squared away this morning, I hit interstate for an hour and a half drive out and back to town, just because. My Riv is a completely different car with new air shocks in the rear and KYB's up front, with new springs. Next up... eliminate that pesky KR...

And while I was waiting for the rework and new alignment to be completed, I decided it was time to get rid of the really ugly OEM exhaust tips. Been thinking about it for a while, and they had a set that is similar in design to OEM, but nice shiny chrome of course. I'll have to post a pic later. Total spent after 2.5 hrs at the shop: $36.

Hi All.
My car started slightly pulling to the right and has been doing so despite 3 alignments at Pep Boys.

Well I went to another tire shop that I have been to before and thought I wold share what had happened.

After 4 hours in the bay, the driver's side front wheel kept losing its camber setting.

The guys scratched their heads and replaced the 2 bolts that connect the strut to the steering knuckle. That was it! The camber stayed in place and the car drives straight. The steering also feels much tighter now.

The bolts seemed like they were in decent shape (although worn looking) but the new ones did the trick. BTW they put a lot of torque on them when tightening them... the torque wrench hammered on it for about 10 seconds.

Hope it helps anyone having a similar issue.

Jeff

good tip jeffyd123! that might do the trick for me too! thanks

BTW Moog has a 'problem solver" bolt kit for just his problem. Advantage Auto (saw it today while looking for steering parts).

Albertj

I'm curious, what does the bolt kit consist off and how does it affect camber.?

Rickw wrote:

I'm curious, what does the bolt kit consist off and how does it affect camber.?

Bolts and keyed washers thatlet you adjust the camber +/- 1 degree or +/- 1-1/2 degrees.

Albertj

Thanks Albert,
I'm sorry, I mis-read his initial post. I am aware of the bolts and elliptical washers used at the spindle and strut mount.
I had my head..........well you know where.!!!!

Rickw wrote:

Thanks Albert,
I'm sorry, I mis-read his initial post. I am aware of the bolts and elliptical washers used at the spindle and strut mount.
I had my head..........well you know where.!!!!

no prob. someone else reading the post won't know but after reading this will go find out, and fix his/her car.

Albertj

I thought the "Caster Kit" consisted of the labor required to elongate the holes in the strut tower to allow forward and aft movement of the top of the strut assy, which provides for Caster Adjustment.
If there is another way to move the top of the Strut Assembly fore and aft, other than elongating the holes, I'd like to know about it.
Thanks

Rickw wrote:

I thought the "Caster Kit" consisted of the labor required to elongate the holes in the strut tower to allow forward and aft movement of the top of the strut assy, which provides for Caster Adjustment.
If there is another way to move the top of the Strut Assembly fore and aft, other than elongating the holes, I'd like to know about it.
Thanks

deleted

Albertj

I'm sorry I can't visualize what you are referring to nor do i think I've seen one. (Caster kit that is)

check 'advantageauto.com'

I admit I may be confusing caster and camber as per kit.

Albertj

Just to clarify things, I could not find any listing for "Advantageauto.com"
So I went to "Advanceautoparts.com" and found the Camber Bolt Kits you discussed from MOOG.
But when i queried many different ways for a Caster Kit, I came up empty.
If anyone knows of a kit to help adjust Caster on the Riviera I'd be very interested in hearing about it and potentially using it.
Thanks

Rickw wrote:

Just to clarify things, I could not find any listing for "Advantageauto.com"
So I went to "Advanceautoparts.com" and found the Camber Bolt Kits you discussed from MOOG.
But when i queried many different ways for a Caster Kit, I came up empty.
If anyone knows of a kit to help adjust Caster on the Riviera I'd be very interested in hearing about it and potentially using it.
Thanks

Thanks RIck, obviously I screwed up. Went back and fixed the post (an Orwellian revisionist, I know...)

Albertj