Help regarding alignment specs

[Limitless]

So I got some Skunk 2 pro s2 coilovers installed about a month or two ago and took it in for alignment last week after I was done fiddling with the height. I had Superstar auto in Richmond do it for me while I was getting my exhaust put on as well. When they were finished they told me that something was wrong with the right front shock... they didn't say exactly what it was though but it was hard to align it properly? Here is the spec sheet that they gave me


I told them to try to keep the rear camber negative because I want a more aggressive fitment. I'm still too noob with alignment specs, but it seems to be pretty off to me..? The camber looks really uneven :S Can someone chime in on these alignment specs? Some people have told me that these specs are ridiculous, yet some other people have told me that maybe this is the best alignment I can get due to the messed up front shock. When I looked at the shocks before they were installed they seemed to be fine to me. The coilovers were used when I bought them, for 10k km/1year. I asked the previous owner if his car had been hit or if he had run into a curb or something and he said nothing like that has happened.

Should I go to Dales for another alignment since he's so well known, or would it not make a difference?

Thanks in advance

[GabAlmighty]

A degree of camber off... Seems fishy, I'd get another person to look at it. Your coilovers could be fucked :e-shrug:

[dangonay]

Did you get camber kits (bolts) with your coilovers? My understanding is the front suspension on your car is the MacPherson Strut type. The struts are attached to the knuckle with two bolts.

There is no way to adjust camber on this type of strut unless you get a camber kit, which is really just an eccentric bolt that replaces one of the factory bolts and allows camber adjustment by moving the knuckle in relation to the strut.

They should have mentioned this when they were doing the alignment. I highly doubt there's a problem with your strut (it would have to be bent to affect camber). It's most likely something else that's out causing the camber to be off, but you'd have to get an alignment shop to look at your suspension carefully to try and determine the cause. Even something like a subframe shifted slightly to the left would cause the readings you have.

[Impreza]

I'm looking at your rear toe. They seems f'ed up. Left rear initial = 30deg Final = 30 deg. It is not even in spec! Same with your Right rear, not in spec! Thrust angle out. You did do a 4 wheel alignment right? Hope you didn't pay much. As for the front camber being off, have you ever hit anything on that right front wheel?

[Limitless]

Originally Posted by GabAlmighty

A degree of camber off... Seems fishy, I'd get another person to look at it. Your coilovers could be fucked :e-shrug:

I want to get another person to look at it but don't really want to pay $120ish for an alignment if I would be getting the same or similar specs But I guess I won't know until I try...

Originally Posted by dangonay

Did you get camber kits (bolts) with your coilovers? My understanding is the front suspension on your car is the MacPherson Strut type. The struts are attached to the knuckle with two bolts.

There is no way to adjust camber on this type of strut unless you get a camber kit, which is really just an eccentric bolt that replaces one of the factory bolts and allows camber adjustment by moving the knuckle in relation to the strut.

They should have mentioned this when they were doing the alignment. I highly doubt there's a problem with your strut (it would have to be bent to affect camber). It's most likely something else that's out causing the camber to be off, but you'd have to get an alignment shop to look at your suspension carefully to try and determine the cause. Even something like a subframe shifted slightly to the left would cause the readings you have.

I have camber bolts but they weren't on the car when the alignment was done. Ah.. okay. I probably should of gotten it done at a more reputable alignment shop. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Impreza

I'm looking at your rear toe. They seems f'ed up. Left rear initial = 30deg Final = 30 deg. It is not even in spec! Same with your Right rear, not in spec! Thrust angle out. You did do a 4 wheel alignment right? Hope you didn't pay much. As for the front camber being off, have you ever hit anything on that right front wheel?

:S Yes I did get a 4 wheel alignment. I haven't hit anything hard other than the small potholes on the everyday roads I drive on, but I don't hit those very hard either. I paid $90 for the alignment lol, just going to drive the extra distance and pay the extra money to get it done at a well known shop next time :/

[TypeRNammer]

Get those front camber bolts in....

Because the OEM bolts only have a maximum adjustment ranging from 0.5 to 1 degree +/-

[melloman]

Get the camber bolts in and go to Dales.

It doesn't look like they knew exactly what they were doing.
Did they use a string and laser level or something?

[G-spec]

Originally Posted by Limitless

.....they told me that something was wrong with the right front shock... they didn't say exactly what it was though but it was hard to align it properly?.....

translation, "we really don't know what this simple issue may be, but let's just blame one of your parts, easier that way" only one kind of shop can't figure out something simple like that, an incompetent one..

if you were at Dale's, the guy would be standing shoulder to shoulder with you going in depth with exactly what's wrong with your car (in your case probably nothing to do with your strut) and then telling you how they fixed it.....
I say this from numerous previous experiences of me going there, helluva drive though, but worth it


btw do your coilovers have these camber plates on top ?

[monkeywrench]

As someone mentioned above, your toe angle in the right rear seems iffy. Toe isn't great on tire wear. Take a look at it soon

Get those camber bolts if your coilovers don't have camber plates already

[SumAznGuy]

I'm not too familar with Skunk products, but do you know if the lower mounting points were round or oval shaped? Do they have camber plates on the top to adjust camber?
Did you ask them to adjust to a specific camber setting?

The right rear toe is fine but the left is off by a bit. Did you ask them to fix it? Toe in or out on the rear may make the rear of the car feel darty on the highway and increases tire wear.

[Limitless]

Originally Posted by TypeRNammer

Get those front camber bolts in....

Because the OEM bolts only have a maximum adjustment ranging from 0.5 to 1 degree +/-

Yeah I'll be doing that before I get my next alignment done, thanks

Originally Posted by G-spec

translation, "we really don't know what this simple issue may be, but let's just blame one of your parts, easier that way" only one kind of shop can't figure out something simple like that, an incompetent one..

if you were at Dale's, the guy would be standing shoulder to shoulder with you going in depth with exactly what's wrong with your car (in your case probably nothing to do with your strut) and then telling you how they fixed it.....
I say this from numerous previous experiences of me going there, helluva drive though, but worth it


btw do your coilovers have these camber plates on top ?

Nope they don't come with camber plates :/ Should of went to Dales in the first place, I've been hearing nothing but good things about them

Originally Posted by SumAznGuy

I'm not too familar with Skunk products, but do you know if the lower mounting points were round or oval shaped? Do they have camber plates on the top to adjust camber?
Did you ask them to adjust to a specific camber setting?

The right rear toe is fine but the left is off by a bit. Did you ask them to fix it? Toe in or out on the rear may make the rear of the car feel darty on the highway and increases tire wear.

I don't remember what shape they were, but I think they're round iirc.. There aren't any camber plates on the top though. I asked them to try to leave the rear camber at around the same if possible since I wanted to run some spacers without rubbing, but also told them it was fine if they had to change it if it messed with any other specs.

[falcon]

The answer to all your problems lies here.

Talk to Jason.

Dale's Alignment & Brake Ltd. (Langley B.C.) Established 1975. Open Saturdays!