Alignment problem

[Michael Guidotti]

Steve,

Did you take it to the same place to get it alignment done? were they able to get it in spec the first time? did you get the printout form the shop?
If it was fine the first time around I doubt it is a bent strut, unless you hit something REALLY hard to bend it.
I would not think that having the camber out of spec would cause a vibration.

Mike



>>> Steven Hauptmann <hauptmanns at llr.sc.gov> 05/21/03 05:16PM >>>
Late last Spring, after converting from UFO's to G60's with used V8 strut
housings, and installing H&R's, Bilstein sports, new strut bearings, new
wheel bearings and new control arms, I had a set Dunlop D60 Sport A2's
installed to replace the worn Michelin XGT VR4's and had the alignment done
at the same time.

After having the tires installed, I noticed a slight vibration around 80mph.
After a having them re-balanced a month or 3 later and realizing little (if
any) improvement, I chalked it up as a lesson learned. Don't go from a ~$130
Michelin to a ~$60 Dunlop and expect the same definition of round.

Fast forward to last weekend.

Driving to and from Atlanta Ga. (to install a set of Bilsteins on Dad's '93
9000CSE { a Saab story}), I noticed the vibration had gotten worse and now
started at ~65mph. Since this is the wife's daily driver, it had been a
while since I had anything more than a quick trip in the ole girl.

So today I took it in to the have the tires checked out. I was feeling
confident that it might be a defective belt or something on one or more
tires that was starting to get worse with the 12k or so accumulated miles.

Well, that was sure a bad guess. The inside of both front tires are very
worn, to the point of needing replacement. The drivers side tire is already
bald. Apparently the drivers side camber is way out, at negative 1.7. The
passenger side is better at negative 0.4.

I understand that lowering the car  will add some negative camber.....but
this is obviously from something else.
My initial guess is that the strut housing is bent, although it LOOKED fine
upon installation.

So, this leaves me with the question of how to correct it??

1.  Buy another used V8 strut assembly for the drivers side and R&R all
associated parts including replacement of another $50 wheel bearing? Not
looking forward to repeating this so soon.

2.  Visit a frame shop and see if they can straighten it???

3.  Buy an adjustable camber set-up and adjust it out?? (if there's one
available for the type 44)

Maybe it's something else?


Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Steve Hauptmann
Columbia, SC.