alignment questions

[Tessie McMillan]

I just got my 80Q back from the local sports-tuner shop, where it had a 
corner balance and alignment. This car had a track accident a few months 
ago (sorry to bore you all; I'm still on this topic!) that broke some 
front suspension pieces.

I had requested they dial in as much negative camber as possible 
(especially in the front). Someone different did the alignment this time. 
He said the car simply would not take the negative camber it had in the 
past. The most the RF would take was -1.3 (previously it was -1.8), and 
because of that he set the LF at -1.5 (previously -1.7). Because I wanted 
negative camber, he added positive toe, saying this would give the tire 
negative camber in turns. About 0.02L and 0.04R (previously -0.03 and - 
0.something I can't remember).

Driving the car home, MY GOSH! left turns scared the bejeezus out of me. 
The turn was unpredictable and herky-jerky -- that is, it didn't want to 
turn, and then it would turn farther than I wanted, then the process would 
be repeated. I'm used to setting my wheel and then accelerating to find 
my curve ... and by gum if I didn't find myself in the wrong lane doing 
this. I totally lost confidence. Right turns weren't quite so bad, but 
still the car was hard to turn.

Two questions: what happens to make the suspension unable to accept more 
negative camber? Do pieces get bent? Does the adjustment involve threads 
that become crushed or ruined? I don't understand that part of the 
process.

If I ask them to bring back my negative toe, is there anything wrong with 
this request? Previously, the steering was quick and precise. I guess I 
don't understand why he dialed in so much positive toe.

I am trying to balance between excess tire wear on the outside front right 
tire (due to heavy cornering), and responsive steering.

If you have any comments or suggestions for me, I'd appreciate it!

Tess
in Bellevue, WA USA