Alignment problems

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.pl>]

Hello List,

I've just had alignment setting performed at the dealer (the only occasion
when I show up at the dealership except for buying parts, BTW). The service
guy (whom I do know from the past and consider reasonably trustworthy)
brought bad news to me:
a) Rear toe setting is incorrect. The only suggested cure is to replace
whole rear axle. He said that since only the toe is incorrect and camber is
OK, replacing just the axle stubs probably won't help (it's a FWD car, mind
you).
b) Front caster angles are seriously out of spec. They tried to adjust them
by moving the subframe, but the allowable movement is far too small to get
them right. He said the most probable cause is bent sway bar. I inquired
about the rubber sway bar bushings and he said even if they were worn, they
couldn't affect this. Accident damage ruled out, as the caster was correct
last time I did the aligment.
He drove the car and said it handles well, so his advice is to keep driving
the car and not worry about it. And what is the opinion of q-list gurus?

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.com.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)