Hi everyone, although I am new to the forum, I have been very involved with my car(1997 SE 5 Speed) for about four years now. I currently have Eibach Pro-Kit springs on Tokico Illuminas, but am planning to install my new set of K-Sport coilovers.
When I went to the alignment shop last week, they told me that the SAI (kingpin inclination) was 15.4 left (factory setting 13.5-15.0) and 17.6 on right. My included angle on right was also out of spec at 16.7 (factory setting 12.5-15.5). If anyone has any suggestions as to what may be wrong, possibly a bent control arm?, I would like to hear them. Also my car has never been in a major accident, although my auto start did bump into a 1970 Olds 442 once ($2500 damage to the Olds).
On the same topic, my right rear toe was also out at 0.26 (factory specified -0.13 -0.22)
Thanks, Jeremy

 

What are your current camber readings?

 

Front Camber: Left at -0.6, Right at -1.0
Caster: L 2.7, R 2.9
Toe: L 0.11, R 0.10

All are within spec. I have Eibach camber bolts currently, and thought they were losing camber which was why my old tires were worn out. I bought the K-Sports to be able to adjust to where my tires last longer.

 

our kingpin angle is non-adjustable. Unless your k-sports had a production error and somehow your camber plates can't do anything but adjust camber

 

Perhaps I was misunderstood. I haven't installed the K-Sports yet. I was going on a trip to Alabama the day after Christmas, so I had to get new tires before I left. I was too afraid to try to install the K-Sports before a 1000 mile trip, so I just had the shop who mounted my tires check my alignment on my current Eibach/Tokico setup. I am about to install the K-Sports but I would like to know why my alignment is out of specification before I compound the problem by installing more new parts. What I need to know is what could be putting theses measurements out of spec?

 

Have you actually gotten an alignment? Usually most places just get the car into specs and then calls it quit unless you know the mechanic or he cool. But install the Ksports and go get an alignment.

Is your car pulling to one side or the other etc

 

My car isn't pulling to either side. In the beginning, I was rotating my tires when I saw that the inside of my front passenger tire was bald to the chord. I was going to Alabama in two weeks, so i bought new tires and had to have them put on before I went to 'Bama, but did not put in my coil-overs. When they put on the tires I had them put the car on the alignment machine because I thought that the camber was out, causing the tire wear. When I picked up my car, the mechanic told me that my alignment was fine, but the problem is with my kingpin inclination, which is causing excessive tire wear when i corner. They told me that it is not adjustable, and usually indicates that a control arm is bent, or some other front end related issue. If it was the Eibachs causing this I would think that the numbers would be closer from side to side. Although both sides are out of spec, the right is 2 degrees more out of spec than the left.
I just would like to be able to fix whatever is causing my problem before I start fooling around with coil-overs.