Okay, I got my car lowered with H&R three weeks ago, and after a week, I went to dealer to get it aligned(stupid me), ever since then My steering wheel is crooked(not centered), I went back to dealer Twice already, and they can't seem to correct it for me. They suspect it's my suspension problems(BS or what), I even talked to the tech who did the alignment, he told me the caster wasn't right no matter how many times he did it???

He is saying now it's my struts( i have stock ones) but my car is only 15k miles. He told me that if I changed the suspension, it's hard to get it to factory spec!

Now what, should i bring it to another place to get it corrected or just replace my factory shocks and struts and re-do all the alignment???

Thanks for any help

Tim

 

I'm no suspension genious but the springs do take the struts out of their "happy place" and actually make them work. I'd say go for new struts... if it fixes it... GREAT. If not.. well you're running better struts and can continue to narrow it down from there.

 

Hehehehe... that's an expensive experiment.

 

Even if the struts aren't the cause he should get a better ride right? So its not like throwing it away... or do you beg to differ?

 

Yes, you should have a better ride... but what if you can't afford to spend $ on new struts? After he gets new struts, he'll still have to go get an alignment.

Hmmmmmm..... want to get Koni's, Tim?

 

Well, Konis are too soon for me, next step for me would be coil-overs..Not cattmans I am waiting for JIC coil-over system to come out for maximas!!!!!

I have no clue what's wrong with my suspension or alignments, dealer can't to fix it and blame it on my springs, or tires(i think it's BS)

Would it help if i bring it to another place to get it aligned????No more dealer next time!!!

Or i am gonna cross rotate my tires today to see if that will fix the damn problem or perhaps reinstall the strut bar????

having a crooked steering wheel is not fun at all!!!!!


Tim

 

It might be worthwhile to get your alignment from a shop (i.e. Firestone, etc.).

The strut bar shouldn't be your problem.

 

I am no expert but normally when you drop your car you have to get your car aligned. If you are using coil over system, each time you adjust the height you need to get it aligned. If you are experiencing camber/caster problems you need to look into a camber kit if normal computerized alignment is not correcting it. I know that when I dropped my civic that was the only way to keep my tires for longer than a few months.

 

Hey guy, I had no problems with my H&R spring conversion and actually got the car align within specs. I have factory struts still on. Took it a speed shop to get the springs installed and then drove into goodyear (after two weeks) to have the 4-wheel alignment. I even have the alignment report with all four tires in alignment. In Hawaii they are pretty serious about safety inspection and so I might have to get recondition license so aligning the wheels is the upmost requirement.

Goodyear mechanic did mentioned that the steering was off and corrected it at no/charge....cool...

The ride is tight and the steering is straight. If I was you, I would bring into another reputable shop and get it 4-wheeled aligned.

 

someone posted that he got his maxima aligned at firestone i belive?? well it has a warranty that u kan sign up and he gets his car aligned every 1 month or 2 months i believe... sorry if im wrong.

 

BTW, you get that done at Melody's in Bellevue?

 

But the problem is not the camber, it's the caster I believe..that is what the tech told me..would camber kit help the caster also???

But one thing i dont' get is, how would caster affect my steering wheel not being centered?????

Tim

 

I thought Maximas are only TWO wheel alignable..the rear can't be tweaked!!!!

Are you referring to 4 wheels thrust alignment?

Tim

 

Caster isnt adjustable on the max. The only thing thats made to adjust on the max is front toe. But, other front and rear settings can be fiddled with by using the play in the bolts.

 

So what makes my steering wheel not centered??the front toe setting???

Would caster be a factor that screws up my steering wheel?

Thanks
Tim