Hey, I just got my alignment done after putting a pair of quick-struts on the front, but I still do not know about my alignment. I got the alignment done today at a shop, but after reading the results from the alignment machine and the staff telling me the car is O.K., I don't think it is. First, there still is a slight pull to the left and a few of the numbers on the alignment print out came up in red AFTER the alignment. Here they are:

Front LEFT: SAI-actual 16.2 (spec 13.5-15.)
Included Angle: 16.2 (13.5-15.0)

FRONT RIGHT: Caster 1.7 (spec 2.0-3.5)
SAI: 7.5 (same specs as left)
Included Angle: 7.0( same specs)

So whats going on with the car? Everything else on the alignment sheet is okay, but should I bring the car back to them? I don't know if they would fix it since they did not "notice" anything wrong. BTW, the front two tires are very low on thread compared to the back ones (IDK if it matters).Thanks.

 

Yeah they did, but I dont have it currently (out of town) sorry. But what I posted were the only things out of whack.

 

Could also be that your tires are low in one side of just need balance and rotation.

 

The only adjustable measurement is toe. Caster and camber can't be adjusted.

 

Did u go to a franchise shop? or tire shop. Cause a franchise will have to do it until its right.

I just went to firestone on wednesday and my alignment is so straight its weird.

 

Franchise shop I think ? (They specialize in tires but have the same shop in different towns).

 

So that would be causing the slight left side pull in car?

 

Not typically unless waaaayyyyy out of whack. But, indirectly, uneven tire wear can affect pull. I've had a couple shops refuse to align my car (younger and more $$ broke) because of my tires.

You can always go speak to them about the pull and likely they will throw it back on the machine. If still having issues after the recheck and they can't offer a good explaination, take it somewhere else. Tell them another shop aligned it and you need to know if it was done right and give you the specs. If it is found that the first shop left it out of alignment, take the data sheet from the second shop and ask them for a refund.

I've had to do this twice. Last time was just recently. Replaced my outer tie rods and the first shop told me they couldn't straighten my steering wheel all the way. I knew then they were idiots. Took it to my regular guy, it was done in about 20 minutes and was perfect.

 

You just paid them for an alignment and the car is pulling one way or the other, you take it back, it's really just that simple. They fix it for free or they refund your money.

Now it's been a couple days? They might do nothing for you. I'd have went back immediately. Also those allignment specs that you posted mean nothing to me personally. There's 3 main things you should be posting.

1. Toe
2. Caster
3. Camber

If you're not posting those items we can't tell you if they're correct unfortunately

 

Right, well they do warranty the alignment for a year if that matters. Also, I would go back but out of town for a few days.

 

Here is the most current alignment after going back:https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-0p...it?usp=sharing
Sorry the bottom portion got cropped out, it reads Total Toe 0.09 and thrust angle at 0.14.

 

Technically that is a fine report. They cannot adjust the caster or camber (they will tell you that). This means that all they adjust is the toe, and only in the front.

they CAN actually adjust the camber by loosening the lower strut mounts and moving the wheel, sometimes if it's bad enough they will need to grind the strut holes a bit bigger to allow more movement here, but that's a rare occurance, there's usually more than enough play.

If they installed the struts, I'd push them to do this for free. If you installed them, you need to decide if it's worth paying them to adjust the camber this way.,

 

Or you get camber bolts. That will allow them to properly align camber if it is off for some reason or if the car has been lowered.

 

If the car has been crashed in the front end or you ran over something really hard to the point where you bent something, will cause those angles to be off. Just a tip.

 

camber bolts are a waste of money. you have to grind it out to install them, and they don't actually speed up or alter the way you adjust it. the only reason you need camber bolts is for quicker track adjustments.

 

Yea, I dont remember having any major crashes in the front end, maybe hitting the curb a few times in the winter, but that probably would do it.

 

Yeah since I installed the struts I am probably just gonna let it be.