I have just been informed that my car's left caster is 3.2 degrees, right is 2.8, and cross is .4



causing it to pull...hard to the right. i dont trust that dealership, they just did the alignment two weeks ago and should have seen it then. they want to charge me 80 bucks to see if they can fix it by using some sort of jack or something to push it back into place. they said they couldn't guarantee anything. what are my other options? thanks for the help guys.

 

Tell them that since they just did it, and its not right, its THEIR responsibility to correct it. Espeically if its been pulling from the get go. They shouldnt have missed that......
And have them explain to you just exactly is messed up thats causing it to be off. Bent control arm, worn out bushings, etc. I dont quite understand why they feel the need to charge you $80 to use a jack to push something in place, other than charging you for an hour labor.....

 

Hmm...to my knowledge, caster is not adjustable on the maxima. Was the car in an accident, where the lower control arm might be bent?

I'll do a little research on this with my FSM. As I recall, you said you're coming up to the RCP meet, so come find me when you get there (white guy with sideburns and a black 5th gen), and me and others can take a look at it.

 

ok, I'll help, but only because you are a girl

















Was your car in a wreck? Kind of hard to screw up the caster on these cars.

 

as I suspected, there is no kind of caster adjustment. Either something is bent in the front of the suspension, or the control arm bushings are shot, pushing the assembly to an incorrect camber. Tell them to check the control arm bolts, and make sure that they are tight.

If it's not the bushing, you may need a new control arm....like I said, if you don't have it fixed beforehand, we will look at it at RCP...

IF the control arm is bent, DO NOT let them "bend it back" using a jack or hydraulic press. This will weaken the metal and they will not be able to get it back into spec without shimming it and doing other "ghetto" things. If it is bent, go to a junkyard (or a dealer) and get a new control arm (and bushing) and replace it.

Bending back primary suspension components is NEVER a good idea!!

 

Agreed. Bending back a shot Control arm for $80 when you can buy a brand new one online for $100 isnt the best of ideas.....

 

I don't get it, you just had an alignment done two weeks ago at this same dealership. Did you not feel it pull two weeks ago when pulling out of the lot? Did you originally go to the dealership for this pulling problem? As a consumer it's a mistake on your part for not turning the car right around if you noticed a pulling problem as soon as you pulled out the lot. I'm not argueing, I jsut dont understand your how situation came about.

Besides, was your hubby involed in this at any time?

 

Frame could be bent too...

 

oh by the way....when you go back to the alignment shop, be sure to give them **** if they charged you for a "4-wheel alignment"....since the rear wheels of a 5th gen cannot be adjusted in any way, shape, or form....they only did a 2-wheel alignment.

 

Caster will not cause a hard pull, especially such a small error like .4 degrees.
Camber is what causes pulling. What are your camber readings?

The caster angle can be slightly adjusted by shifting the subframe, it's not worth it for only a .4 degree error. Thats not whats causing your pull.

Post all of your alignment specs, your rim and tire size as well as the type and speed rating (z,H,W) of tire your running. Then we might be able to see what's causing your pull.

 

That would be great. I'll look for you, Im white too.

 

Who knows. When I first got the car I ran over a median ( I didnt see that fcker, I was used to a truck) I know, no excuses, but that might have done it.

As I said, I dont trust that dealership or any dealership, so i want a second opinion.

My specs are at home, I will get my secretary to post them later (deckdout2).

Thanks everyone for your replies. See you at the meet.

 

Just in case if you should need a set of control arms, I have a brand new Original Nissan Control Arms for sale; http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=412611

 

As you can see, it took me a while to post back to this. I dont have time to go back and forth with problems that the dealership should have seen.
I am the customer, I bought the car there. Dont bring me that ish.

 

Have your secretary contact his secretary to set up the meet. I will also be at the RCP tomorrow, I'd like to also see whats going down, heck at my old age, I just might learn something new... Drive safe to the meet and stay OFF the beltway. MAJOR construction, MAJOR gridlock tomorrow...

 

Im not hitched yet candiman.

 

Good to know, thanks man.

You got that secretary???

 

I have 1 secratary who is kind of neutral, she works with 3 of us, however I have 2 technical editors and 11 engineers... SWEET...

 

I got it boss......

 

I'll kick the tire, hopefully that will fix it.

 

I already changed your foglights out yesterday. That didn't help?

 

try going on ebay if you need a new lower control arm. i got mine from there for about $45 plus maybe 8-10 shipping.

 

I was wondering why it looked so good in the reflection from a ford explorer this morning, Thanks!

 

I've been home since 12:30 how about you two.

 

:kissmearse:

 

Bite me.

 

P bring the poker chips, we can pick up the beer when we get there.

 

I'm on it dawg.

 

HELL NO. Im not going!!!!!

 

yes you are, you know you can't resist being in the same car as me for 5 hours

 

Grrrrrr. You know Ann is going too. I get off at four, when are you coming over?

 

Im packing now and I guess I'll be heading that way when I get packed. Yes P told me she was going

 

Can't you guys use your cell phones to have conversations?

 

They can, but living within 10-20 miles of each other kinda say something also. What's the conclusion of the alignment problem?

 

uh oh, white people