alignment gurus - need help

edkwon · 07-22-2002, 05:34 PM

I recently replaced my 205/50/16 RE-92s with some 215/45/17 S-03s on my 99 RS and i noticed that the front camber looked out of balance, comparing my L to my R tires. My R front tire looked like it had too much positive camber and i also noticed some mild fender rubbing on the R front as well as my car pulling to the right when i cruised on the freeways above 50 mph.

I took it ino the Subaru dealership for a MAF sensor recall and asked them to do a realignment as well. Basically they said my alignment was normal, within factory specs and that the reason for my car pulling to the R was a tire defect. Now it sounds like BS to me and here are the alignment specs measured:

L front R front
Camber -0.10 + 0.03
Caster +3.18 + 2.30
Toe -0.03 - 0.02

and my rear settings too:

L rear R rear
Camber -1.17 - 0.51
Toe +0.09 + 0.02

Now these numbers do fall within the factory ranges, but i'm wondering if these differences should be really tolerated, especially if i do regular autocrossing. Plus i don't quite buy the whole 'dfective' tire thing either. Is the Subaru tech right or full of BS?

Ed

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

HoRo1 · 07-22-2002, 05:55 PM

Don't you just love the way the dealership seems to exist just to piss off their customers. Hey dealers, it's us customers that keep you SOBs in business. The car is a relatively high performance machine that is designed to be driven hard and therefore should be evenly aligned.

It is totally unacceptable for a dealer to turn around and say that a car that is not correctly aligned is OK and then blame your problem on the tires. I don't care if the figures fall within specs - they should at least be equal for each axle - then you can argue that because the figures fall within specs etc.

I suggest a trip to the place that sold/installed your tires and have them check the tires - you may have a bad one. One other thing, while you're there have an alignment done and add about -1 degree of camber to the front and the back.

edkwon · 07-22-2002, 06:13 PM

Being a dealership service center, i don't think these idiots will choose to mess with my suspension beyond factory numbers. I am going to find a performance alignment shop and have them redo it. *sigh* what a waste of $80

Ed

edkwon · 07-23-2002, 02:16 AM

bump, anyone else?

dbrier · 07-23-2002, 08:24 AM

Ed,
What dealership did you take it to? Speedway or Tom Wood?

edkwon · 07-23-2002, 12:45 PM

It was Tom Wood

Ed

stentorian · 07-23-2002, 04:51 PM

Just call around different alignment shops and see which ones will set your alignment up to the numbers you want or close to, since all cars seem to only go to a certain number.

-Joe

edkwon · 07-23-2002, 06:10 PM

Yeah i've already made an appointment to go to a custom alignment shop this week

Ed

downeyer · 07-23-2002, 08:51 PM

Ed, sorry to hear about your dealership problems. Doesn't surprise me though. I doubt your tires have any issues. Did you get them through TireRack?

I'm schedule for an alignment on Monday. I'll be installing my new coilovers this weekend. My alignment will be as follows:

L Front R Front
Camber: -1.5 -1.5
Caster: 3.6 3.6 (factory specs)
Toe: 0 0

L Rear R Rear
Camber: -1.5 -1.5 (factory specs)
Toe: 0 0

I plan on using a tire pyrometer to find out the best camber setting. Cobb suggest -1.0 on the front for aggressive street and -2.3 to - 2.8 for the track. You may want to drop Cobb and line and ask them what settings they recommend for the 2.5RS. I imagine they will be similiar if not the same.

-Eric

edkwon · 07-25-2002, 05:22 PM

I got my car realigned at this place called Matt's alignment, downtown in the city. They were very good, and pretty cheap too. $40 with a $10 off coupon i got from the phone book

My current alignment settings are as follows:

L front R front
camber -1.1 -1.1
caster 3.0 2.0
toe -0.01 -0.01
L rear R rear
camber -1.1 -0.8
toe -0.23 0.16

they unfortunately couldn't do much with my rear struts settings without adjustable camber plates, and -1.1 was the max they could do with the sti strut mount tops too, but i'm still pretty pleased with the results

Ed

07-22-2002, 05:34 PM	#1
edkwon Scooby Specialist Member#: 453 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: 小さいӔ Vehicle: 2013 VT	alignment gurus - need help I recently replaced my 205/50/16 RE-92s with some 215/45/17 S-03s on my 99 RS and i noticed that the front camber looked out of balance, comparing my L to my R tires. My R front tire looked like it had too much positive camber and i also noticed some mild fender rubbing on the R front as well as my car pulling to the right when i cruised on the freeways above 50 mph. I took it ino the Subaru dealership for a MAF sensor recall and asked them to do a realignment as well. Basically they said my alignment was normal, within factory specs and that the reason for my car pulling to the R was a tire defect. Now it sounds like BS to me and here are the alignment specs measured: L front R front Camber -0.10 + 0.03 Caster +3.18 + 2.30 Toe -0.03 - 0.02 and my rear settings too: L rear R rear Camber -1.17 - 0.51 Toe +0.09 + 0.02 Now these numbers do fall within the factory ranges, but i'm wondering if these differences should be really tolerated, especially if i do regular autocrossing. Plus i don't quite buy the whole 'dfective' tire thing either. Is the Subaru tech right or full of BS? Ed * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

07-22-2002, 05:55 PM	#2
HoRo1 Scooby Specialist Member#: 15618 Join Date: Feb 2002 Chapter/Region: International Location: Zhuhai, China	Don't you just love... Don't you just love the way the dealership seems to exist just to piss off their customers. Hey dealers, it's us customers that keep you SOBs in business. The car is a relatively high performance machine that is designed to be driven hard and therefore should be evenly aligned. It is totally unacceptable for a dealer to turn around and say that a car that is not correctly aligned is OK and then blame your problem on the tires. I don't care if the figures fall within specs - they should at least be equal for each axle - then you can argue that because the figures fall within specs etc. I suggest a trip to the place that sold/installed your tires and have them check the tires - you may have a bad one. One other thing, while you're there have an alignment done and add about -1 degree of camber to the front and the back.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Alignment Gurus Needed	007WRX	Brakes, Steering & Suspension	2	05-29-2008 03:39 PM
Hardware gurus, need help with med entry video card	ChosenWon	Off-Topic	10	11-23-2003 08:33 PM
Computer Gurus - need help	scoobysport	Off-Topic	2	11-12-2003 04:08 PM
MS Exchange gurus...need help	NYCshopper	Off-Topic	39	06-19-2003 05:38 PM
Home audio gurus, need help on choosing speakers	trhoppe	Off-Topic	32	06-05-2003 11:31 PM

07-22-2002, 06:13 PM	#3
edkwon Scooby Specialist Member#: 453 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: 小さいӔ Vehicle: 2013 VT	Being a dealership service center, i don't think these idiots will choose to mess with my suspension beyond factory numbers. I am going to find a performance alignment shop and have them redo it. sigh what a waste of $80 Ed

07-23-2002, 02:16 AM	#4
edkwon Scooby Specialist Member#: 453 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: 小さいӔ Vehicle: 2013 VT	bump, anyone else?

07-23-2002, 08:24 AM	#5
dbrier Scooby Guru Member#: 6598 Join Date: May 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: West side of Indianapolis Vehicle: 2012 Mazdaspeed3 Crystal White Pearl	Ed, What dealership did you take it to? Speedway or Tom Wood?

07-23-2002, 12:45 PM	#6
edkwon Scooby Specialist Member#: 453 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: 小さいӔ Vehicle: 2013 VT	It was Tom Wood Ed

07-23-2002, 04:51 PM	#7
stentorian Scooby Specialist Member#: 12959 Join Date: Dec 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Raymore, MO Vehicle: 2008 Scion xB White	Just call around different alignment shops and see which ones will set your alignment up to the numbers you want or close to, since all cars seem to only go to a certain number. -Joe

07-23-2002, 06:10 PM	#8
edkwon Scooby Specialist Member#: 453 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: 小さいӔ Vehicle: 2013 VT	Yeah i've already made an appointment to go to a custom alignment shop this week Ed

07-23-2002, 08:51 PM	#9
downeyer Scooby Specialist Member#: 10784 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Columbus, IN Vehicle: 2002 WRX Platinum Silver Metallic	Ed, sorry to hear about your dealership problems. Doesn't surprise me though. I doubt your tires have any issues. Did you get them through TireRack? I'm schedule for an alignment on Monday. I'll be installing my new coilovers this weekend. My alignment will be as follows: L Front R Front Camber: -1.5 -1.5 Caster: 3.6 3.6 (factory specs) Toe: 0 0 L Rear R Rear Camber: -1.5 -1.5 (factory specs) Toe: 0 0 I plan on using a tire pyrometer to find out the best camber setting. Cobb suggest -1.0 on the front for aggressive street and -2.3 to - 2.8 for the track. You may want to drop Cobb and line and ask them what settings they recommend for the 2.5RS. I imagine they will be similiar if not the same. -Eric

07-25-2002, 05:22 PM	#10
edkwon Scooby Specialist Member#: 453 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: 小さいӔ Vehicle: 2013 VT	I got my car realigned at this place called Matt's alignment, downtown in the city. They were very good, and pretty cheap too. $40 with a $10 off coupon i got from the phone book My current alignment settings are as follows: L front R front camber -1.1 -1.1 caster 3.0 2.0 toe -0.01 -0.01 L rear R rear camber -1.1 -0.8 toe -0.23 0.16 they unfortunately couldn't do much with my rear struts settings without adjustable camber plates, and -1.1 was the max they could do with the sti strut mount tops too, but i'm still pretty pleased with the results Ed