Wheel Alignment F**ked

[celica_tommo]

A while ago I got a wheel alignment done and when I go the car back the guy doing it said that he was surprised that the car actually drives straight and they couldn't do too much for the alignment... possibly something structural he reckoned.

So my question is it it more likely to be a bent chasis or would it be more likely bent/damaged suspension components that I could replace?

There are some aspects that they cant adjust right?... like castor?... I am assuming it is these aspects which they could see were way out but they couldnt correct them

Its an ST-182 1990 celica with McPherson Strut suspension

[B_giB]

there are alot of cars out there that only have front and rear toe adjustments, some only front, off the top of my head only front and rear toe can be adjusted (maybe camber if u get an eccentric bolt put in).

not many cars have camber, caster and toe in front end and rear camber and toe, they should have given u a wheel allignment report when u got it done, and it should show u bassicly 3 coloums. first coloum should be before specs, second should be target data and tolerances, and third should be after specs,

u can tell a car has been in a crash by looking at the caster as a general rule, if one wheel is further back than another , that side has been hit, the only way to adjust it in some cases is by taking it to a panel beater and getting it pulled back into spec.

if u lived in auckland i would say bring yoiur car to my work and i will personally do it for u and make sure to tell u everything and give u the report.

hope this clears your head abit

[celica_tommo]

the castor is out by a little... what angle is considered a lot?

how much would you normally charge for that sort of work?

[B_giB]

u need to take it to a panel beater... not sure how much they usually charge, we send them direct usually, but yea, try your local panelbeater and see if they do it, if they dont, ask them who mite

[PumpN]

the wheel alignment dude should still give you an idea of what is bent, even if he can't find the culprit

castor, can never have enough it should be even though (same each side) and if it isn't then its cause for concern, its the alignment which returns your wheels to straight ahead and also works as active camber when the wheels are turned, should be around 4-6 degrees on a car with powersteering, slightly less for a car without, drifters run around 8 degrees, jarius running 9

your car really wants to go on the rack, or a chassis robot like my uncle (panel beater for 30 years) uses to repair crash damaged cars, your car can also be put on a hoist in a less well equiped garage and points in the chassis measured against workshop specs using specialist tools to make sure the chassis is straight

[AXNGRL]

if u lived in auckland i would say bring yoiur car to my work and i will personally do it for u and make sure to tell u everything and give u the report.

how much to get you to do a wheel alignment on my starlet? its never been quite right no matter who I take it to...

[B_giB]

how much to get you to do a wheel alignment on my starlet? its never been quite right no matter who I take it to...

we charge $59 but i could do u a deal , some factors can make it not drive straight, like tyre pull and the rear could be out and not adjustanble which can make the car drive to th left or right... also they mite not calibrate there machine as much as i calibrate mine