Go back to previous topic
Forum nameHandling/Suspension
Topic subjectCaster off alignment?
Topic URLhttps://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=i6&topic_id=7258
7258, Caster off alignment?
Posted by HadesOmega, Mar-05-02 09:02 PM
I had a wheel alignment done recently and it revealed that my front right caster is off. What could have caused this? They said I might have hit something but I don't think I've hit that wheel hard before. Could the ball join recall have messed up my caster? just a thought.

How can I fix this also? What is most likely bent?
7259, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by iamnotwhoiam, Mar-06-02 12:23 AM
there is nothing you can do to fix that.. our cars come from the factory with a slight offset in caster.. people have menchened after having their cars aligned that their cars still sorta veer off to the right a little sometimes.. that is because of the caster, it shouldnt hurt any tire wear as long as everything else is in spec.
7260, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by Erik, Mar-06-02 03:52 PM
Have your SAI checked. If they did the alignment on a "Hunter" machine, then they should be able to give you a print out. Caster will not hurt tire wear but it is generally good to have into spec b/c camber and toe may be affected also.
7261, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by koolade9, Mar-06-02 06:41 PM
yeah, alignment places have told me that.. there really is no accurate way to adjust the caster, so ya kinda just have to go with it. i've never noticed any wear because of it...
7262, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by HadesOmega, Mar-06-02 07:34 PM
yeah caster only occurs the more you turn the wheel but it kinda bugs me still. My car does veer to the right ever since I got it though. I had it aligned at a different place way back and the caster was fine so I'm guessing it either I hit something or that recall did something. Oh well the car handles like a champ so I'm not complaining. Bwahaha no I have to fix my jacked up camber -.6 on one side and -1.6 on the other :P

I'm at 0.0 camber in the front right now, if I lower more how much camber is ok for handling and decent tire wear or kept in spec? I kinda want -.5 or -1.0 of negative camber in the front but will it wear a lot. Cuz I'm only gonna get camber adjusters for the rear. :P Haha I shoulda just made another thread.
7263, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by eclipse804, Mar-06-02 07:41 PM
How'd you end up with 0 camber on the front? That's amazing. I have around -0.5 on each side in the front, and I have my skunk2's at near the highest setting (maybe 1" lower than it will go). But I did knock off the spring perchs on my GR2's so it is probably lower than just a 1" drop. My rears are almost at -2, but I don't really notice too much excessive wear. Bad toe wears out tires a lot more than bad camber.
7264, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by HadesOmega, Mar-06-02 07:46 PM
coo, I think it's because I have AGXs, AGXs the shock is actually bigger than the stock ones so you will actually raise your car if you put it at the highest setting. RIght now I'm using like 2.25" of the coilover, so I got .75" to go to lower and my car still has a 3 finger gap, go figure hehe... But it still handles good and it looks decent with the correct size tires.

doh I read on the alignment print out it's spec to -.8 so I guess -.8 is as far as I can drop it to to be in spec. -2.2 for the rear so you still good hehe.
7265, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by eclipse804, Mar-06-02 08:15 PM
Oh wait, I just remembered. On my front, one of them was at -1, so it was out of spec. But I don't think it's a really big deal. I can't seem to remember my numbers, but the other side was near the limit (so it must be around 0.8). I thought 0.5 was the spec for some reason, but you're right.
7266, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by lap561, Mar-07-02 12:45 AM
> I'm guessing it either I hit something or that recall did something.

My car veers to the left. I didn't start doing that until Satan did the recall. hmm.....
7267, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by HadesOmega, Mar-08-02 09:57 AM
hmm we have a conspiracy going on here. That damn satan I've heard it happeneing to other people also. Oh well it's so big a deal but still it's annoying to not be able to take your hands off the wheel for a second, oops you shouldn't be taking it off the wheel but it happens :P
7268, RE: Caster off alignment?
Posted by eclipse804, Mar-08-02 10:09 AM
The only thing that the recall did was make my toe way off. It made the tow something like -0.8 on each side. I can't remember exactly, but it was way off and they had to readjust it a lot. Definitely get an alignment after the ball joint recall.