I had my tires rotated, balanced and aligned last summer. When picking up the vehicle I noticed that it had a negative camber on both rear tires.
I recently took the car in for a new alignment at a different shop. The rear camber readings came back:
Left, actual -0.2, before -1.8
Right, actual -0.2, before -1.6
The shop now exchanged the right rear camber bolt, and redid the alignment:
Left, actual -0.1, before -0.2
Right, actual -0.2, before -1.7
Rear Cross Camber, actual 0.1, before 1.5
Total Toe, actual -0.26, before -1.45
Thrust Angle, actual 0.22, before 0.56
The Mechanic says "this is the best they can do", and I should take the car to someone who deals with collision issues. I am confused, this car has never been in an accident. How did this happen? My question: Is it safe to drive the car like this, and will the negative camber increase again? - I had people who drove behind me stop me to point out the right rear tire being angled. What should I do?
Thanks so much!
Michaela
It is possible for the chassis to sag, but this is far more common with much larger, heavier vehicles. Likely, you have something in the suspension that is bent or mount bushings that are worn oblong where the center bolt passes through. A good shop can find this after a careful examination. subtle bends are difficult to detect...parts have factory bends in them and unless removed and matched up side by side with a known good part, you would never see the difference. Bending does not always involve an accident. A sideways slide into a curb in snow or even a decent pothole at the right angle can cause a bend. Likely it is not unsafe but it will wear your tires.
Usually don't like dealers, but they have more in the way of specifications to use and likely have seen this a few times in the past.
Once tore an upper control arm off a chevy going 15mph (hit a curb not paying attention)...just an example of how sometimes stuff can happen...It wasn't the speed, but the angle that caused to to fail.
Hope you get good results!!!
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SOURCE: Negative rear right camber
If you bought this vehicle second hand then you need to get your vehicle checked for crash damage. Your insurer can do a check on a vehicle register for a small cost, but that is only if the vehicle was damaged AND repaired/written off via an insurer. this does not guarantee that the vehicle has never been in an accident, you need to look underneath to see if there are any kinks, tears or ripples that don't look quite right. But I would advise taking to a professional repair shop for a good look over.
If the bolt has been replaced, and the readings are correct, then you should be safe enough, just drive steady. But if you are suspect of this vehicle get it checked .
1.
The rear suspension lower arm mounting cam bolt should be turned an equal amount on both sides during adjustment.
Right wheel : Clockwise direction : toe-in
Left wheel : Clockwise direction : ton-out
Maximum difference between LH and RH : 3mm
2.
The cam bolt should be adjusted within a 90° range left or right from the center position.
CAMBER
Standard value : 0°±30´
Maximum difference between LH and RH : 3mm
: 0±2 mm (0±0.08 in.)
1.
The rear suspension upper arm mounting cam bolt should be turned an equal amount on both sides during adjustment.
2.
Install the left and right springs which have the same identification color.
3.
The cam bolt should be adjusted within a 90° range left and right from the center position.
TIRE WEAR
1.
Measure the tread depth of the tires.
Tread depth of tire [Limit] : 1.6 mm (0.06 in.)
2.
If the remaining tread depth is less than the limit, replace the tire.
When the tread depth of the tire is reduced to 1.6 mm (0.06 in.) or less, the wear indicators will appear.
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Thanks for the detailed explanation. I will let the dealership have a look at it. :)
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