How to camber and stuff...

Over the past week or so I felt that the rear of my car was "moving". What I'm talking about is the subtlest of deflections in the rear end, which is something completely unusual with Steedas LCA bearings and all the rest of the kit fitted to the IRS.
Finally I decided that it was time to have a look and find the culprit.
Turns out that the jam nuts were left loose by the guys that did the wheel alignment. The "loose" feeling I was getting was the threads of the adjustable camber arms moving. Yes, the back end of my car is THAT sensitive that I could feel that 0.001mm of deflection :eyebulge:
In the process it became apparent that I should put together a "how to" for anyone else wanting to have a fiddle.
I figure that a few of us will need to have a play around with camber in order to get our wheel fitment en pointe.
So, here's a simple way of adjusting camber yourself with a reasonable degree of accuracy

Things to consider:
1. This isn't a replacement for a proper wheel alignment. Your toe will change slightly with any changes in camber.
2. You may want to roll the car backwards and forwards a few times to get it all to settle into place. I didn't bother because all of the relevant parts are heim jointed on my vehicle (spherical bearings).

I'll let the pics do most of the talking.

Good level concrete will help

Caption required

Google. Easier than remembering how to do it.

Adjustable camber arms come into their own right here. Can adjust camber using 22mm open ender, wheels still in place.

And finally, re-tightening the whole show

Also, just as a point of interest, I'm going to suggest that my pressures are a little high.
They vary from 36 cold to 39 cold, depending on the weather.
Typically, whilst driving they'll be around 38 psi.
Not sure if this might help a few of you make better choices for pressures, but here's a pic of one of the rears at 36psi.
Centre of tyre shows a little more wear than either side, the sides are quite even despite running between 1.7 and 2.2 degrees neg in the rears for the vast majority of the 6,000kms.
Yes, they're rooted. They were knackered months ago.. as a mate said, "it looks like they've been rubbing on something" :lol:

Thanks for the post! I was thinking there has to be a way to do a check at home.

Now where to get a square that size and making sure its square lol

Edit: just randomly came across this:

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/141389138283

Myke said:

Now where to get a square that size and making sure its square lol

Click to expand...

Bunnings should have them. IIRC they're called framing squares. While you're there, use a selection of their other squares to check the one you want to buy LOL.

Actually, probably not a bad idea as I think these are now all plastic or aluminium so could more easily be out of square.

Or also known as a roofing square

Myke said:

Thanks for the post! I was thinking there has to be a way to do a check at home.

Now where to get a square that size and making sure its square lol

Edit: just randomly came across this:

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/141389138283

Click to expand...

Hi Myke. I looked at those gauges too but soon realised that you'd need a wheel with a face that is "true". Won't work on wheels with any amount of concavity.
Yes, you can mount it to the brake disc, but you then need to set up a rig of some sort so that the wheel nuts are supporting the cars weight....
You can't simply jack from under the spring platform, cos the factory bushes won't be under strain as they would in the real world. :headbonk:

Egghead said:

Or also known as a roofing square

Click to expand...

That is EXACTLY what I used. :cheers:

Very interesting. I feel like my car moves around a bit, especially on the highway. I'm running Eibach Sportline springs on 20inch wheels and sometimes I feel like I drift towards the other lanes even driving in a straight line. I will have to check it out.

Anyone know where the factory front camber adjustment point is?

TIA

There isnt one.

Either replace 2 bolts with camber bolts or one of those fance camber plates.