Adjusting front struts without plates?

[mustangpegasus51]

So I now have a new 2023, PP1, Magneride and after noticing my vehicle looking lopsided when I got home after purchase, I went to the dealer's service center a few days later and got this alignment sheet back from them...

After taking out my tape measurer, it seems that the left front strut is about 3mm further "inboard" than the right front strut, although both are pretty solidly centered in their respective strut tower holes.

Is there any play here to try to even out the camber/caster just a little bit better? I know plates are an option, but they seem like overkill, considering I just want to align to stock specs with stock suspension at stock ride height.

Thanks for any advice!

Sponsored

 

[NightmareMoon]

You can correct it at the strut tower (plates) or at the strut to spindle bolts (crash bolts).

plates are more secure, by a good margin.

 

[boB]

The service manual shows how to modify the upper knuckle hole in the strut to allow some adjustment. It may be enough to get your front camber settings the same. This is not the same as a camber bolt, this uses a Ford bolt.

 

[galaxy]

To answer your question...no. There's zero camber adjustment without plates or bolts, or some other modification like boB said.

You needed the alignment though...that toe was f$%&ing horrible, LOL.

What I'm shocked about is the front camber. Your first set of starting camber numbers were not horrible. I could live with a .4° split. But I'm having a hard time believing just the front toe adjustment altered the camber that much. Yes, they influence each other, but not to that degree. Seems odd to me, IDK, but maybe.

 

[mustangpegasus51]

Thanks for the advice everyone. So it looks like my options are:

• Get plates.
• Slot the struts per service manual.
• Trade it in if it continues to bother me.

Any issues with slotting the struts? Given the appearance in the service manual it must be somewhat okay to try.

Can the right plates hold their own under stress or can they cause other problems later? The roads here in Southern California can be plenty rough at times.

Thanks again for all your input!

 

[NightmareMoon]

Thanks for the advice everyone. So it looks like my options are:

• Get plates.
• Slot the struts per service manual.
• Trade it in if it continues to bother me.

Any issues with slotting the struts? Given the appearance in the service manual it must be somewhat okay to try.

Can the right plates hold their own under stress or can they cause other problems later? The roads here in Southern California can be plenty rough at times.

Thanks again for all your input!

yes there's issues slotting the struts. They can slip in the slot. I don't really recommend it, besides slotting them is almost as much work as installing plates. Did that when it was the only option to get a bit more camber in 'street' class for autox. Had issues on a couple of occasions.

If you do slot them, if you put a bit of weld on the other side to lock the bolt in the new position. That works pretty well to prevent them from getting loose in the slot even if the nut gets loose.

 

[mustangpegasus51]

Ordered some plates! Am curious though, what forces are at play that make plates more secure than bolts? (Given that the plates themselves use wide openings for adjustment.)

 

[NightmareMoon]

Geometry for one. Theres a longer lever arm at the plates., so the same torque forces at the hub/spindle are reduced up at the plate.

Sponsored