Anything to be concerned about?

[TN GT]

I had the local Ford dealer install a set of Steeda adjustable pro struts with adjustable camber plates. When I went to adjust the struts for the first time this afternoon I noticed the passenger side touching the side of the strut tower, about 3/4" difference from the driver side. I did have them align the car with the specs below.

Is this anything to be concerned about? Would there be any reason for the difference and is that side maxed out in any fashion?

Front
Camber -2.5 L/R
Caster 7.0 L/R
Toe IN .01 L/R
Total Toe .02 to .04

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[BmacIL]

I had the local Ford dealer install a set of Steeda adjustable pro struts with adjustable camber plates. When I went to adjust the struts for the first time this afternoon I noticed the passenger side touching the side of the strut tower, about 3/4" difference from the driver side. I did have them align the car with the specs below.

Is this anything to be concerned about? Would there be any reason for the difference and is that side maxed out in any fashion?

Front
Camber -2.5 L/R
Caster 7.0 L/R
Toe IN .01 L/R
Total Toe .02 to .04

With that large of a difference I'd have the alignment rechecked.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I'm thinking that the K-member is off . . . by about half the difference seen in the strut to beg hole clearances.


Norm

 

[TN GT]

I'm thinking that the K-member is off . . . by about half the difference seen in the strut to beg hole clearances.


Norm

Forgive my ignorance on this matter. Is the K-member something that would have been touched during the installation of the new springs and struts? Would this be something that is an actual issue?

 

[Grimace427]

Forgive my ignorance on this matter. Is the K-member something that would have been touched during the installation of the new springs and struts? Would this be something that is an actual issue?

K-member/subframe does not need to be touched when replacing front struts. Having said that I've installed many different coilovers with CC plates and a few have had discrepancies between L/R like yours, perhaps not that bad. It was only an issue when trying to get as much negative front camber as possible and not an issue when using factory alignment specs.

 

[Burkey]

Forgive my ignorance on this matter. Is the K-member something that would have been touched during the installation of the new springs and struts? Would this be something that is an actual issue?

I think he means crossmember.

 

[Grimace427]

I think he means crossmember.

K-member, crossmember, subframe, all essentially the same thing. The term K-member came about because the front subframe looked like a 'K' in earlier cars like the fox body. Today subframe is probably the most accurate term.

 

[BmacIL]

It's certainly possible that the front K-member is not centered and off some, but not that much. It would be worth checking, though, along with another recheck of alignment.

 

[TN GT]

So I went back to Ford and they could not find any issues. I spoke with Steeda and they could not provide any answers. Ford rechecked the alignment and a bunch of other stuff and everything was according to spec. They messed with the strut a bit and pushed the -2.5 within 1/2 degree and now the 2 sides are closer to matching.

Doesn't make sense to me but the numbers add up and it looks closer to symmetrical.

The top is after the changes today and the bottom is after the initial alignment Friday

 

[BmacIL]

So I went back to Ford and they could not find any issues. I spoke with Steeda and they could not provide any answers. Ford rechecked the alignment and a bunch of other stuff and everything was according to spec. They messed with the strut a bit and pushed the -2.5 within 1/2 degree and now the 2 sides are closer to matching.

Doesn't make sense to me but the numbers add up and it looks closer to symmetrical.

The top is after the changes today and the bottom is after the initial alignment Friday

That looks fine now. What's the alignment sheet look like? When you say pushed within half a degree, how far was it out?

 

[TN GT]

That looks fine now. What's the alignment sheet look like? When you say pushed within half a degree, how far was it out?

They did not print out a new sheet (I should have forced the point) and said that it was within spec in every dimension when they checked it out. I was told that they loosened the strut and tightened it down as soon as it hit -2.5. I was told it was just barely within the spec, whatever that means, after the change. I trust the guys but have a friend that has been doing alignments for 25 years and may have him check it out. It feels okay and handles like a dream. It just seems like something was off.

 

[BmacIL]

They did not print out a new sheet (I should have forced the point) and said that it was within spec in every dimension when they checked it out. I was told that they loosened the strut and tightened it down as soon as it hit -2.5. I was told it was just barely within the spec, whatever that means, after the change. I trust the guys but have a friend that has been doing alignments for 25 years and may have him check it out. It feels okay and handles like a dream. It just seems like something was off.

Yeah this is why I take my car to a performance shop for alignment. Dealers or places that aren't enthusiast-oriented just care about being green and not getting it even or to a customer spec.

 

[Roadway 5.0]

That's a large difference between the "before" and "after" photos. Maybe the alignment folks didn't tighten things up afterwards, and the plates slid against the strut housing. Either way, glad it is all good now. It looks great!

 

[TN GT]

Appreciate all the help and comments everyone

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