caster adjustment

[13726548]

Not sure if this is the right section but I figured if anyone's thinking about tinkering with their alignment settings it would be the corner carvers.

I believe I am in need of a caster adjustment. My alignment tech said I have a caster split of 7.2/7.9. When I had the stock 18s there was no pulling to either side, but after getting 255/45/18s it is definitely pulling to the right. I know this doesn't affect tire wear but it's bothering me enough to make me want to fix it.

Besides MM and SPC, which CC plates allow for caster adjustment?

 

[SoundGuyDave]

AFAIK, those are the only two. The MM plate is rock solid, and a proven performer. Also, are you getting a constant, static pull, or is it possible you're experiencing tramlining with the lower profile rubber? .7* is a bit much of a split, though, I would be looking for around .3* if you can. You do want some to compensate for road crown if it's a street car.

 

[13726548]

It's a constant pull. It does it on all roads and it's more noticeable with speed.

The SPC plates are in my price range but I don't like the idea of drilling into my strut towers. I guess I'll have to save up for MM. Do you get any extra NVH with the MM plates?

 

[908ssp]

Caster really should not induce any side to side pull. A constant pull is indicative of a dragging brake pad, bad wheel bearings, out of alignment in the rear.

 

[LindsayEOD]

Vorshlag makes a CC plate and perch. I've only heard good things about them. http://www.vorshlag.com/product_info.php?cPath=141_142_179&products_id=274

 

[Whiskey11]

I believe Ground Control's plates also have caster adjustment as well.

 

[jayman33]

ground control makes some stellar cc plates. I'm getting ready to pick up a set.

 

[Vorshlag-Fair]

Wow, the car has 0.7° cross caster? That is odd. I wonder why that is? What are the camber and toe settings? If you have the alignment sheet, scan it in and post it up. That might tell us more about the root cause. Age of car and accident history too, if you know it?

Someone mentioned our camber plates, and yes, they do have caster adjustments. To keep the stack-up height small we have 3 finite caster adjustments on our S197 plates, with each giving you about 0.5° caster adjustment. You can see the combination of caster settings with the top/bottom picture above... the bearing holder has 3 pairs of holes and the top plate has two. Between these are 3 finite caster settings. That should work for your issue, getting it within .1 to .2 degrees is pretty much perfect.

Adjusting caster takes a bit more work than camber, but caster isn't adjusted frequently if at all. Camber adjustment, however, is much easier to adjust and has slotted holes for fine tuning the camber setting. Raise the corner, loosen the strut top mounting nuts, and slide the strut in/out. Then tighten, lower, done. 60 seconds a side after you do it a few times.

Thanks,

 

[13726548]

Wow, the car has 0.7° cross caster? That is odd. I wonder why that is? What are the camber and toe settings? If you have the alignment sheet, scan it in and post it up. That might tell us more about the root cause. Age of car and accident history too, if you know it?

The alignment tech said "it's no big deal" but I'm still not comfortable with it. He didn't give me a print out but I believe camber is at -1 and toe is set to 0. But this was 3 years ago so I'll need to get it done again.
The car was built in late 07 and bought new in 09 (sat at the dealership with 855 miles accumulated). No accidents, unless someone "test driving" it had wrecked it before I took delivery. It had 6000 miles at the time I discovered the cross caster and it now has 39,000.
Also, the car had been lowered about 1.5" on FRPP K springs when I got the alignment.

 

[Vorshlag-Fair]

The alignment tech said "it's no big deal" but I'm still not comfortable with it. He didn't give me a print out but I believe camber is at -1 and toe is set to 0. But this was 3 years ago so I'll need to get it done again.
The car was built in late 07 and bought new in 09 (sat at the dealership with 855 miles accumulated). No accidents, unless someone "test driving" it had wrecked it before I took delivery. It had 6000 miles at the time I discovered the cross caster and it now has 39,000.
Also, the car had been lowered about 1.5" on FRPP K springs when I got the alignment.

Hmm, good info there. If it is pulling only on the new wheels/tires, maybe it is a belt in one of the tires? I've seen this happen on some lower cost tires, which made for a helluva pull (that would follow the bad tire). I'd have the alignment re-checked since it has been 3 years and see what it shows now. Maybe something has changed. Still, almost a degree of cross caster isn't typical in most alignments we see.

Good luck,