ware

My vehicle's front left (driver side) tire is "leaned/pushed" back towards the door. I've done a quick inspection of the arm and nothing seems to be visibly bent. I did hit a island with a pretty high sidewall about a year ago. Any ideas how i can determine the exact part that is causing this issue? (Assuming something is bent)

• Given this image, you can see what i described above. Tire is leaned going rear-bound.

• A print out of a recent alignment done about a week ago at Firestone automotive care.

• 2000 Honda Civic Ex
• Koni Yellows w/ GC coilover sleeves
• 15x6.5 Konig Heliums//205-50-15 Tires

forced00si

They should have told you what was bent, not do an "alignment" on it.

TunerN00b

Negative caster? Holy crap.

Assuming that is a pre-01 Civic (looks like a 92-95 to me) and has double wishbones up front:
With the wheel visibly pushed back, and the caster negative, this indicates that the LCA could be bent. If the UCA was bent back, the caster would go more positive.

Of course, multiple items could be bent, but I'd look at the LCA first.

Also, the lower subframe can be moved relative to the frame. Verify that it is still in the original position and hasn't shifted from the impact. If it has been shifted back, that could cause both sides to have negative caster like that as well.

ware

What is OEM caster set to? If the subframe really did shift, what would be a way to verify?

Orangegsx

I'd take it back and have them figure out what is bent. Then have them align it for free after that. Why would they charge you to align it and leave it that messed up. Obviously more is wrong.

ware

They did not charge me. About 3 years ago when i purchased the vehicle i purchased their $120 lifetime alignment warranty. I regularly take it every 3-4 months or any time i do height adjustments. Obviously they will charge me if they start messing with it. Im not going to dish out some outrages amount of cash for them in the end to just switch out an arm or someshit i could have done at home.

TunerN00b

Not sure on a Civic, but my 2000 Integra came with +1* of caster. I've since then moved the UCA back to get to +4* of caster, and my wheels are not moved back anything even close to what yours shows.

If the subframe shifted, I would assume that you could see where it was previously positioned on the frame, as the area that was beneath it would be clean compared to previously exposed frame areas. But thats just an assumption on my part.

I was just throwing out everything I could possibly think of that could result in what your picture and alignment shows.

ware

So with all this said, its safe to say negative caster is bad?

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

Yes it is bad, makes the car more unstable while driving and turning.

It is definitely the LCA bent and/or subframe shifted for the wheel to be pushed back like that. The other side probably is, too, but just isn't as noticeable since the readout shows less negative caster on the passenger side.

You may have to take it to a body shop with a frame machine to make sure the subframe is in the right place, and then replace the bent parts.

bernymachd3

My car was wrecked on the passenger side. I have a 4 finger gap from tire to fender on the driver side and a 3 1/2 finger gap on the passenger side. No lca or uca are bent. And my friend who did the frame work said it was my subframe.

ware

I'll have to get it in to a body shop and have them inspect it.Then go from there

xd69

iTrader: (1)

While on the topic of caster on ek's, can the UCAs be swapped left to right to gain caster like ppl with integras can?? (probably covered before, but i forgot)

ware

So i was going to order the front LCA but i dont want to spend the money and end up not being the problem. Is there a way i can find out if it indeed is bent?

M!lly

having the same problems

same year car and color

would love some answers

Partizan

in for anwsers

ware

I haven't fixed it. I haven't ordered the arm in fear that it will not change anything and i just waste money

racebum

i've seen this more than once. subframe shifting and or aftermarket parts with bushings that position the arms incorrectly. normally this isn't too hard to fix. make sure you don't have bent pieces. if you do not, loosen the subframe and shift it forward. you can also use shims on the lower control arms to move them forward. not really sure why people are freaking, this is actually fairly common. if you can get your car to zero to +1 you're good to go.

something looks funny with your ride height though. camber shouldn't be that far apart side to side. do you have coilovers on this car? if so i bet you did not set them up correctly

M!lly

my car has springs only and stock arms. i replaced the lca and that had no effect on the wheel so i'm guessing it might be a subframe issue.

Egezzy

iTrader: (2)

original post said he has coilover sleeves...so now the question would be what is the ride heights from jacking points??





have you ever heard the phrase..you gotta pay to play??

if you dont want to pay then take the time and visually check all components/positions and movement check also to curb unneccesary spending.

castors wheels

Conversely, negative camber has the wheels sloping outwards, so that they meet the road with a wider track, compared with the top of the wheel. It looks like the car has been dropped from a great height and the wheels have splayed outwards. This splayed-out look is cool, and very useful!

TravisCadello

So what caused this? I have a 95 civic with same problem but both front tires and they rub their so far back!

Do i just need to loosen sub frame and pull tire back to the front?

ware

So after a long time of contemplating whether or not i should order a front lower control arm, i bit the bullet and ordered it from majestic honda. After replacement i compared the new and the old, needless to say, the old lca was really bent. Now my wheel sits centered in the fender well!! A new Front Lower Control arm solved my problem.

kristo

Have the same prob and cause, though not so severe.

Glad to hear it turned out OK for you.

Got myself some bent-free LCA's. Then will do an alignment to check.


@ experienced users: if the subframe has moved backwards, then its bolts would be twisted, right?

PatrickGSR94

iTrader: (1)

From what I understand the holes in the subframe allow a small amount of adjustment. So if it didn't get shifted too far it should be okay after it's adjusted back to normal.

Trey

I run -7.1 degress caster on my STi. Many scoobies do as well.

This is why: http://buildafastercar.com/tech/Dyna...in-Inclination


My car with the Tien camber plates reversed: