90 accord 4dr 5spd
gonna take it to a local shop after i do it so they can make sure the toe is correct. here are my problem:

-outside of tires wear way faster then the rest of the tires-only in the front
-steering wheel is cocked slightly to the right when driving straight
-i noticed one radius rod is tightened more on one side then the other so im guessing this is the beginning of my trouble.

despite the cocked steering wheel the car does not pull to the left or to the right at all. drives perfectly straight. i have never done an alignment before so if anyone has any tips of where i should start tip away!

 

Not sure what you're going to do, but the alignment shop would do all the adjustment. It's a flat rate and they will make to factory specs. However, I suggest getting new tires first before you do the alignment as badly worn tires might not give accurate readings.

As for the tilted steering wheel, I had that problem, but all of it was taken care of at the alignment shop. I suggest going to a place with a good machine, I think Hunter is a good machine. I do know Big O Tires uses that machine, which is where i got mine done at.

 

It's really interesting to watch them do the alignment. The car actually comes off teh ground so the tires themselves make no difference except for when it's done and you drive it. If the tires are bad enough u might think the alignment is bad but it could be the tires after the alignment fixed ur problems.

 

Outside tire wear is caused by the tires being toed in. Positive camber can also cause this, but that's unlikely since it's a Honda.

The steering wheel being off is also caused by toe.

The radius rods affect your caster angle. Differences in caster between each side cause a left or right pull, but caster does not cause tire wear.

 

if it's the outside edge is worn more than the inside edge- toe in. Inside edge- toe out. If both inside and outside edges are worn evenly it could be attributed to insuficient tire pressure. Speaking generally.

Or the steering wheel being removed and reinstalled improperly. you should have equal degrees of steering wheel rotation from center to lock in each direction. If it's equal then the issue is in the adjustment of the tie rods/alignment. if it's not equal, then the steering wheel needs to be removed and reinstalled on center. it's not a bad idea to double check the alignment afterwards.


right. although they are at a slight angle so excessive play could allow some toe variation under differing road and driving conditions. the effect on caster would be more pronounced though as you mentioned.

OP: the radius rods won't be identical from one side to the other. they are shaped differently but should have the same lenth from bushing to bolt holes.

 

well the toe is obviously off. i was hoping someone here would have some sort of direction on how to perform an alignment. went ahead and got 4 new tires since the old ones were dry rotted and what not. they said the upper ball joints seemed loose. so when i got home i jacked up the car and wiggled the wheel and sure enough the upper ball joints moved excessively. gonna replace the upper control arms, lower ball joints, and sway bar links since i found all those boots/bushings completely destroyed. then i will go back up to the shop for an alignment