Cant align my tires because the shop says I need an eccentric kit? Rounded the costs up to like 874 dollars altogether, what is an alternative to this?

 

What's an eccentric kit? Why do they say you need one? Do you have suspension damage?

 

I know I have worn balljoints, and possible worn bushings. I changed my tires a couple weeks ago and they all four were worn on the inside wall. I have no idea what this kit thing is, but the dealer was saying that I couldnt align my tires without it, something about there was no way to align it standard without it. Thats why I was curious if anyone had an idea what it was.

 

Doing a quick google search it seems like eccentric kit=camber kit?

 

Just clarifying from him. Just because someone names a part doesn't mean it exists. Someone just recently said they needed an oil regulator because they were buying an oil pressure gauge.

In any case, my questions still stand.

 

Yeah I just searched camber kit too. Looks like ima have to get alot of parts for this. Is there no way to manually align the tires without a machine or anything?

 

Not really. Is you're car slammed into the weeds or something?

 

Right well I have never heard of an eccentric kit... and the only searches I can come up with anything for it is for a Mercedes.

 

I asked you a couple of questions that you never answered.

 

Regardless of what its called you shouldn't need it, unless your car is lowered to the ground. Some alignment shops out here atleast will say that they can't align the car, because they can't adjust camber, without a kit, but thats ok, as they can adjust toe, and thats what you really need to be concerned about, especially if its just a daily driver.

 

Slammed into the weeds? No. I answered the first couple of questions in my first reply, all I know of is worn balljoints and possible worn bushings. I thought my control arms needed tightening but I dont think thats it I checked all that out.

 

Sorry. I missed your response.

Screw the dealer. Take it to Firestone or a local shop.

 

The guy totally didnt offer about the toe-in or or anything. He was just concerned about me buying a bunch of needless crap. Small town TN doesn't have much to go on here, and I don't know a lot about cars especially hondas so this is my learning process. Thank you for all of your help tho, you were very most helpful!

 

I live in TN.
Here. This guy is doing a string alignment.
https://honda-tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes-54/string-alignment-eg-vs-dc-rear-track-width-2990692/

You might want to inquire there how it's done.

 

if they tell you that you need a camber kit, tell them you dont, if they say you do again, take it to another shop, because they obviously dont know what they are doing!
https://honda-tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes-54/no-you-do-not-need-camber-kits-2614449/

 

Checked that out! Sounds stupid hard to be to be a beginner mechanic, but it was very useful for knowledge there.

 

Ok, I see nobody in this thread does alignments. An eccentric is basically an offset bolt/washer that goes through the control arm mount that allows the arm to be moved inward and outward to adjust camber/caster/toe depending on the vehicle. Eccentrics are OEM equipment on 70-80% of cars today so they are not trying to sell you an addition. It is a critical component to have an accurate alignment, as you see your new tires have inner edge wear. As mentioned bad ball joints and other bushings can contribute to irregular/accelerated tire wear. The ONLY thing that does NOT wear tires is caster but it will cause a pull one way or the other if not correct. Camber and toe will wear the tires to nothing if not correct. If your ball joints are bad you are wasting time and money for an alignment until you fix that first because your alignment is everchanging as you drive with movement of the bad ball joints. An eccentric sometimes will not adjust proper if it's seized itself or inside the bushing or the bushing itself is bad, at that time you would need a new one to correct the alignment. I do alignments everyday, if you have any questions about them I can answer probably any questions anybody could ever have.

 

How is balljoint replacement as a DIY job? Can you replace them w/ out an alignment after? My boots are torn and car wanders a wee bit. I also have a 95 (del sol).

 

Go to another shop, those guys are idiots. I don't do alignments, but I know people who do and used to. Freind's dad worked at firestone for 10 years.

Simply becuase I don't feel weeding threw the posts, OP, is the car lowered?

You don't need ANYTHING to adjust the adjust the toe. They should have no issue doing so, if they tell you anything different, go somewhere else, they're ****ing idiots.
To adjust the camber, you need a kit. You can buy something that replaces the UCA bushings, or the whole arm. Buying the whole arm really is the better way to do this.
The kits that replace the bushings, I am told are quite hard to adjust, and next to impossible not to mess up.

Unless the car is slammed, or running a crazy amount for negative camber you don't need a camber kit. I don't care who says what, period.

I have 2-3 years on a lowered car without one, and I still get perfect tire wear.

 

like said before you don't need a camber kit

if your bushings happened to be shot though, and causing an out of spec camber, you have to replace your bushings and your worn balljoint before you get an alignment

 

Yes eccentric bolts are real.. do honda use them no. You would use a camber kit, if you need to replace your ball joints dont worry about the alighnment. You can do the toe kit but all it does is move the wear point into the center of the tire and can sometimes cause vibrations. The price of camber kits have come down so much that its really very cheap now a days. SPC or Ingalls (same company diffrent owners) but tey make some of the best stuff.. much better then S2 or blox or w/e...

 

It's very easy. A new ball joint cost like $40 from Honda and maybe $25 from a parts store. OEM brand is Musashi but I cannot find them outside of a Honda box. Most people think Moog is the way to go as far as aftermarket, but they cost a lot more than OEM parts at places like Hondapartsnow or G1parts (free shipping). Look up your parts numbers on Hondapartsnow, and then search them up on G1parts. cheapest prices for OEM parts hands down.

As for how easy, it's really easy. You can rent the tools at autozone for free (refundable deposit of $220) and do it yourself at home. I even did one out front of Autozone without paying for the tools. I just brought my parts with me in the trunk of my car. Here is my DIY for how to use the Autozone rental tools:

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/balljoint-replacment-autozone-free-rentals-27023-27164-a-2987276/

DEFINITELY REPLACE BAD BALL JOINTS ASAP!!!

BTW: My DIY string-alignment link above is surprisingly easy. It may take you a couple tries over a weekend, but you will get your car straightened out. And once your confident in doing it, you can do any car. You just need some patience and a close attention to detail. Here are the tools:

- 2 or 4 jack stands (4 for both sides at once)
- 4lb (.2mm) fishing line (I bought Trilene bright orange $8)
- 19mm open ended wrench (loosen the tie-rod jam-nut)
- 14mm open ended wrench (make toe adjustments)
- scale with millimeters (also called a ruler)
- level (to level the scale your holding)
- 2 sheets of glossy paper (used junk mail inserts)
- 2 plastic grocery bags (spray some lube inside)
- Something to hold the steering wheel (a friend, a tool, a plank of wood & 2 clamps lol)
- Know your front & rear track widths (civic/sol rear is 10mm narrower than front)
- Know your factory toe settings (civic/sol front 0mm +/- 2mm rear +2mm +2mm/-1mm)

+ is toe in
- is toe out

PS: Camber is okay if your not at crazy amounts. I've been running -2.5* front and -1.5* rear for almost 10 years (lowered 2.5" or 2.75"). If I keep the toe straight, my tires live long healthy lives. Just remember to rotate your tires cause Civics need that little toe-in in the rear to keep stable. That means the rear tires wear a little different than the fronts.

 

The camber isn't adjustable on stock civics. You can only set the toe. Have them set that, it's all you really need anyway.