Information requested:
- Do not notice any additional heat on one side vs the other. I don't have an IR gun though.
- Both sides measure out exactly 31.9" from ground to bottom of wheel arch, which I was surprised by. Thought it would be at least a little different.
thanks for measuring it. Well at least we know they're not sagging. After looking at the alignment specs, I'm drawn to focus on the rear alignment numbers. Look how different they are, plus if you were to look straight down from above on the toe directions, they're going to the right! I know the thrust angle will dictate which way it can pull (negative is to the left), but I'm telling ya.. From my experience I've always seen if the rear toe is not correct the vehicle will pull and you'll have to correct it all the time from the steering wheel.
The only other time I've experienced a pull was when the camber (front) was tilting both front tires too much in one direction. The cross camber for the front of yours is only around 0.3 degrees (subtract both final results). That's nothing for any car.
ok back to what to do.. that rear toe was not even adjusted, look at the before and after! They only gave you a two wheel alignment. I'd go to a good alignment shop (hope you can do research and find a good one) and ask them to get the toe in the middle of the range, telling them 0.07 degrees or 0.04 inches for each wheel. If the toe adjusters are rusted in place, replace them, I've done that before on previous vehicles.
Now about the toe.. here's how I calculated what to tell them at the new shop and what to set it at.
for example, front toe specs.. add up the total toe -0.02 + 0.32= 0.30, divide by two you get 0.075, I'd go on the lower end, round down and have both front toe at 0.07 degrees. did a quick search for 18 CX-9 tire diameters 255/60-18 or 255/50-20 (only way to know the measurement in inches for toe) and they're about 30 inches in diameter for either tire.. 0.07 degrees at 30inch diameter would be 0.036 or 0.04 inches of toe.
The rear toe (it's the same calculation as the front, same specs) should be 0.07 degrees for each wheel or 0.04 inches of toe. Depends on how the wheel alignment rack is set up to measure degrees or inches.
The other thing is when an alignment is done, make sure you have a full tank of gas when they align it. Most don't realize that is a lot of weight and the automaker's specs is when there is a full tank of gas (weight).
also I agree with
@AutoMechanic 100%, even the smallest error in prepping the car on the rack for alignment can alter all the rack's computer's calculations after that. but they never aligned the rear toe as I was explaining, that definitely caused the pull, it's probably why you never noticed any difference from before their alignment and after.. didn't change anything!!
EDIT: one more thing, make sure they center the steering wheel! That always bugs me they don't take the time to get it perfectly centered then they can start the alignment
