Last November I replaced the auto transmission on this car and after the install had an alignment done at a reputable alignment shop before I put on the snow tires. My son drives the car and it isn't often around so it was a few hundred miles later that I saw that the front tires were both equally badly worn on the inner tread. I took it back and had it checked and they said yes it was out and did another alignment. Now I see the same condition with the tires currently on the car. Any ideas on what could cause this? There is a rod on the right front of the car from the frame to the right lower control arm which has a self locking nut and rubber bushing at the frame. I didn't replace the nut with a new one and I wonder if that could be a problem? I would like to have some idea of what may be going on before I go back to the shop.
91 Civic LX alignment
- Thread starter schuylkill
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This is a common problem on older Hondas. I believe it's caused by front springs that are worn and soft and are allowing the body to roll more during turns (despite the anti-roll bar). More roll means more pressure on the inner rib of the outer tire in the turn.
I'll bet the tires squeal easily in turns, no?
I'll bet the tires squeal easily in turns, no?
Wear on the inside of the tire is done by toed out front wheels. It can either happen by having too much static toe out, i.e. your alignment is out of spec or dynamic toe out, happens when the front suspension compresses while cornering (aggressively).
If the alignment is in spec and you don't drive it like a maniac, then next up are the control arm bushings. Are they still original or have they been replaced at some point?
Finally, the strut rod locknut is not the problem. I have reused mine several times without any problem and I autocross my car. I you do want to dramatically improve how your car feels while braking, replace the rubber strut rod bushings with the
Energy Suspension bushings :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Energy-Suspension-16-7102G-Strut-Rod-Bushing-Set-88-91-CIVIC-CRX-/200940541711?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1989%7CModel%3ACivic&hash=item2ec8fd570f&vxp=mtr
They make the front end much more stable under braking without any side effects in regards to stock ride quality.
If the alignment is in spec and you don't drive it like a maniac, then next up are the control arm bushings. Are they still original or have they been replaced at some point?
Finally, the strut rod locknut is not the problem. I have reused mine several times without any problem and I autocross my car. I you do want to dramatically improve how your car feels while braking, replace the rubber strut rod bushings with the
Energy Suspension bushings :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Energy-Suspension-16-7102G-Strut-Rod-Bushing-Set-88-91-CIVIC-CRX-/200940541711?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1989%7CModel%3ACivic&hash=item2ec8fd570f&vxp=mtr
They make the front end much more stable under braking without any side effects in regards to stock ride quality.
What did the alignment printout say about the alignment?
Also, on a car that old with likely high mileage, it could be a bunch of things so worn out such as to make any alignment pointless.
Also, on a car that old with likely high mileage, it could be a bunch of things so worn out such as to make any alignment pointless.
The car has ~150K on it now. It was owned by an older woman whose nephew worked at a Honda dealership and it was bought and meticulously maintained there. It sadly suffered the Honda rear well rust problem and spent most of its time on the streets of Philadelphia so it isn't pretty. Anyway it had about 128K when I bought it. The alignment shop is a very experienced and reputable one, though their bread and butter is fleets of delivery vans. They've been in business for 40 years and the original owner still works part time and his son now runs the place. The old guy says he will look at the car the next time I bring it in. I guess the question is whether something was missed on the first alignment and so it was out when they did the second one, or whether something changed/moved causing a good alignment to go out. If the alignment was good then suggestions such as weak springs wouldn't seem to explain the problem, correct, because the springs wouldn't cause a change in alignment? I'm not sure about the control arm bushings, I would need to look at the work history print out I got when I bought the car, that's in the car and my son has his own place now and I don't see him that often, he works a lot. Originally I bought the car for my middle son to use, he's now in California, and he drove much more aggressively than my youngest son who is now driving it and the problem showed up while the youngest was driving.
I guess I'll take it back into the shop and see if they have any suggestions.
I don't think the shop would miss something on two alignments. I think something is causing the alignment to go out. Would control arm bushings or springs do that?
I guess I'll take it back into the shop and see if they have any suggestions.
I don't think the shop would miss something on two alignments. I think something is causing the alignment to go out. Would control arm bushings or springs do that?
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