Yesterday, I replaced all four struts on my '96 Saturn SL2 with KYB GR-2 struts. I also replaced the front strut bearing plates with KYB units. The car now rides fantastic; I should have done this several years ago.
Today, I took the car to the local Les Schwab tire shop for an alignment. The reason that I took it in for an alignment was because the KYB struts had elongated mounting holes, and after the strut installation, the camber was way off. The tires were pointed outwards.
So, the Les Schwab tech put the car onto the alignment rack.
Here are the initial readings:
Before:
LF Toe: -15/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
RF toe: -15/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
Front Total Toe: -15/16" (1/16 to 5/32)
LR toe: -1/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
RR toe: 5/16" (1/32 to 1/16)
Rear Total Toe: 9/32" (1/16 to 5/32)
LF Camber: 1.6°(-1.2 to 0.2)
RF Camber: 1.4°(-1.2 to 0.2)
Front Cross Camber: 0.2° (-0.4 to 0.4)
LR Camber: 1.0° (-1.4 to 0.0)
RR Camber: 1.7° (-1.4 to 0.0)
Rear Cross Camber: -0.7° (-1.0 to 1.0)
LF Caster: 2.0° (1.2 to 2.2)
RF Caster: 2.0° (1.2 to 2.2)
Front Cross Caster: 0.0° (-0.4 to 0.4)
Thrust Angle: -0.36°
After an hour of adjustments, here are the results:
LF Toe: 1/16" (1/32 to 1/16)
RF toe: 1/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
Front Total Toe: 3/32" (1/16 to 5/32)
LR toe: -1/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
RR toe: 5/16" (1/32 to 1/16)
Rear Total Toe: 9/32" (1/16 to 5/32)
LF Camber: -0.4° (-1.2 to 0.2)
RF Camber: -0.6° (-1.2 to 0.2)
Front Cross Camber: 0.1° (-0.4 to 0.4)
LR Camber: 0.4° (-1.4 to 0.0)
RR Camber: 0.5° (-1.4 to 0.0)
Rear Cross Camber: -0.1° (-1.0 to 1.0)
LF Caster: 1.7° (1.2 to 2.2)
RF Caster: 1.7° (1.2 to 2.2)
Front Cross Caster: 0.0° (-0.4 to 0.4)
Thrust Angle: -0.34°
The tech claimed the rear toe was not adjustable and a rear toe kit was needed to bring the rear toe back to spec. He also advised me that I will need a rear camber bolt kit in order to bring the rear camber back to spec.
I agree with him about the rear camber, and I will purchase a Moog camber bolt kit for the rear ($19). However, my research and the various techs that I have spoken with have all told me that the rear toe IS adjustable, and that it can be done by adjusting the rear lateral links. Is that correct?
I have some time to play with it as Les Schwab said that they will re-do the alignment within 30 days for no charge.
Anyway, what do you folks think of the situation? Thanks.
Today, I took the car to the local Les Schwab tire shop for an alignment. The reason that I took it in for an alignment was because the KYB struts had elongated mounting holes, and after the strut installation, the camber was way off. The tires were pointed outwards.
So, the Les Schwab tech put the car onto the alignment rack.
Here are the initial readings:
Before:
LF Toe: -15/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
RF toe: -15/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
Front Total Toe: -15/16" (1/16 to 5/32)
LR toe: -1/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
RR toe: 5/16" (1/32 to 1/16)
Rear Total Toe: 9/32" (1/16 to 5/32)
LF Camber: 1.6°(-1.2 to 0.2)
RF Camber: 1.4°(-1.2 to 0.2)
Front Cross Camber: 0.2° (-0.4 to 0.4)
LR Camber: 1.0° (-1.4 to 0.0)
RR Camber: 1.7° (-1.4 to 0.0)
Rear Cross Camber: -0.7° (-1.0 to 1.0)
LF Caster: 2.0° (1.2 to 2.2)
RF Caster: 2.0° (1.2 to 2.2)
Front Cross Caster: 0.0° (-0.4 to 0.4)
Thrust Angle: -0.36°
After an hour of adjustments, here are the results:
LF Toe: 1/16" (1/32 to 1/16)
RF toe: 1/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
Front Total Toe: 3/32" (1/16 to 5/32)
LR toe: -1/32" (1/32 to 1/16)
RR toe: 5/16" (1/32 to 1/16)
Rear Total Toe: 9/32" (1/16 to 5/32)
LF Camber: -0.4° (-1.2 to 0.2)
RF Camber: -0.6° (-1.2 to 0.2)
Front Cross Camber: 0.1° (-0.4 to 0.4)
LR Camber: 0.4° (-1.4 to 0.0)
RR Camber: 0.5° (-1.4 to 0.0)
Rear Cross Camber: -0.1° (-1.0 to 1.0)
LF Caster: 1.7° (1.2 to 2.2)
RF Caster: 1.7° (1.2 to 2.2)
Front Cross Caster: 0.0° (-0.4 to 0.4)
Thrust Angle: -0.34°
The tech claimed the rear toe was not adjustable and a rear toe kit was needed to bring the rear toe back to spec. He also advised me that I will need a rear camber bolt kit in order to bring the rear camber back to spec.
I agree with him about the rear camber, and I will purchase a Moog camber bolt kit for the rear ($19). However, my research and the various techs that I have spoken with have all told me that the rear toe IS adjustable, and that it can be done by adjusting the rear lateral links. Is that correct?
I have some time to play with it as Les Schwab said that they will re-do the alignment within 30 days for no charge.
Anyway, what do you folks think of the situation? Thanks.