I have an 04 cavalier and i'm gettin ready to put sportlines on it, just waitin to get my struts. i know everyone says i shouldn't need a camber kit with the sportlines, but here's the problem. i took it to the chevy dealership for an aligment a few months back. they told me the camber on my passenger front was off, but the alligned as a "temporary" fix, and said it would cost $70 to fix the camber. well my tire has gone bald on the outside edge, so i think the camber is off again. so should i go ahead and get the kit, or just get a more reputable shop to do my alignment?

how on earth did they temporarily fix your camber??

hmm....

MeltdOwn350 aka cOdy wrote:how on earth did they temporarily fix your camber??

hmm....

that is what I'm thinking


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i don't know. he told me the alignment would last for a while, but i nedded to get it fixed soon. i can't figure out why my camber was off to start with. he told me they would have to "drill the hole bigger to slide the strut inward" or some sh!t like that. i just think it would be easier and cheaper to get a camber kit to fix it. plus the service department is run by a bunch of morons and i hate to give them any of my money.

u guyz think maybe they just told me the alignment would help, and they were just BS'n me so i would come back in and spend more money. i'm a 18, so i'm used to ppl tryin to screw me over, especially in a military town. i usually don't fall 4 it tho. lol

well i am not sure what that shop did to your car but camber nor caster will wear tires--tire wear comes from the toe setting. so you should take it to another shop and have them do an alignment on it and see what they say. but tire wear, especially inner or outer edge wear doesnt come from camber or caster. what camber or caster will do if it is off is cause you to have a pull.

Quote:

but tire wear, especially inner or outer edge wear doesnt come from camber or caster. what camber or caster will do if it is off is cause you to have a pull.

I think you have that reversed...

I would say, lower the car, see how much camber you gain from the drop, then get the allignment checked and get the kit if you need to.

I personally think that the statement made by the shop to "drill the hole bigger to slide the strut inward" is retarded. How will the strut stay in place then????

Look for a new shop man.

Go somewhere else!!!! I am the alignment guy where I work. Some (not very many)vehicles you slot the holes in the strut tower to bring the camber in, but not on a J. I don't know what they mean by temporary fix, that is a crock. Go to a reputable shop and have them check the alignment. Ask for a printout of your specs, if they say no, leave. If the camber is out use the camber kit, they should have one there and if not they should be able to get one. It should only coast around 15 bucks plus installation. Man it drives me crazy when people try to screw customers like that.

PS camber does wear tires. When camber is negative, the tire is riding on the inside edge, causing it to wear faster.

Nick


Go Go OG Traction!!

thanx a lot man. i'm glad someone told me the truth about it and knew what they were talking about. i have heard a lot of good things about another shop, so i'll take it there after i drop it.

Bigt wrote:Go somewhere else!!!! I am the alignment guy where I work. Some (not very many)vehicles you slot the holes in the strut tower to bring the camber in, but not on a J. I don't know what they mean by temporary fix, that is a crock. Go to a reputable shop and have them check the alignment. Ask for a printout of your specs, if they say no, leave. If the camber is out use the camber kit, they should have one there and if not they should be able to get one. It should only coast around 15 bucks plus installation. Man it drives me crazy when people try to screw customers like that.

PS camber does wear tires. When camber is negative, the tire is riding on the inside edge, causing it to wear faster.

Nick

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i would say dont take it to a dealer they always charge too much, unless for some reason you have to, hope this helps, later


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When he said slot the strut, he meant slot the lower hole on the strut where it mounts to the spindle.

If your outside edge is wearing out you have too much positive camber, which really sucks. I don't know how you could have positive camber from a newer car. I'd be saying it was a warranty problem and not your expense to fix. Have them inspect the wheel bearings. You ever hit any curbs or anything?

Oh, I also meant to say that you don't need a camber kit. Slotting the lower hole is fine. Mine are slotted and they haven't moved, even under race conditions.

Yeah, slotting the strut is another option. I've done that a few times. I don't really like to do it, but it is an option. And yeah, I just caught the positive camber remark. I don't recall seeing a J body with the camber positive unless there were bent or very worn parts. weird. Well I hope he gets everything taken care of.

Nick


Go Go OG Traction!!

yeah, i was kinda wonderin why the outside was wearin too after i thought about it, cause droppin the car would prolly even the camber out anyways. guess i'll just find out after i put all my stuff on. thanx a lot tho.