Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Suspension Is this odd?

I installed the BAT kit about 1.5 months ago, and since i don't drive the car too much in the summer I waited a while to allow it to settle before getting a new alignment.

Anyway, it seems like my camber on the front is almost identical to when I was running stock suspension....I was under the impression that the BAT kit would push the car to the limits of allowable camber?

And yes, the car certainly is lower at all four corners.

Before:




After:




Comments?

Wow that is strange. Did you actualy measure to see how much it lowered all around? Whats up with your toe? Did you not have them adjust anything?

This is a post I made on 5/25/05...I haven't made any measurements recently though:

Originally posted by amarv12:

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Here's the before and after distances.
Distance was measured from the center of the wheel to the edge of the fenders straight up. Values rounded to the nearest 1/8".


Before:
Front-Driver side:...14.5"
Front-Pass. side:....14.875"
Rear-Driver side:.....14.125"
Rear-Pass. side:......14.125"

I had a broken spring on the Front-driver corner with the stockers.

After:
Front-Driver side:...14.25"
Front-Pass. side:....14.25"
Rear-Driver side:.....13.5"
Rear-Pass. side:......13.5"

It's been about 10 days since the BAT kit was installed.

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As for the toe thing....I didn't give them any directions...I assume the tech just underlined that stuff to show me that it was pretty far off.

So does anybody have any ideas?....i don't know much about suspension stuff, but I though the front camber wasn't adjustable on our cars...so how would this happen? Magic?

The guy behind the counter said that they got some new equipment (that's why the printouts are different) but I don't think that it should change the readings, right? I think that even the same technician did my alignment both times.

When you replaced the struts, did you replace anything else?

D'oh....I probably should've mentioned that eh?


Ok between that first alignment and the most recent one I did:

-BAT kit: new springs and struts
-New strut bearings (or thrust bearings I believe some people call them)...done same time as BAT kit
-Changed Front end links to new light alloy style ...done maybe 4 months before BAT kit
-Changed both front lower control arms ( I have 2-bolt style)...done approx 2 months ish before BAT kit


Now that I think about it, when I replaced my LCAs up front I took some measurements with a depth gauge, and those center metal sleeves/pins were lower down in the new LCA's compared to the old ones...by like 3mm....I should've written down the measurements. ...But the bushings were still intact in the arm...not ripped completely out.

Still, I think the bushings will "sag" over time, allowing camber to get out of whack. Think where you'd be if you hadn't replaced the LCAs.