tires and wheels Can a spacer at top of rear shock alter camber?

[gastephens]

I need the wisdom of the '02 collective mind. I searched the forum and faqs but never saw this proposed.

I have too much camber on the right rear. It measures -3.0 vs. -2.2 for the left. Ride height and stance is fine on all 4 corners and everything is right and tight.

So I got this brain fart. Stick with me through the geometry.

Most suspensions are triangles because that is the strongest structure. The bottom of the triangle is the lower control arm, the side is the rear subframe and body, and the hypoteneuse is the rear strut. The axle is attached in line with the control arm so the wheel is always perpendicular to the bottom of the triangle. If I can change the angle between the control arm and the strut it should change the camber. One way to do this is to lengthen the long side of the triangle which is the strut.

Soooooo, if I put a thick washer on top of the strut under the rear strut tower will that change my camber? If so, what might be the side effects (wheels falling off, terrible handling, global warming?)

TIA

[M3M3]

no. because the strut is not part of that triange in the rear. the spring is. put a spacer on the strut and the strut will just compress to accomodate it. and to be correct, there is no strut in the rear. it is called a damper.

only 2 ways to adjust camber in rear.

raise the rear up with taller springs or spring spacers.

or

install camber adjuster in the subframe where trailing arms attach.

[gastephens]

Doh. Of course you are right. That's why they call it a brain fart. Thanks.

I think building a car with no adjustability was dumb but FWD cars are still done that way. It seems extreme to weld on a camber adjuster to bring it back within spec.

Since is is only one side a spring spacer would throw off ride height and balance. I could bend the control arm, I'm good at that!

[c.d.iesel]

so look at your rear control arms - outside chance that the PO installed

ecentric adjusters and all it needs is a corrective turn of the CAMBER

adjuster

or maybe you have a badly bent lower control arm?

from inpact or rusting out?

you need to tell us the detailed history & known

conditions before and after any repairs you know about?

did you buy the car with this condition?

?

?

?

?

[hrg88]

Check your ride height at all 4 corners. You might have a sagging spring which will screw up the corner weights already, so shimming the spring might make it better. Did you check the camber with you (or a reasonable facsimile) in the drivers seat? Did you roll the car back and forth a few times to make sure the suspension is settled?

[Arizona02]

Ireland engineering sells adjustable camber kits for rear control arms.

[gastephens]

I have owned this car for 10 years. It has never handled as well as I thought it should but it had stock suspension and rear camber was not really noticable. I had it aligned but never measured camber before.

After installing new ST springs it became obvious.

I have changed control arm, bushings, subfame mounts, and no change. Ride height and stance is perfect. Yes all my measurements were with the supension settled. Control arm bolts were tightenedx properly with some preload on the tires.

[02Les]

I have too much camber on the right rear. It measures -3.0 vs. -2.2 for the left. Ride height and stance is fine on all 4 corners and everything is right and tight.

TIA

I have a similar problem on one of my 02s. I have more camber on the left (driver) rear than the right. Not sure which side is correct.

I noticed, when I stripped the interior for a carpet install, that at some time it had a complete passenger rear quarter panel fitted (door to taillight), so I assume the car was hit on that side perhaps causing this problem. All rear suspension, bushings etc are new and nothing obvious was/is bent.