Legasee Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 *car was pulling a little to the right when purchased in mid March 2005* (didn't mention to my buddy (salesman) since I figured I was going to get some wheels soon and would do alignment afterwards)* - got alignment on Fri. aligned to factory recommendation (the front right toe was 0.21 and was -0.01 after alignment) - drove car home, still pulling/drifting to the right (both on the street and on the fwy) - went back for alignment again on Saturday, got the car up, swapped the front wheels to see if it was a tire issue, but still pulled to the right - alignment guy said there is no camber adjustment for the front wheels, told me to take it back to the dealer to see if they can fix it cuz the alignment guys already put things back to factory specs (**they used 2000 to 2003 legacy sedan specs, and told me that those cars had the same as my 2005 GT!!! ) what to do???!!! my plan-- 1. is the 2000 up to 2005 using the same alignment specs? 2. if #1 is yes, then is my alignment issue warrantied by the dealer? (it was slightly drifting/pulling to the right when I bought the car, but I figured any alignment would correct it). ANY advice/comments welcome! In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 1, 2005 Share Posted May 1, 2005 Subaru will do one alignment under warranty. What were your front camber measurements? What were your rear toe and camber measurements? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted May 2, 2005 Author Share Posted May 2, 2005 Subaru will do one alignment under warranty. What were your front camber measurements? What were your rear toe and camber measurements? FRONT CAMBER--- left is -0.18 and right is -0.25 REAR TOE--- left is 0.00 and right is 0.06 REAR CAMBER-- left is -0.30 and right is -0.17 "TOTAL TOE" is 0.06 thanks! (I was having difficulties with my computer at home so I wasn't able to reply) In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 2, 2005 Share Posted May 2, 2005 All those numbers are within Subaru specs, even the camber numbers. Did they measure thrust angle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted May 2, 2005 Author Share Posted May 2, 2005 All those numbers are within Subaru specs, even the camber numbers. Did they measure thrust angle? thanks for your reply the thrust angle is -0.03 (with specific range of -0.50 to 0.50) :confused: ...the guys at the alignment place couldn't figure out what was wrong... thanks for any information that can help me tell the alignment place again or the car dealer... In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken S Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 What were your caster settings? Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted May 3, 2005 Author Share Posted May 3, 2005 What were your caster settings? Ken Caster settting----left is 5.65 and right is 5.30... I remember the alignment guys saying that there was no xxx adjustments for the front wheels...if I remembered correctely, he was referring to the caster adjustments... is the problem the caster adjustments? IF so, then what should I tell them? In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken S Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 A car will tend to drift towards the side with less caster so your settings might be contributing to it. I've had a similar issue -- all adjustable alignment settings in spec, but a very slight pull to the right. My right caster is about -0.5 vs. the left. The easy fix is to get your wheels and tires balanced on a Hunter unit that can measure radial pull. You mount the tires in the configuration that counters the right pull. To adjust caster, I believe you need to undo the front suspension and start with the subframe -- not an easy task. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted May 3, 2005 Author Share Posted May 3, 2005 A car will tend to drift towards the side with less caster so your settings might be contributing to it. I've had a similar issue -- all adjustable alignment settings in spec, but a very slight pull to the right. My right caster is about -0.5 vs. the left. The easy fix is to get your wheels and tires balanced on a Hunter unit that can measure radial pull. You mount the tires in the configuration that counters the right pull. To adjust caster, I believe you need to undo the front suspension and start with the subframe -- not an easy task. Ken man...what a pain.... this all MIGHT have started from the subaru factory, or between that time to when I bought the car cuz I noticed this slight pull to the right when I was driving the car home on the day of purchase... now...the alignment guys "suppositly" aligned everything right, and there is nothing else they can adjust, and told me to talk to the dealer/subaru service tech about it... so you are recommending that I do the Hunter unit to compensate for the problem with the camber in the car? So does this mean I need to use the HUNTER unit evertime I balance my tires (and if the alignment guys don't have it, I would have to go to different places for balance and alignment)? I bought the lifetime warranty from this alignment shop and hope they can continue to do alignments for me... Should the subaru dealer fix this under warranty or am I SOL?!! only 2000 miles (don't even have my license plates yet!) and I get this freaky alignment problem... In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted May 3, 2005 Author Share Posted May 3, 2005 man...what a pain.... this all MIGHT have started from the subaru factory, or between that time to when I bought the car cuz I noticed this slight pull to the right when I was driving the car home on the day of purchase... now...the alignment guys "suppositly" aligned everything right, and there is nothing else they can adjust, and told me to talk to the dealer/subaru service tech about it... so you are recommending that I do the Hunter unit to compensate for the problem with the camber in the car? So does this mean I need to use the HUNTER unit evertime I balance my tires (and if the alignment guys don't have it, I would have to go to different places for balance and alignment)? I bought the lifetime warranty from this alignment shop and hope they can continue to do alignments for me... Should the subaru dealer fix this under warranty or am I SOL?!! only 2000 miles (don't even have my license plates yet!) and I get this freaky alignment problem... *since the alignment is to specs (suppositly), is there any danger to driving the car the way it is...basically, do i have a few weeks or so to get this thing taken care of or should get this taken care of immediately )...thanks again for all your help people! In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
driggity Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Most Subarus seem to pull to one side because of the difference in caster from side to side. When I had my WRX with caster/camber plates and equal caster on each side it would track dead straight. I've never thought that the pulling was that big a deal in any subaru that I've driven though. And since your caster is (I believe) in spec I doubt you'll be able to get anything done to fix it. Although even though its not really asdjustable there may be a little wiggle room to get things closer to equal. As for your alignment it seems ok, but they should be able to adjust the camber in the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesuby Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Subaru will perform one alignment under warranty? Does that mean sometime in the first 3 years/36,000 miles I can bring it in for a free alignment? Is this in writing somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Caster settting----left is 5.65 and right is 5.30... I remember the alignment guys saying that there was no xxx adjustments for the front wheels...if I remembered correctely, he was referring to the caster adjustments... is the problem the caster adjustments? IF so, then what should I tell them? According to the alignment printout I got from my dealer, the caster should lie in the range of 2.1deg to 3.6deg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 ......... my plan-- 1. is the 2000 up to 2005 using the same alignment specs?........... Seems that way. My Subaru dealer used the 2000-2004 Legacy wagon specs when I had my alignment checked in March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted May 3, 2005 Author Share Posted May 3, 2005 According to the alignment printout I got from my dealer, the caster should lie in the range of 2.1deg to 3.6deg. why can't my alignment guy adjust my caster setting??!!! someone hook me up with an alignment place in Los Angeles area that can take care of my issues...please! In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
change_agent Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 I was encourage to find this thread as I have had alignment issues...after a while you think it is you...as my car is new...I will wait for the first service and see where things are....(see the other tread.. http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1859316#post1859316 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheatleya Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 Buy some high offset LCA bushings. They would more than likely help your situation. They are an easy install also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 According to the alignment printout I got from my dealer, the caster should lie in the range of 2.1deg to 3.6deg. that caster spec is not right. the stock caster specs are around 5deg not 3deg. Cast is nt adjustable unless you buy eccentric front LCA bushings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetiger Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 - alignment guy said there is no camber adjustment for the front wheels, told me to take it back to the dealer to see if they can fix it cuz the alignment guys already put things back to factory specs (**they used 2000 to 2003 legacy sedan specs, and told me that those cars had the same as my 2005 GT!!! ) what to do???!!! my plan-- 1. is the 2000 up to 2005 using the same alignment specs? 2. if #1 is yes, then is my alignment issue warrantied by the dealer? (it was slightly drifting/pulling to the right when I bought the car, but I figured any alignment would correct it). ANY advice/comments welcome! you alignment guy is an idiot. the 2005+specs are very different than the 2000-2004 specs. also front camber is adjustable by turning the camber bolt at the bottom of the strut. bring the car to a place that has the rights secs in ther alignment computer for your car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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