Alignment Way out of Spec after Coilover Install

So I installed some coilover's today on my legacy and then went to get it aligned and my front left wheel is way out of spec on camber and my rear right wheel is way out of spec on camber and toe.

 

Toe in the rear is maxed out at this number.

 

Camber in the front is also maxed out.

 

Here is a picture of the copy of the alignment sheet.

 

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z386/bgreenen/IMAG0500.jpg?t=1330130923

 

Any idea's on how I can get these to be adjusted back within spec?

Camber plates? Whiteline adjustable rear end set up? Raise the car, it is far too low?

I was thinking about camber plates and the whiteline setup too. The whiteline setup only allows +/- 1 degree though and to be within spec i need like 2.1 degrees. Would camber plates get me there? Or camber plates + whiteline setup?

 

Car isn't very low either. I don't like the slammed, dragging your car on teh ground look or feel. I will try raising it a little anyways but it isn't any lower than my bilsteins w/ H-tech's were sitting at.

it looks like they didn't really adjust anything and had no idea what they were doing.

If it is not lower, something is up. Were they used?

 

Rear arms and the adjustable rear upper link bushing will give more than 2deg negative camber. We have done it many times.

http://www.infamousperformance.net/media/00/a20791d12c69fe66061bf7_s.jpg

Whiteline Subaru Legacy GT Adjustable Rear Control Arm Kit

 

http://www.infamousperformance.net/media/00/a20791d12c69fb13106d98_s.jpg

Whiteline Subaru Legacy GT Camber Adjustment Kit

 

rear toe changes with camber. You run out of rear toe adjustment with too much camber. That is why you need all 4 links, not a 2 link set up. Too much camber in the rear also leads to axles popping out.

 

Camber plates up front.

 

But once again, if you are not lower, you should be able to attain the exact same alignment specs you did before. Or something is wrong.

buy these:

http://www.infamousperformance.net/servlet/the-251/Whiteline-Subaru-Legacy-GT/Detail

 

I bought them for mine after I had slammed it. Makes your stance way better. Takes the "silliness" look out of slamming the rear.

They are not.

 

Well I am going to try and raise it up a little more tomorrow morning and run by the shop and see if it changes at all.

 

If that doesn't work then I will start looking at the options you have suggested.

 

Thanks Mike. Appreciate it.

buy these:

http://www.infamousperformance.net/servlet/the-251/Whiteline-Subaru-Legacy-GT/Detail

 

I bought them for mine after I had slammed it. Makes your stance way better. Takes the "silliness" look out of slamming the rear.

 

I think I will most likely be getting at least those. Unfortunately they won't take me all the way to where I need to be from where I am right now. Unless I can get the f***ed up camber down to 2.5ish before I installed those I would have to also find something else to help more. Such as the arms Mike linked above or the camber plates he mentioned.

 

And here I was thinking this was going to be a lazy-one hour install and trip to the alignment shop..

Oh another question.

 

If it is partially because it is too low why would only one side be so far off?

(Suspension is not my most knowledgeable area)

It might still be. Could be something simple enough. Are the front top hats stock? If so, are the water drain holes facing the out side of the car? Both of them on both sides?

 

Is ride height even side to side? Are the springs moving up and down between the perches when the car is in the air (suspension unloaded)?

 

Do you trust the alignment tech? They F with my wife and mother all the time even though we have lifetime alignments on all the cars to try and take the hassle out of it for them both. Cant wait to be able to afford the alignment machine.

Top hats were on the coilovers. Aaaaaand I can't check the rest because car is in the garage at home and I am at work.

 

Ride height was even side to side as I measure distance between each collar and matched each side.

 

Also matched the distance between perches for the spring. Springs are not moving up and down when car is in the air.

 

Tech is the head alignment tech at the local sears automotive my buddy works at. Normally would never take it to a sears automotive but my friend told me he knows his stuff. I'm beginning to question this though..

 

I think I am going to go through it all again tomorrow if I can find the time. Pull them all out measure measure measure. and reinstall and then take it to be realigned. Hopefully I just missed something or put something on slightly wrong.

Trust me. My wheel specs are 18x8.5 +48. I WAS almost tucking rim (I've raised up since then due to that I was tired of being on full stiff). My alignment specs were -.1 degrees camber in the front and -1.0 in the rear. The kit won't give you huge adjustability but it will allow you to gain 1 degree which visually, is a lot. Also, if you are going to Firestone or someone that doesn't know what they are doing, that is prob why. IIRC, I paid ~$160 for my alignment.

 

Bottom line:

Get the rear camber kit.

Get adjustable top hats in the front.

Make sure all the coils are adjusted evenly. Don't measure, count turns. Make sure tension is on springs and turn from bottom, you will get a less bouncy ride.

Buy from m sprank

 

If you have the coin, get a corner balance and make sure they account for your weight in the drivers seat. Its worth it! (my alignment cost did not include corner balance but some shops do combo rates.)

 

Edit: Don't go to the same place. They do not know what they are doing. Went there once for my Blizzaks. They didn't know how to reinstall my center caps currently.

Haha. Yeah I plan to get an alignment done at a specialty shop this summer. I am planning to get some new wheels and tires and didn't want to spend the money for 2 really good alignments.

 

Guess maybe I need to look into that though.

 

I'll probably order the rear camber kit and do it regardless, from sprank of course.

Edit: Don't go to the same place. They do not know what they are doing. Went there once for my Blizzaks. They didn't know how to reinstall my center caps currently.

 

You have got to be kidding me. That is ridiculous.

You have got to be kidding me. That is ridiculous.

 

Dude it was a joke. When I was checking out, I was like, just give me my keys...ill do it! But you are on the right track! Doing it yourself is learning!!

Good god. I knew there was a reason I had never gone to one before. Gave my buddy a chance to prove to me they did good stuff aaaaaaaaaand he failed never again.

 

That's why I like doing..or trying to do...everything myself. I enjoy learning as I go. I just hate when I run into stupid problems like this.

Can you come to portland on monday? If you dont have it figured out by then call: 503-653-9315, talk to mike(my boss, tell him boy or michael recommended you to him). Explain you need help fixing your coilover setup and that your alignment is all messed up, idk what our schedule is like but we were swamped this past week, knowing him he'll tell you to drop in when you can so we can diagnose it, then depending on what it is, we'll try to fix it that day or schedule you if its a more complicated fix.

I will try to stop by Tuesday if I don't figure it out by then. I'll call Tuesday morning first. I hope it's just an easy fix. Should find out later today whether or not it's something I did wrong or not.

Also dont forget to get it corner balanced. That we have seen to help get things setup properly. As msprank said those WL parts will help as well.

 

-mike

 

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg

11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.

Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us.

AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber

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Corner balancing on a street car is a waste of money. If the car isn't going to see the track, there is no real point.

 

Set the ride height evenly, and call it good.

Corner balancing on a street car is a waste of money. If the car isn't going to see the track, there is no real point.

 

Set the ride height evenly, and call it good.

 

Same can be said for coilovers

 

We have seen many times where the camber has been off when a customer brings in a car with what looks like an even ride height, after corner balancing, things come into alignment a lot easier.

 

-mike

 

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/91072632.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/141039922.jpg http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/133406601.jpg http://upload.pbase.com/image/137566671.jpg

11+ Years Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Subaru Enthusiasts.

Call directly as We carry almost every manufacturer now, so before you buy parts call us.

AIM: AZP Installs | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) | T-1 Certified Amsoil Direct Jobber

"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

Corner balancing on a street car is a waste of money. If the car isn't going to see the track, there is no real point.

 

Set the ride height evenly, and call it good.

 

 

this.

Well I do plan on some track days in the future at PIR so a corner balance would be beneficial at some point.

Problem solved. My buddy is an idiot and so are the people he works with. Took it to a local import performance shop and got the GTSpec RCK installed (thanks @m sprank) and aligned and they had absolutely 0 issues.

 

All is well.. Until I find something else I want

good to hear!!