Cannot get cambers to match ...

[SteveBuchanan]

Hi All,

My 1975 911 pulls to right. Based on what I have read, mismatched camber setting are the primary reason for a car to pull to one side. I bought a camber gauge that uses a bubble level which clearly indicates a mismatch between the two sides. The problem is that there is not enough adjustment available in the towers to bring them into synch. I replaced the ball joints which did not seem to help. There are not any obvious signs of excessive rust or a collision, but obviously something is wrong. Any insight you can provide to towards problem is appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve Buchanan

[Eagledriver]

Camber in the front is pretty much zero for a street car. Are you saying one side has positive camber and the other side has negative? To use the tool you have you must be sure the car is on level ground. Also make sure the car is level in it's ride height. (Not higher on one side than the other). Caster differences can also cause a car to pull.

-Andy

[SteveBuchanan]

Thanks Andy,

I can't tell using my gauge where zero camber is at. I can only try to make each side match. I checked and found that my garage floor is slightly off level from side to side. More significantly, the ride height needs adjustment. Hopefully by resolving these two items the cambers will at least match. Then I can work on making caster settings match as well. I would like to get it mostly going straight before taking it to the alignment shop.

[Chuck Moreland]

Those camber guages can only be used on perfectly level ground. Unless you are some kind of level-savant, just looking at it won't cut it. you need to use a water level to determine this.

Other factors can also cause the car to pull, including screwed up corner balance, rear toe and rear camber, not to mention dragging brakes, or even tires.

[450knotOffice]

Since you're in Tustin, I would recommend Hergesheimer in Lake Forest. Their resident alignment guru, Jim, is absolutely incredible.

Call them. You will not be disappointed. I mean that.

[450knotOffice]

So, how'd the alignment issue work out?

[SteveBuchanan]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for suggesting Hergesheimer. I am about 3 weeks away from having my car on the road. This weekend I hope to adjust the ride height and make a genuinely level surface on my garage floor. I will try using tiles as shims and arrange them using a water level. Hopefully I will be able to get the cambers mostly in sync with this approach. In any case, it looks like it's going to Hergesheimer for the final alignment. I will let you know how it turns out.

Best Regards, Steve

[Tyson Schmidt]

90% of the time, if the camber is off from left to right, it is due to a bent strut. The spindle is pressed on the the strut tube, and rosette welded only on the back.

What happens is the spindle bends up and essentially pivots off the rosette weld on the back side. If you look closely at the base of the spindle, you'll see the witness mark where the spindle has moved up slightly on the strut tube.

Usually it takes a fair amount of difference in camber to cause a noticeable pull. But if the corner balance is off, it will cause a pretty significant pull to one side.

[SteveBuchanan]

Using the digital calipers, I measured the distance from the roll pin near the bottom of the strut to the lower side of the spindle. The difference between both sides was less than 1 milimeter. Thus it appears that the spindles are correctly positioned on the strut tubes.

I did find the ride height to be significantly out of adjustment. I had previously used the fenders to ensure equal height from side to side. This time I measured using the torsion bar covers and found substantial discrepancies. The rear of the car was off by about 5/8 of an inch. The ride height is now more symmetrical. This will obviously help with corner balance problems and perhaps help the car go straight.

After achieving a more level surface from the garage floor by using VCT tiles as shims, the cambers still seem to be mismatched. I am now a week or two away from having the car on the road and seeing if it tracks a straight line.

Thanks,
Steve Buchanan

[Kurt B]

Unless you are some kind of level-savant, just looking at it won't cut it. you need to use a water level to determine this.

Dammit that's funny!

[SteveBuchanan]

What a relief. I have taken the car out on some test drives and it goes very straight. It looks like poorly adjusted ride (corner balance) was the culprit. The car now has a great feel with the new tie rods, ball joints, shocks, and tires. At this point Hergesheimer should be able to do a genuine corner balance and alignment.

Thank you to everyone for your advice.