Front alignment issue

porschenut · 01-10-2009, 05:13 AM

I recently removed my front suspension for refurbishment, including bushings, turbo tie rods and new Bilstein inserts. It all went back together perfectly, same way it came out.

Yesterday I brought it into a reputable shop for alignment, a place with a stellar reputation that knows Porsches. They called me 15 minutes after I left, and said the front wheels are at -1.5/-1.6 camber and they can't get them any more positive because the plates at the top strut mount are already hitting the side of the fender.

I know the struts aren't bent because the inserts went in/out fine, and the struts compress normally and the ride feels normal. The car had a good alignment before my suspension drop, so is there something I may have done wrong putting it back together? The hubs and brake discs were not removed from the struts.

hrscrk · 01-10-2009, 05:42 AM

dave
i had the same prob when i had mine done after redoing most of the front end...........alignment guys made its sound like the frame is bent and i know that ain't the case......and i'm a long ways from salt lake and big porsche dealer.....

ed

Chuck Moreland · 01-10-2009, 08:09 AM

What is your ride height set to?

Are all the components stock? Specifically camber plates and ball joints?

Bent spindle is unlikely since both sides are reading the same.

porschenut · 01-10-2009, 10:37 AM

Ride height is set to roughly Euro height - measures 25.5" floor to fender lip, which is about 1/2" lower than it used to be.

I have new OEM rubber bushings on the control arms, new OEM ball joints, new sway bar bushings, turbo tie rods, bump steer kit, and new Bilstein HD inserts inside stock Boge struts.

I thought about the spindles possibly being bent, but the strut assemblies were never abused or dropped while I had them out and as Chuck pointed out, they're both off by about the same amount.

I'm taking the car somewhere else for another opinion. Ed, were you able to resolve the issue on your car?

stlrj · 01-10-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschenut

I know the struts aren't bent because the inserts went in/out fine, and the struts compress normally and the ride feels normal. The car had a good alignment before my suspension drop, so is there something I may have done wrong putting it back together? The hubs and brake discs were not removed from the struts.

What's a good alignment mean? -1.5 degrees? Some might consider that good even though 0 degrees is spec.

Chuck Moreland · 01-10-2009, 11:38 AM

For most cars with your setup, -1.5 is the most camber they can achieve - not the least.

It is possible that some previous owner decambered the spindles. Possible, but unlikely given that the rest of the car sound stock.

I would be suspicious of the shops ability, or lack of.

porschenut · 01-10-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Moreland

I would be suspicious of the shops ability, or lack of.

I hope that's the case. Aside from damaged components, I can't think of any other explanation.

porschenut · 01-10-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlrj

What's a good alignment mean? -1.5 degrees? Some might consider that good even though 0 degrees is spec.

After the last alignment/balance, the fronts were at -1 degree and the shop said that's the most negative they could get with stock parts.

It just doesn't make any sense. The strut position at the bottom is fixed, and I didn't even loosen the camber adjustment bolts at the top during the suspension project. Caster and toe are reasonably close to factory spec.