Camber after Tie Rod Replacement?

Hey TW!

Like the title says I'm getting some camber that's kinda worrying me.

I rebooted and repacked my CVs last weekend and figured while i'm in there I'd replace my inner and outer tie rods since they were super worn.

I got everything back together and it sat fine when I got it off the stands but after taking it around the block i noticed it was cambering when I got it back to the house.

From what I understand camber is controlled by the LCA's which I didn't touch at all with the exception of breaking the LBJ free to swing the knuckle out to remove / reinstall my CVs.

Is this normal / something an alignment will fix or is something else going on here?

Images of camber:





Any help would be much appreciated!

 

After any front end work, you should get an alignment.

 

Yeah I'm planning on getting an alignment regardless, I just don't understand how it could be cambering since CVs don't have an effect on wheel alignment and Tie rods only affect the toe?

 

the LCA bolts could have been loose during your CV work. tie rods should just affect toe. I am sure the alignment cam just went out of wack. I figure you will probably want an alignment to correct the toe after the new tierods. if the camber is still off after alignment it could be something else wrong (bent spindle, etc.) I wouldnt read too much into it until after you get your alignment.

 

Did you mess with the coilovers at all? Looks like the suspension settling

 

Appreciate your thoughts!

I guess I'll wait and see after alignment, just kinda freaked me out.

No I didn't mess with the coilovers. I did use a bottle jack to press down on the UCA in order to get the LBJ back in. (I follow the Timmy video and that's what he did) Maybe that could have bent the spindle?

 

Firstly, once you get alignment, you will be golden

But
Toe does affect camber
Mainly bc (depending on manufacturer) tie rods will be in front or rear of spindles
If tie rods/rack were dead center below spindles, then wouldn’t affect camber
Like a geometry thing
Also have to take into account the worn outer ties you replaced

I have adjustable camber plates on my daily driver/race car(years ago)
On race day, I would max out negative camber but had to also adjust tie rods (3 threads in) to compensate for the aggressive camber setting

interested in your alignment sheet once done!!!
GL

 

Y'know when you put it like that re: toe affecting camber, it does make sense!

Appreciate the reassurance that an alignment should take care of it and I'll be sure to post the sheet after I get it tomorrow!

 

@ControlCar

As requested my alignment sheet!

Got it home and it wasn't cambering at all so - seems like alignment did fix it. Also it looks like they just adjusted the toe to fix the camber!

 

looks like they didnt touch camber at all. your classic toe-n-go alignment.

 

Yep, and like control car was saying that clearly did have an effect on camber as well! Good to know.

 

I'd take it back and have it redone (correctly) or refund. Tell them its still out of spec.

 

Well no what I’m trying to say is that control car was correct in that it wasn’t actually the camber angle set by the LCA that was off - it was the toe, and in correcting the toe it fixed the camber I was experiencing. For reference this is how that same wheel is sitting now after the alignment.

 

If your toe isn't straight, camber will be off too because caster causes "camber gain" when steering. Toe out gives positive camber. Toe in gives negative camber.

 

Exactly!

it just was confusing when I was googling trying to figure out what was going on because every source I found would say that toe has no effect on camber.

 

Awesome!
100% in range
If 2-3yr old vehicle, would like to see Green Boxes across
But 26yr old vehicle….your good

Before all this liability BS/lawsuits/money for nothing mentality…… Subaru had a shop day…..owners could work side by side with the mechanics at the dealership
Techs paid and also got tips from owners
I was there and hung lasers on my car and assisted in the aligning of the car.

I was astounded how sensitive the alignment machine was. Just putting force on an adjustable bolt that was tight would move that measurement .1- .3!
That’s on a bolt that was torqued and ready to go.
What I’m saying is don’t fret about the yellow. We are seriously talking about a minuscule amount of difference

if all green is wanted
RI all control arms
Press in and out all bushes
Will be green across the board!


How does she drive????

 

She drives great! No complaints and the camber has been completely fixed. Thanks for helping solve this mystery for me!

Also that Subaru shop day sounds incredible its a shame that kind of thing doesn't happen anymore, I'd go to a toyota shop day in a heartbeat.