Alignment off after lowering

[Schroedes]

So I just got my Ark GtF springs installed on Friday by a reputable shop.. $750 for installation including alignment.. first of all, I should've measured, but I swear these springs dropped more than the advertised Inch.. problem is after I picked it up, the car seemed to pull to the right.. I brought it back and had the guy drive it and he agreed.. they had the alignment rechecked to "specs" and steering wheel relearn.. I picked it up, still a slight pull to the right.. anyways I gotta bring it back this week to them and they're gonna bring it to their better alignment guy... I'm hoping I'm not getting inner tire wear on my rears.. any of you had this problem?? Any of you guys running adjustable camber links in the rear? What's the best setup for the lowered car? I already have both sways, which the shop set on stiff now, but I don't think would affect geometry In any way or would it? Any recommendations appreciated

 

[Erocked]

There's a few things that can cause a pull outside of the alignment. Uneven tire pressure between left and right and the actual road itself sloping toward the shoulder. You can double check tire pressure and also try swapping the front tires to the opposite side.
The rear shouldn't be an issue. Toe and camber are adjustable and the GTF springs should be mild enough to get the alignment back into spec. The fronts though, only toe is adjustable. Do you have the alignment printout showing the before and after specs?

 

[socalvn]

your front and rear camber will be off by at least 1° should wait a couple weeks before you aligne it because your springs are going to settle if the car is pulling it's a bad alignment if it didn't do it before hand. I'm actually going to take my front lowering springs off and install coilovers so I can zero in my camber , I need the lower toe control arm for the rear in order to really dial everything in.
several thousand miles with -1° camber minimal tire wear but noticeable.
sway bars set on stiff and lowered will be a bit rought on regular roads

 

[Rodtheviking]

Rear camber arms. I just had the same springs installed (by me) and had the alignment done at a good shop. I did have a little pull the first couple of days (left) but they seem to have settled in finally and no more pull. Front camber will be out of spec., nothing you can do about that but getting the toe set properly will most likely fix the pull.

Around here they set the alignment spec for road crown so I still get a little wander on flatish roads.

FYI to set the rear camber with the Megan Racing arms you have to remove the rear wheels. Make sure they have a hub mount alignment head for that.

 

[Schroedes]

So maybe I should go with rear toe and camber arms just for the adjustability?? or should I wait for this next alignment I'm a week to see how much they can get it dialed in??

 

[Rodtheviking]

Camber for sure. Not too sure on the toe arms, he was able to get it into spec without.

 

[Snowwhite]

I was able to get my rear camber to spec with the stock arms and GT-Fs but they are almost at the end of their adjustment range. If the shop swears it is aligned, try swapping the front tires with each other (ie L wheel/tire on the R, and vice versa) to see if the pull gets worse or goes away.

is that photo pre or post lowering?

 

[SRV]

I hope you can get it aligned....

There are guys who say after lowering springs their resultant alignment was good with no abnormal tire wear.

However, there are others who have both alignment and tire wear issues after lowering springs.

 

[Rodtheviking]

I just wish somebody made a camber bushing for the front, that would be nice.

 

[Schroedes]

I was able to get my rear camber to spec with the stock arms and GT-Fs but they are almost at the end of their adjustment range. If the shop swears it is aligned, try swapping the front tires with each other (ie L wheel/tire on the R, and vice versa) to see if the pull gets worse or goes away.

is that photo pre or post lowering?

That is post lowering.. I swear it's more than a inch but maybe my eyes are fooling me. I will have them swap the tires while they're at it, and start looking for some rear camber arms just in case

 

[Erocked]

That is post lowering.. I swear it's more than a inch but maybe my eyes are fooling me. I will have them swap the tires while they're at it, and start looking for some rear camber arms just in case

Did you ever get a print out of the specs from the alignment? If you did, can you post a picture of it?

 

[87and66]

The inside of my rear tires definitely wore faster after lowering. I could see that the rears were cambered just by looking at them.

 

[Schroedes]

Did you ever get a print out of the specs from the alignment? If you did, can you post a picture of it?

I did not, I will get one this Friday when the realign again and post it

 

[Schroedes]

The inside of my rear tires definitely wore faster after lowering. I could see that the rears were cambered just by looking at them.

That's what I'm worried about, I see the same thing but how can a guy avoid it?

 

[Rodtheviking]

Did you ever get a print out of the specs from the alignment? If you did, can you post a picture of it?

I did not but he keeps it in my file there, Ill see if I can get him to send a copy. I did see it though and it looked good other than the front camber and caster being a little low but still fine.

 

[Rodtheviking]

That is post lowering.. I swear it's more than a inch but maybe my eyes are fooling me. I will have them swap the tires while they're at it, and start looking for some rear camber arms just in case

Mine was over an inch in the front and right at an inch on the back, per specs for AWD. I also have a slightly larger tire than stock so it filled the gap better.

 

[87and66]

That's what I'm worried about, I see the same thing but how can a guy avoid it?

I think the meagan racing camber arms are the only option

 

[I'm Tony Danza]

Lowered here. It will really depend on the shop and their capabilities, equipment and experience. Here in my town, for people who know what they are doing, I happily pay $150 for the stinger at one shop and $300 for our higher end car at another. They both specialize in specialty builds and race track cars. Zero issues and worth the money.

Now for our family SUV, I pay $75 at the dealer and get a "just fine" alignment.

You may have to find a quality specialty shop if you continue to have issues.

 

[Schroedes]

Might be hard to tell but based on how it's sitting it looks like I would get alot of inside tire wear

 

[socalvn]

I think the meagan racing camber arms are the only option

You need the Megan racing toe bars too.when you correct the camber it's going to throw your toe out past factory alignment