1st Generation Specific 1979-1985 Discussion

Adjusting camber on Fb

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Old 10-22-2005, 09:20 AM
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I went to the alignment shop a couple of weeks ago and found out that my car has been running positive camber. The guy got it adjusted a little bit but not enough. His computer said that he needed to remove the nuts from the strut towers and turn the struts to adjust the camber. He couldnt get the strut to push down far enough to get enough pressure off of it to get it to turn. Whats the trick to this so i can take it back to him to get him to fix it?





we threw around the idea of a spring compressor, would that help?
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Old 10-22-2005, 09:23 AM
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oh and does anyone know where i can find the fsm online? iluvmyrx7 has taken the 1st gen ones down
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Old 10-22-2005, 09:57 AM
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a spring compressor will work, i think on my last one i had the wheel off and stood on the brake caliper.



if you look at the strut top the strut is off center, you want it to be rear and inwards, this gives you the most negative camber and the most caster.
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Old 10-22-2005, 10:02 AM
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ok cool, thanks a lot
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Old 10-22-2005, 09:55 PM
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Also what helps is if you have both left and right off at the same time so you're not fighting the sway bar
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Old 10-28-2005, 03:48 PM
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i dropped it back off at the shop today and told him to use a spring compressor or stand on it to adjust it. i called him later and he said that he wasnt able to adjust it anymore than it already was and he says the reason is because the thing is old and worn. that doesnt really make any sense to me but ok. when i was there last time i told him i could get some camber plates if i had to to get it to adjust. now hes suggesting thats what i do. the plates are like $350 and i shouldnt have to use those unless i want to run more negative camber than stock so i shouldnt have to use those. basically he says theres nothing else he can do.



when i looked at the top of the strut to show him what j9 said about it i noticed that the strut top is to the front and outer, exactly opposite of how its supposed to be. how can i adjust it to get it to the rear inside?



i had the struts replaced earlier this year. is there any way that the strut top was put on the wrong way?
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Old 10-28-2005, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Shane.Trammell' post='773612' date='Oct 28 2005, 01:48 PM

i dropped it back off at the shop today and told him to use a spring compressor or stand on it to adjust it. i called him later and he said that he wasnt able to adjust it anymore than it already was and he says the reason is because the thing is old and worn. that doesnt really make any sense to me but ok. when i was there last time i told him i could get some camber plates if i had to to get it to adjust. now hes suggesting thats what i do. the plates are like $350 and i shouldnt have to use those unless i want to run more negative camber than stock so i shouldnt have to use those. basically he says theres nothing else he can do.



when i looked at the top of the strut to show him what j9 said about it i noticed that the strut top is to the front and outer, exactly opposite of how its supposed to be. how can i adjust it to get it to the rear inside?



i had the struts replaced earlier this year. is there any way that the strut top was put on the wrong way?


yeah front and outer is the least cool place for it. looks like you get to stand on the brakes and turn the strut top yourself



alternative to a camber plate is the factory competition way similar to alex's kit http://www.battleversion.com/AE86WeldKit.htm
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Old 10-29-2005, 08:10 AM
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i dont really care to run more negative camber than i can on the stock setup.



youre saying that i will be able to turn that top without a spring compressor? does this just involve taking the nuts off of the bolts and turning the top? i dont know how this thing is set up bc ive never messed with suspsension.
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Old 10-29-2005, 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Shane.Trammell' post='773775' date='Oct 29 2005, 06:10 AM

i dont really care to run more negative camber than i can on the stock setup.



youre saying that i will be able to turn that top without a spring compressor? does this just involve taking the nuts off of the bolts and turning the top? i dont know how this thing is set up bc ive never messed with suspsension.


the only thing keeping it from turning is the fact that its bolted to the car. if you take the strut off, the top just spins freely
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Old 10-31-2005, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by j9fd3s' post='773793' date='Oct 29 2005, 08:44 AM

the only thing keeping it from turning is the fact that its bolted to the car. if you take the strut off, the top just spins freely




Jack up the car, put it on jackstands, remove the wheels. Then remove the 4 nuts that hold the strut assembly to the strut tower, on both sides. Put your foot on the brake rotor and push down with your foot until the studs drop below the strut tower, then turn the strut tower top until the arrow on the rubber points in the direction you want it set. Do the same for the other side. It can be tricky and takes a little finesse, but it works.



Then take it back to the alignment shop and have them reset what they can. The FSM shows what each position of the arrow does for caster and camber.
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