Hi Guys

The car was pulling to the left and the steering wheel was off centre so I took the car into the local Mitsubishi dealer to have a wheel alignment done. (1st mistake).

When I got the car back the car was practically the same.

I didn't bother going back as I was getting the new wheels in a week, which comes with wheel alignment anyway. (2nd mistake).

Got the new wheels and drove away, this time the car was severely pulling to the left.

Took the car back within minutes, they switched the front tyres to the opposite wheel to solve the problem. This was marginally better. I won't go in to the rest because that business is owned by people 'close' to my fiance's family.

But what I have established is that there is Allignment problems in that the:

Front left camber: -0.96
Front left caster: 2.83

Front right camber: 0.48
Front right caster: -2.26 (I assume negative as it appears as red on the printout)

The technician informed me that these are not adjustable and will require the car to go to a smash repairer.

I am unable to get any straight answers which is causing me some frustration.

My questions are:

1. Is this problem fixable at all?
2. Does the work need to be undertaken by a smash repairer?
3. If so, what is involved (time and cost)?

Thank you

Jonathan

the castor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caster_angle)

Caster angle is the angular displacement from the vertical axis of the suspension of a steered wheel in a car, bicycle or other vehicle, measured in the longitudinal direction. It is the angle between the pivot line (in a car - an imaginary line that runs through the center of the upper ball joint to the center of the lower ball joint) and vertical. Car racers sometimes adjust caster angle to optimize their car's handling characteristics in particular driving situations.

the camber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camber_angle)

Camber angle is the angle made by the wheel of an automobile; specifically, it is the angle between the vertical axis of the wheel and the vertical axis of the vehicle when viewed from the front or rear. It is used in the design of steering and suspension. If the top of the wheel is further out than the bottom (that is, away from the axle), it is called positive camber; if the bottom of the wheel is further out than the top, it is called negative camber.


toe in
Toe is always adjustable in production automobiles, even though caster angle and camber angle are often not adjustable. Maintenance of front end alignment, which used to involve all three adjustments, currently involves only setting the toe; in most cases, even for a car in which caster or camber are adjustable, only the toe will need adjustment.

if the car handles ok on the road and doesnt chew out your tyres on one edge
best leave it alone

steering wheel
undo the nut on the spline of the steering wheel and replace it till it is straight

you remove the horn part

if you have an air bag disconnect the battery

then you will see the nut and the boss kit

easy fixed

Ok,

Unfortunately it is not bearable.

Thank you for clearing that up for me. Do you have any idea on the cost for that sort of thing?

Problem is, I haven't crashed it...

steering wheel
undo the nut on the spline of the steering wheel and replace it till it is straight

you remove the horn part

if you have an air bag disconnect the battery

then you will see the nut and the boss kit

easy fixed

u should never have to adjust the wheel uless its been taken off in the past. any decent alignment place will straiten the wheel when doing an alignment.

Mine had a big pull to the left, and bob j fixed it up for me, but mine might of been a different problem.

take it to a specialist

there are parts out there that give you the ability to adjust camber Castor etc...

Mitsubishi wouldn't know what a magna was or how to fix one if the sold them :shock:

they are giving you the impression that the car has been bent... any other indications to this, different paint panel repairs? track down previous owners... if not maybe you drove up a gutter once or something... or them new wheels you got suck...

but defiantly go to someone who knows how the spell camber and knows what it is, 90% of tyre places (chains in particular) wouldn't know what a tyre was if it hit them in the head..

Its probably worth pointing out that the thrust angle is -0.01 degrees, which I gather is reasonable.

I do not want to be shelling out big $$ for this.

I do get some rough roads on the way to work.

Does anyone know a specialist with a can do attitude in the Newcastle area?

Does anyone know a specialist with a can do attitude in the Newcastle area?

You and me both: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53632

I looked at some suspension places and I just sent an enquiry to Pedder's to see if they have the suitable products to adjust and correct camber/caster. It may not be such a big problem after all.