Negative camber and loose steering after repair/alignment - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Astonius · 09-18-2010, 01:24 PM

I recently had my rear driver's side wheel, knuckle, and control arm replaced as a result of an accident a few weeks back. When I picked the car up the repair tech said he had a little trouble getting the alignment to spec. He stated he believed the frame may have been bent slightly from the accident. It was only 1/100th of a point off, and he adjusted the other wheel to match. While driving home I noticed the ride felt less smooth and my steering seemed to be looser than before.

When I got home I looked at the rear wheels. There seems to be a visible negative camber on the wheels. I wasn't able to get a clear picture of what I see...

My question is should I be able to notice a visible camber with such a small discrepancy in alignment? Also, could any of those things really affect the steering? My fear is I'm being overly-sensitive and things may not really be any different than they were before. It's easier to find problems once a car has been in an accident.

HeavyD · 09-20-2010, 04:34 PM

There are a few alignment threads with specs. See if you can get a print out of they set your car too and compare to the specs.

robsls3 · 09-20-2010, 08:09 PM

Pfft I be calling my insurance company to see if the bent frame (fraction or not) made the car totaled or not.

I ask them if they informed the insurance company on the bent frame. It may not be an issue not but it might be in the near future.

InvaderMoose · 09-20-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robsls3

Pfft I be calling my insurance company to see if the bent frame (fraction or not) made the car totaled or not.

I ask them if they informed the insurance company on the bent frame. It may not be an issue not but it might be in the near future.

Isnt it only classified as totaled if the cost to fix the car exceeds the price of the car itsself? Unless thats how much it'd actually cost to fix the frame..

robsls3 · 09-20-2010, 08:52 PM

If the adjuster knew of the frame being bent then the cost to fix it might have bumped it to the totaled damaged amount.

I seen alot of cars start with slight frame damaged and it end up later being a major issue in the long run.

If you pull (sorry to say) a bitch storm they might have totaled. Again this is dependant on how bad the frame is bent and where. If the shop failed to notify the adjuster of the frame damage he needs to contact the insurance company and let them know.

firestone_ss · 09-20-2010, 09:22 PM

maybe have another shop throw it on their alignment rack and print out the readings

JusticePete · 09-21-2010, 10:14 AM

Being off 1/100 doesn't sound so bad, BUT we don't know what is off. The control arm bent and was replaced. What about the Toe Link and Trailing Arm? Did they replace the upper control arm?

The BEST place to start is with a baseline alignment. We must know where the car stands up for rear camber and toe.

Find a quality alignment shop that you trust and make arrangements to get your Camaro in. Your local GM or Pedders Suspension Specialist would be my first choices. Call me while your car is on the rack. We can review the numbers together. If I have questions, the tech will be there. When you call the office tell them you are in the shop with a tech and need to speak with me. They will hook us up.

Pete Basica 248.522.8021

seanm@stillen · 09-21-2010, 11:46 AM

It sounds like a loose wheel. If you can see the negative, and the car feels weird, they may not have tightened the lugs.

Bruce@raymondsperformance · 09-23-2010, 02:32 PM

Post up the alignment sheet and I can give you my 2 cents.

BMR guy · 09-26-2010, 10:42 PM

All of the discussion concerning a bent frame and totaling the car is moot. If anything the rear cradle could have been bent but doubtfully the unibody was damaged. The rear cradle unbolts and sells for $600-$800. This cost is minor for an accident claim. I would definitely let your insurance company know that the car does not "feel" the same after being repaired so someone can look into it more thoroughly.

For us to really help diagnose the problem, we need to see the alignment specs as others have already mentioned above. The car not driving as "smooth" could be a bent trailing arm or toe rod creating a bind in the suspension. This car has a five link rear suspension. If any of the links are bent, it changes the length of that link, making it bind with other links as the suspension goes through its range of motion. Loose steering feel could be rear toe. Rear toe out will make the rear want to wander, forcing you to correct with the steering wheel and give the feeling that the steering is loose...

09-18-2010, 01:24 PM	#1
Astonius Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS L99 Black Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 24	Negative camber and loose steering after repair/alignment I recently had my rear driver's side wheel, knuckle, and control arm replaced as a result of an accident a few weeks back. When I picked the car up the repair tech said he had a little trouble getting the alignment to spec. He stated he believed the frame may have been bent slightly from the accident. It was only 1/100th of a point off, and he adjusted the other wheel to match. While driving home I noticed the ride felt less smooth and my steering seemed to be looser than before. When I got home I looked at the rear wheels. There seems to be a visible negative camber on the wheels. I wasn't able to get a clear picture of what I see... My question is should I be able to notice a visible camber with such a small discrepancy in alignment? Also, could any of those things really affect the steering? My fear is I'm being overly-sensitive and things may not really be any different than they were before. It's easier to find problems once a car has been in an accident.

09-21-2010, 11:46 AM	#8
seanm@stillen Drives: Grey Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Costa Mesa Posts: 32	It sounds like a loose wheel. If you can see the negative, and the car feels weird, they may not have tightened the lugs. __________________ -- Sean Morris seanm@stillen.com STILLEN Camaro Parts

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09-20-2010, 04:34 PM	#2
HeavyD Drives: 1SSRS RY L99 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,329	There are a few alignment threads with specs. See if you can get a print out of they set your car too and compare to the specs.

09-20-2010, 08:09 PM	#3
robsls3 Account Suspended Drives: 2010 camaro 1SS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oaklawn, IL Posts: 862 View My Garage	Pfft I be calling my insurance company to see if the bent frame (fraction or not) made the car totaled or not. I ask them if they informed the insurance company on the bent frame. It may not be an issue not but it might be in the near future.

09-20-2010, 08:52 PM	#5
robsls3 Account Suspended Drives: 2010 camaro 1SS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oaklawn, IL Posts: 862 View My Garage	If the adjuster knew of the frame being bent then the cost to fix it might have bumped it to the totaled damaged amount. I seen alot of cars start with slight frame damaged and it end up later being a major issue in the long run. If you pull (sorry to say) a bitch storm they might have totaled. Again this is dependant on how bad the frame is bent and where. If the shop failed to notify the adjuster of the frame damage he needs to contact the insurance company and let them know.

09-20-2010, 09:22 PM	#6
firestone_ss Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 779	maybe have another shop throw it on their alignment rack and print out the readings

09-21-2010, 10:14 AM	#7
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,174	Being off 1/100 doesn't sound so bad, BUT we don't know what is off. The control arm bent and was replaced. What about the Toe Link and Trailing Arm? Did they replace the upper control arm? The BEST place to start is with a baseline alignment. We must know where the car stands up for rear camber and toe. Find a quality alignment shop that you trust and make arrangements to get your Camaro in. Your local GM or Pedders Suspension Specialist would be my first choices. Call me while your car is on the rack. We can review the numbers together. If I have questions, the tech will be there. When you call the office tell them you are in the shop with a tech and need to speak with me. They will hook us up. Pete Basica 248.522.8021

09-23-2010, 02:32 PM	#9
Bruce@raymondsperformance Drives: 2014 Z28 camaro Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Indy Posts: 705	Post up the alignment sheet and I can give you my 2 cents.

09-26-2010, 10:42 PM	#10
BMR guy Drives: 2010 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,002	All of the discussion concerning a bent frame and totaling the car is moot. If anything the rear cradle could have been bent but doubtfully the unibody was damaged. The rear cradle unbolts and sells for $600-$800. This cost is minor for an accident claim. I would definitely let your insurance company know that the car does not "feel" the same after being repaired so someone can look into it more thoroughly. For us to really help diagnose the problem, we need to see the alignment specs as others have already mentioned above. The car not driving as "smooth" could be a bent trailing arm or toe rod creating a bind in the suspension. This car has a five link rear suspension. If any of the links are bent, it changes the length of that link, making it bind with other links as the suspension goes through its range of motion. Loose steering feel could be rear toe. Rear toe out will make the rear want to wander, forcing you to correct with the steering wheel and give the feeling that the steering is loose...