Swift Spring screws up alignment?

Jmigs81 · 02-28-2012, 06:12 PM

I installed Swift springs on the car. I bought an SPL rear camber kit. I took it in to get an alignment. The shop aligned the car and now the steering wheel is sitting to the left of center. They are telling me that the front left wheel is camber off by one degree (sitting around 2.4)...... I asked why the steering wheel is off, they told me that to get the alignment to sit/ride straight the steering wheel would sit off center until I bought camber arms for the front. Does this sound legit to anyone?

TerribleONE · 02-28-2012, 06:15 PM

Toe would affect the angle of the wheel... Also I believe you can get very close to stock specs on those springs.. I'm a little confused though.. Did you already have it aligned once?

370zFORme!! · 02-28-2012, 06:18 PM

The alignment shop is maybe bsing on some level. The steering wheel can be off center after spring installs (as every one of my installs were) but post alignment my steering wheel was always dead center. Who installed your springs?

wheee! · 02-28-2012, 06:19 PM

weird... I dropped my car on Swifts and had no issues with the front alignment. Both more than factory but still well within tolerances. My rear end was messed up, but that was because I adjusted the camber closer to factory and then self adjusted the toe as well... I was out by 2mm which is a lot.

Jmigs81 · 02-28-2012, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TerribleONE

Toe would affect the angle of the wheel... Also I believe you can get very close to stock specs on those springs.. I'm a little confused though.. Did you already have it aligned once?

I had the springs installed by V&T out in Pensacola FL....then installed the camber kits(rear) myself, which a Nissan dealership aligned today and the steering wheel is offset to the left. Then etc etc etc.

wheee! · 02-28-2012, 06:35 PM

Have another shop redo the alignment, preferably a performance shop...

TerribleONE · 02-28-2012, 06:38 PM

Mandingo · 02-28-2012, 08:29 PM

I think they just didn't do a thorough job and are trying to cover their ayass. I had no issue at all with my post install alignment.

Post up the alignment sheet when you can. They might have given unequal toe-in to the rears. Does it pull to one side under acceleration or braking? You may have excessive thrust angle.

ZMan8 · 02-28-2012, 08:47 PM

dont trust the dealership!

CFZ · 02-29-2012, 10:46 AM

talk about rediculous. Even a bad alignment shop will at least center the steering wheel to look like its aligned. Get your money back and take it somewhere else (if you can).

02-28-2012, 06:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jmigs81 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Florida Posts: 33 Drives: 2012 Silver Base Man Rep Power: 14	Swift Spring screws up alignment? I installed Swift springs on the car. I bought an SPL rear camber kit. I took it in to get an alignment. The shop aligned the car and now the steering wheel is sitting to the left of center. They are telling me that the front left wheel is camber off by one degree (sitting around 2.4)...... I asked why the steering wheel is off, they told me that to get the alignment to sit/ride straight the steering wheel would sit off center until I bought camber arms for the front. Does this sound legit to anyone?

02-28-2012, 06:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
TerribleONE A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 10,203 Drives: WOT Rep Power: 5851	Toe would affect the angle of the wheel... Also I believe you can get very close to stock specs on those springs.. I'm a little confused though.. Did you already have it aligned once? __________________ 638WHP 541WTQ @ 13.5PSI Build thread

02-28-2012, 06:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
370zFORme!! Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,459 Drives: 2012 6MT STiffy Rep Power: 18	The alignment shop is maybe bsing on some level. The steering wheel can be off center after spring installs (as every one of my installs were) but post alignment my steering wheel was always dead center. Who installed your springs? __________________ 87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

02-28-2012, 06:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
wheee! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mod Capital of Canada Age: 58 Posts: 7,354 Drives: cars. lots of cars. Rep Power: 40182	weird... I dropped my car on Swifts and had no issues with the front alignment. Both more than factory but still well within tolerances. My rear end was messed up, but that was because I adjusted the camber closer to factory and then self adjusted the toe as well... I was out by 2mm which is a lot. __________________ H&R / Stillen / Berk / HKS / Swift / Michelin / UpRev / SPC / Amuse Rep / Seibon / Fringe XVO / TWM / more... My Journal

02-28-2012, 06:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
wheee! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mod Capital of Canada Age: 58 Posts: 7,354 Drives: cars. lots of cars. Rep Power: 40182	Have another shop redo the alignment, preferably a performance shop... __________________ H&R / Stillen / Berk / HKS / Swift / Michelin / UpRev / SPC / Amuse Rep / Seibon / Fringe XVO / TWM / more... My Journal

02-28-2012, 06:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
TerribleONE A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 10,203 Drives: WOT Rep Power: 5851	__________________ 638WHP 541WTQ @ 13.5PSI Build thread

02-28-2012, 08:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mandingo Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 625 Drives: '10 370z 6spd Rep Power: 3371	I think they just didn't do a thorough job and are trying to cover their ayass. I had no issue at all with my post install alignment. Post up the alignment sheet when you can. They might have given unequal toe-in to the rears. Does it pull to one side under acceleration or braking? You may have excessive thrust angle. __________________ some mods

02-28-2012, 08:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
ZMan8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,844 Drives: 10 370z 40th M6 Rep Power: 659	dont trust the dealership! __________________ 2010 370Z 40 Anniv., 6 MT \| Fast Intentions \| Swift Springs \| SPC \| Z1Motorsports \| JWM \| Redline Oils \| 35% Window Tint 2015 Mazda6 \| 370ZChicago: Chicago Area Cars & Coffee

02-29-2012, 10:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
CFZ Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: F-Town Posts: 134 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 235	talk about rediculous. Even a bad alignment shop will at least center the steering wheel to look like its aligned. Get your money back and take it somewhere else (if you can).

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