Spc control arms and negative rear camber question

[pbirmingham1988]

So I installed the spc lower control arms, but it's obvious that the right side tire has more camber than the left. I just got a wheel alignment done and the guy said he went as far as he could to match it up as best he could. I asked for-2 camber on both sides, but the left lower control arm doesn't seem to allow that negative camber on my car for some reason.

Is it possible that it was a bad install or if the lower control arm is warped/bent/bad? I'm not a mechanic and I'm clueless to this stuff but I feel the car still moving to the right after the wheel alignment. Any suggestions on what I can do?

[slyphen]

sounds like a bad job to me. alignments are done by lasers in most shops, possibility of it being warped is minimal.

[Lynxis]

Originally Posted by pbirmingham1988

So I installed the spc lower control arms, but it's obvious that the right side tire has more camber than the left. I just got a wheel alignment done and the guy said he went as far as he could to match it up as best he could. I asked for-2 camber on both sides, but the left lower control arm doesn't seem to allow that negative camber on my car for some reason.

Is it possible that it was a bad install or if the lower control arm is warped/bent/bad? I'm not a mechanic and I'm clueless to this stuff but I feel the car still moving to the right after the wheel alignment. Any suggestions on what I can do?

Right from the factory, most peoples cars have slightly different alignment right and left. I've seen some people show slips with 0 camber on one side and -0.8 on the other which is a pretty huge difference but would be considered "in spec." Besides the fact that each side might be slightly different, there are a wide variety of reasons they may not be able to get the same amount of camber on each side. Some of it can be a difference in mounting points and structure between each side, some of it can be minor differences between the arms and finally, a lazy/poor alignment tech could also come into play.

What are the stats they ended up with?

[gramicci101]

The SPC arm looks very similar to the OEM arm, just with slots cut for adjustment. Maybe they got the arms mixed up and put the OEM arm back on that side?


I got -2 just from lowering springs, no LCA at all. So something is definitely wrong there.

[pbirmingham1988]

Originally Posted by slyphen

sounds like a bad job to me. alignments are done by lasers in most shops, possibility of it being warped is minimal.

He used a legit wheel alignment machine, and I watched him do it. I think there's something wrong with the lca

[pbirmingham1988]

Originally Posted by Lynxis

Right from the factory, most peoples cars have slightly different alignment right and left. I've seen some people show slips with 0 camber on one side and -0.8 on the other which is a pretty huge difference but would be considered "in spec." Besides the fact that each side might be slightly different, there are a wide variety of reasons they may not be able to get the same amount of camber on each side. Some of it can be a difference in mounting points and structure between each side, some of it can be minor differences between the arms and finally, a lazy/poor alignment tech could also come into play.

What are the stats they ended up with?

I didn't get a picture of the stats, but he said the control arm won't allow him to put anymore camber. I watched him do it

[pbirmingham1988]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

The SPC arm looks very similar to the OEM arm, just with slots cut for adjustment. Maybe they got the arms mixed up and put the OEM arm back on that side?


I got -2 just from lowering springs, no LCA at all. So something is definitely wrong there.

Possibly. Let me double check when I get home but is there a possibility that the guy who installed the lower control arms did it incorrectly?

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by pbirmingham1988

Possibly. Let me double check when I get home but is there a possibility that the guy who installed the lower control arms did it incorrectly?

There's only so many ways it can go on. If it's connected to the hub, the shock, the swaybar endlink, and the chassis, it's on there correctly.

[finch1750]

What were your before and after specs?

[Jive Turkey]

if you don't know how it works then you will have issues doesn't mean the machine is bad, or they butchered something (unless they crushed that tab) just gotta know how it works.

the way you adjust those is with that bolt-washer/cam that gets pushed against the slit on the arm (DO NOT CRUSH THAT). you turn it, because it is eccentric it will gain and drop camber-while doing that you want to adjust toe too to level it out and tighten it all down.

referring to this bolt/washer against that tab to its left:


you want to slightly toe in the rear. like .08. you don't really need -2 camber in the rear unless you have rubbing issues. i'd go for like 1.7-1.8. in the front aim for about -2 with toe out a bit.

to help understand what is happening post your latest specs on here please.

[pbirmingham1988]

Originally Posted by finch1750

What were your before and after specs?

I installed tein street basis coilovers n dropped it a bit but I only installed these lower control arms like a week later n everything was stock. I never messed with toe or camber or anything before this.

[pbirmingham1988]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

if you don't know how it works then you will have issues doesn't mean the machine is bad, or they butchered something (unless they crushed that tab) just gotta know how it works.

the way you adjust those is with that bolt-washer/cam that gets pushed against the slit on the arm (DO NOT CRUSH THAT). you turn it, because it is eccentric it will gain and drop camber-while doing that you want to adjust toe too to level it out and tighten it all down.

referring to this bolt/washer against that tab to its left:


you want to slightly toe in the rear. like .08. you don't really need -2 camber in the rear unless you have rubbing issues. i'd go for like 1.7-1.8. in the front aim for about -2 with toe out a bit.

to help understand what is happening post your latest specs on here please.

I only need the camber because of tire rubbing after i dropped the car. I'll go to the guy who installed this tomorrow to see what's going on. Cuz even when I'm driving I feel like I'm slipping from the rear and I think it's caused by the uneven camber in the back. I called up spc too to see their insight on the matter but the techs weren't there, so i have to call back tomorrow. Thanks for the explanation on how it works btw. I'll talk to my guy tomorrow cuz this ain't right.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by pbirmingham1988

I installed tein street basis coilovers n dropped it a bit but I only installed these lower control arms like a week later n everything was stock. I never messed with toe or camber or anything before this.

the printout from the shop will show what it was when it came in and when it left. Did you get one?

[pbirmingham1988]

Originally Posted by finch1750

the printout from the shop will show what it was when it came in and when it left. Did you get one?

Nah they didn't give me anything