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Would bad struts cause a false alignment reading?

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Old Dec 29, 2008 | 08:31 AM
  #1  
speedfreak87's Avatar
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Default Would bad struts cause a false alignment reading?

I changed all the struts in the camrod, now it REALLY pulls to the left.. It pulled slightly before, but I figured it was just my fat *** and bad struts causing it, but I guess that isn't the case.. I know tire pressure would cause it, and I KNOW the tires need some air, but it shouldn't cause a pull like this.. when I had the front end apart, I checked everything, and all is good, and tight. The alignment is only a year old, and I avoid potholes like the plague, so I doubt I hit a pothole and knocked it out.. what else would cause it?
 
Old Dec 29, 2008 | 08:59 AM
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Default RE: Would bad struts cause a false alignment reading?

Did you orient the strut mounts so that the arrow is pointing outboard?

Try moving the tires around to new locations.

Does the chassis have any damage from accidents?
 
Old Dec 29, 2008 | 09:23 AM
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Default RE: Would bad struts cause a false alignment reading?

Strut mounts are new also, and I put them in the same way the old ones came out.. everything was the same way in as it was when I took it out.. The tires are pretty much done ( I have new ones waiting to be installed this week) But I don't want to take it to the shop I did last time if they screwed me over.. There is no damage to the car at all, no accidents..

The wheels by eye, look like they are straight and true.. maybe toe is slightly off, but nothing to cause this kind of pull.. I just don't want to bring it in and have them say something is bad/broken.. I'd rather do everything before hand.. Like stated I checked it and everything is tight.
 
Old Dec 29, 2008 | 10:02 AM
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Default RE: Would bad struts cause a false alignment reading?

Issues could be brake drag or tire problems. Try moving the tires around and determine if this makes a differance. Did you swap spring locations between sides?

If nothing else works you might look into getting special offset bolts that install in place of the bolts that connect the strut to the knuckle. These rotate to adjust the camber.

Look on the old mount for an arrow. Make sure the new mount was installed in the same orientation as the old. The arrow would point to the fender.



 
Old Dec 29, 2008 | 10:19 AM
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Default RE: Would bad struts cause a false alignment reading?

Springs are in the same place, did one at a time so i wouldn't screw that up.

the mounts are deffinatly the same as the came out, I'll mess with the tires tomorrow morning.. see if that helps any.
 
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