I had a wheel alignment done (Elantra GLS 2003) and learned that camber is
less then optimal on all four wheels, but cannot be adjusted. I was also
told there are after-market kits that make it possible to adjust camber, but
they are expensive. This wasn't a pitch to sell the kits - the mechanic was
just giving me information, but now I'm curious if it would be a good idea.
I have the computer print-out of the before & after alignment specs, but I
don't know if the degree of deviation is significant or not. Any thoughts
about this?

 

On Feb 23, 5:49 pm, "Victek" <Vic...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> I had a wheel alignment done (Elantra GLS 2003) and learned that camber is
> less then optimal on all four wheels, but cannot be adjusted. I was also
> told there are after-market kits that make it possible to adjust camber, but
> they are expensive. This wasn't a pitch to sell the kits - the mechanic was
> just giving me information, but now I'm curious if it would be a good idea.
> I have the computer print-out of the before & after alignment specs, but I
> don't know if the degree of deviation is significant or not. Any thoughts
> about this?

Unless you're significantly out of spec (at least 50%) or having
handling issues, it's probably not worth the expense. Camber will
only affect tire wear in a minor way. Typical front camber kits
involve smaller diameter strut to knuckle attaching bolts to enable
play to move the top of the knuckle in or out. Typical rear camber
kits involve placing a shim between the wheel hub and its mount to
achieve the desired angle.

 

In article <gnv952$4u7$1@news.motzarella.org>,
"Victek" <Victek@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> I had a wheel alignment done (Elantra GLS 2003) and learned that camber is
> less then optimal on all four wheels, but cannot be adjusted. I was also
> told there are after-market kits that make it possible to adjust camber, but
> they are expensive. This wasn't a pitch to sell the kits - the mechanic was
> just giving me information, but now I'm curious if it would be a good idea.
> I have the computer print-out of the before & after alignment specs, but I
> don't know if the degree of deviation is significant or not. Any thoughts
> about this?

THX for that info. Cheap design/construction IMO.
I'll avoid that model.

 

You are probably right about being cheap, unfortunately I,m told almost all
cars including Japanese have deleted this adjustment. I suspect the build
accuracy and alignment of structures is a lot more accurate than it was
30 -40 years ago which made more "adjustments" necessary.

 

On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:12:36 GMT, Spam away cast forth these pearls of
wisdom...:

> In article <gnv952$4u7$1@news.motzarella.org>,
> "Victek" <Victek@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> I had a wheel alignment done (Elantra GLS 2003) and learned that camber is
>> less then optimal on all four wheels, but cannot be adjusted. I was also
>> told there are after-market kits that make it possible to adjust camber, but
>> they are expensive. This wasn't a pitch to sell the kits - the mechanic was
>> just giving me information, but now I'm curious if it would be a good idea.
>> I have the computer print-out of the before & after alignment specs, but I
>> don't know if the degree of deviation is significant or not. Any thoughts
>> about this?
>
> THX for that info. Cheap design/construction IMO.
> I'll avoid that model.

Ease up on your opinion some. This is very common in today's front ends,
where "out of spec" does not mean what it used to mean. Nobody really uses
a camber adjustment anymore because this "out of spec" issue is of such
little consequence as to be ignored. For those who do get really concerned
about this kind of thing, enlarging (elongating) the holes in the strut
where it mounts the steering knuckle can usually provide the few degrees of
adjustment required to hit dead on. You'll never notice that in your
driving or in your tire wear, but for some people, they just can't sleep at
night when they hear "out of spec".


--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

 

"Mike Marlow" <mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net> wrote in message
news:appru3ltggte.1tk7e4q1rfb27.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:12:36 GMT, Spam away cast forth these pearls of
> wisdom...:
>
>> In article <gnv952$4u7$1@news.motzarella.org>,
>> "Victek" <Victek@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> I had a wheel alignment done (Elantra GLS 2003) and learned that camber
>>> is
>>> less then optimal on all four wheels, but cannot be adjusted. I was
>>> also
>>> told there are after-market kits that make it possible to adjust camber,
>>> but
>>> they are expensive. This wasn't a pitch to sell the kits - the mechanic
>>> was
>>> just giving me information, but now I'm curious if it would be a good
>>> idea.
>>> I have the computer print-out of the before & after alignment specs, but
>>> I
>>> don't know if the degree of deviation is significant or not. Any
>>> thoughts
>>> about this?
>>
>> THX for that info. Cheap design/construction IMO.
>> I'll avoid that model.
>
> Ease up on your opinion some. This is very common in today's front ends,
> where "out of spec" does not mean what it used to mean. Nobody really
> uses
> a camber adjustment anymore because this "out of spec" issue is of such
> little consequence as to be ignored. For those who do get really
> concerned
> about this kind of thing, enlarging (elongating) the holes in the strut
> where it mounts the steering knuckle can usually provide the few degrees
> of
> adjustment required to hit dead on. You'll never notice that in your
> driving or in your tire wear, but for some people, they just can't sleep
> at
> night when they hear "out of spec".
>
>
> --
Thanks to everyone for the helpful information.

 

I had a similar run in at the Kia dealer (brother to Hyundai) where I was
getting tires for life...... They said that they couldn't reach the
'in-spec' camber and I would have to buy those nice expensive camber bolts
if I wanted to maintain my 'tires for life'. I told the guy in front of a
packed waiting room that he had me 'by the ***** and what else could I do
but pay them?' Got it fixed and a month later the bastards closed their
doors.................. 'Tires for life - of the
dealer'..........................


"Mike Marlow" <mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net> wrote in message
news:appru3ltggte.1tk7e4q1rfb27.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:12:36 GMT, Spam away cast forth these pearls of
> wisdom...:
>
>> In article <gnv952$4u7$1@news.motzarella.org>,
>> "Victek" <Victek@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> I had a wheel alignment done (Elantra GLS 2003) and learned that camber
>>> is
>>> less then optimal on all four wheels, but cannot be adjusted. I was
>>> also
>>> told there are after-market kits that make it possible to adjust camber,
>>> but
>>> they are expensive. This wasn't a pitch to sell the kits - the mechanic
>>> was
>>> just giving me information, but now I'm curious if it would be a good
>>> idea.
>>> I have the computer print-out of the before & after alignment specs, but
>>> I
>>> don't know if the degree of deviation is significant or not. Any
>>> thoughts
>>> about this?
>>
>> THX for that info. Cheap design/construction IMO.
>> I'll avoid that model.
>
> Ease up on your opinion some. This is very common in today's front ends,
> where "out of spec" does not mean what it used to mean. Nobody really
> uses
> a camber adjustment anymore because this "out of spec" issue is of such
> little consequence as to be ignored. For those who do get really
> concerned
> about this kind of thing, enlarging (elongating) the holes in the strut
> where it mounts the steering knuckle can usually provide the few degrees
> of
> adjustment required to hit dead on. You'll never notice that in your
> driving or in your tire wear, but for some people, they just can't sleep
> at
> night when they hear "out of spec".
>
>
> --
>
> -Mike-
> mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net