poppajim

I recently bought a 2002 camaro ss and just had a local shop replace my front struts. They can not get the wheel alignment in. I has abouit 1 degree negative camber and the caster is high and they told me the ajustment is at the end of the slots. They took out Delphi M48 struts and put in monroe. Any answers as what to do .

Injuneer

Did they replace only the shocks, and not the springs? Is the car stock ride height or lowered? What alignment specifications is he using? Stock?

4_5

Minor point, but the front is a coil-over shock, not a "strut". It's an "unequal upper/lower a-arm" suspension, not a Macpherson strut type.

poppajim

They replaced shocks only, not springs. The car is stock ride height and from what I see with the specs you sent the camber is not that far off, just caster way to high. +6 degrees. They went by stock 2002 camaro ss specs.
Thanks

Injuneer

Had the wheels every been aligned previously since you owned the car? I've done the complete front end myself, having it aligned to the alternative specs in the link above (actually with a full -1* camber, based on a road race friend's recommendation) for the Eibach springs (lowered 1.8" with the Pro-Kit springs and the adjustable lower seat on the QA1 shocks) and the shop had no problems meeting the specs.

Any chance the front end had been hit? Any chance they mis-assembled something? I can't think of anything that would physically go together and not allow correct alignment, except possibly not seating the spring upper coils correctly in the upper spring/shock mount, but that would cause the front end to sit a bit higher than stock.

poppajim

Thanks for your in put Fred!

GaryDoug

The 2000 F-body service manual shows the allowable front caster to be +4 to+6 degrees, with an ideal adjustment of +4.5 to +5.5. It also shows the max delta to be +-0.7. Do we think the 2002 is different?

TC94Z28

Has something changed in Alignments over the years?? Maybe im just getting old and forgetful or something... But I am almost certain that the More Positive Caster is a good thing because it gives the steering wheel a tighter feel when turning and also,, it naturally tends to go a little more negative over the years from hard braking and wear on front end items..
Plus it wouldn't cause any tire wear!!

I would also take the negative degree of Camber instead of any positive camber as well
as it would at least be better for handling but may wear the tires just a lil.

Someone correct me if im wrong...

Injuneer

I don't recall anyone suggesting less positive caster.