excess negative caster

[97240SXSE]

My problem is that when I got my alignment, there was exess negative caster on the right front.

My S14 was in the body shop a year ago for an accident. The frame was found to be straight. Recently, I've had to replace a twisted control arm and bent strut rod with brand new oem parts(right front).

Assuming that my frame is straight and that the parts which I had replaced were correctly installed, are there any other parts that I should check which may cause caster problems?

My car is dropped.

Its very important that my alignment be within oem tolerance because my car is illegal and I can't get a safety check. thanks.

[240marcuSX]

my guess would be too take a good look of the frame, specifically the place where the tc rod bolts on. just a guess. good luck.

[chmercer]

lowering your car will increase the negative camber. how low is the car?

and where do you live? that seems very bizarre to me that you need to have an OEM alignment to have the car considered safe.

[97240SXSE]

Note I need help with my Caster not Camber. To my knowledge, Hawaii is the only state which requires a reconstruction permit when modifying any vehicle which is driven on public roads. To acquire this permit, alignment papers must be submitted and must be within oem spec.

[corn322]

check the shock tower in the engine bay, where the strut bolts to the frame. if it's out of place that can affect caster.

[chmercer]

Note I need help with my Caster not Camber. To my knowledge, Hawaii is the only state which requires a reconstruction permit when modifying any vehicle which is driven on public roads. To acquire this permit, alignment papers must be submitted and must be within oem spec.

whoops i misread. damaged tension rod, damaged flca, damaged shock tower could all mess up caster. if you are trying to get it into spec just to get an inspection sticker or whatever, and had camber plates, you could rotate the upper mount so that the camber plates affect caster as well as camber.

[Red coupe]

this might be one to take over to the suspension forum. More negative caster means that either the top of the strut has moved forward or the steering knuckle has moved back....take a look at the mount of the frame for strut arm, It could be moved back slightly. are the two mounting hole on the control arm bent/stretched/elongated? how about the 3 mounting holes in the strut tower?

It seems strange that they require your lowered car to be at oem specs when oem spec's only really apply to oem ride height...

[97240SXSE]

thanks guys, have narrowed the problem down to either a steering knuckle or the strut itself

[97240SXSE]

if anyone was wondering, the steering knuckle got replaced and I ended up getting adjustable TC rods to correct the caster.