Possible Sway Bar Problem?

[Hoffman5982]

Ok so today my goal was to spend the day working on my car: install new headunit, re-run amp cables, and fix my camber and adjust my caster. Well after messing with the stereo for a few hours, I jack the rear up to adjust my camber. I get it as close to zero camber as I feel comfortable, but still on the negative side. So I take it for a spin to see if it rides any better(main reason for adjusting was to minimize tire wear). Well, as soon as I was driving down the street, I notice the back end kind of sway, for lack of a better word, to the side, just a tad. I then noticed that I was having to keep the steering wheel turned to the left a little to keep the car straight. So I drive it back home, and see that the drivers wheel is more towards zero camber than the passenger, so I fix that. I then tighten my sway bars( I have suspension techniques sway bars with newer bushings). Now, keep in mind I've never messed with the sway bar, but I noticed that as I was tighteninge it, the nut stayed at the same place on the bolt(I counted 13 threads from the nut to the end, then tightened it some, and it was still 13 threads). The nut spins, but I'm thinking that maybe it's stripped. Both sides do the same thing, which is why I'm asking. Is this normal? My only other guess is that now that the wheels are straighter, you can really tell the toe is inward a good bit. Could that cause it? If the bold is stripped on the sway bar, is it as simple as running to Ace, getting a new nut and bolt, and replacing it? I'm a little short on cash right now because I'm in the process of buying a new engine, so hopefully it's nothing big. Anyways, thanks in advance

edit: another thought, could a full alignment fix all of this? I know I need one, but if it IS the toe, then Ill wait til I get new toe rods

[nifares240]

home alignment by eyeing alignment never works. I suggest taking your car for an alignment. about your sway bar, you may need to disconnect the end links so you can seat and tighten the bracket that holds the D bushing. I would worry more on zeroing theTOE than zeroing the camber. Improper TOE will eat your tires faster. a little bit of negative camber always help when taking quick turns because of the outward wheels' natural tendency to deflect close to zero for more tire contact patch.

[Hoffman5982]

I know that home alignments aren't good. Like I said, I'm getting an alignment soon. I was waiting til I could roll my fenders, which I did yesterday. Now I'm just waiting for a paycheck, but I wanted to fix my camber a little more because it's already wearing pretty bad. I'm just concerned about the way my car is handling. It's also probably safe to note that now it mainly does it at speeds above 50

[Hoffman5982]

cmon no one knows??

[scotty-2-forty]

cmon no one knows??

I learned from my dad (a really old-school mechanic) to use a measuring tape, pencil, string and level to do alignments. This is how it was done before the computer age (basically). As for the stripped bolt, do you have a picture or video?

[nissanman04]

Changing camber will change your toe...get that corrected, even if you just use a measuring tape. Unbalanced toe, even in the rear, will cause the car to pull to one side. For the nut spinning, are you sure the entire bolt isn't spinning? I have to use a wrench to keep mine in place, but I'm not sure what the ST end links are like.

[Hoffman5982]

Yea I use a 14mm wrench on the top to keep the whole bold from spinning. I'm going to order new toe rods as soon as I can afford it. If all else fails I'll put my camber back to where it was just so I can drive it safely. Has anyone heard of SPC? I saw some toe rods on Summit Racing for about 150. yes? no? maybe?

[Hoffman5982]

So it's looking like(from what ive been reading) is that Suspension Techniques Sway Bars are non adjustable? can anyone confirm or deny this?

[89nismosilvia]

your toe is off forget the sway bars.... when you change your camber you change your toe.... if your camber was too much negative and you zeroed it out then your toe is going to be inward.... i have the same exact problem with my car... just undo what you did as best you can

[Hoffman5982]

Alright thanks a lot. I'm going to order some SPC toe rods on Monday

[nifares240]

what aftermarket suspension arms you're using? you can still get a good alignment with stock arms if you're not super slam.