Rear Wheel Alignment

[Lubrecon]

I have a 2005 Q45 and when I had the car aligned yesterday, the right rear could not be brought into spec with the camber adjustment. It was out as far as it would go. The right rear had a lot of wear on the inside of the tread, and the tires were replaced today. I had 54,600 on the OEMs. I am out -0.2, spec was -1.1 to -0.1 degrees and I am -1.3, but it is probably why the old tire was worn. Dealer said I should try to have the frame pulled, but when I went to a frame shop, they said since the car was never wrecked, they did not want to pull on the frame, could make any condition worse. The other rear wheel is ok, as are the front two. The front can't be adjusted except for the toe anyway.

Has anyone else had this problem or condition? If so, what did you do to correct it? I just put $1,000 worth of tires on it and don't want to have them wear prematurely.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[qship96]

I assume they checked all suspension components/arms on the related corner for bent/worn items? If there is no defective parts then you may need to have the frame shop work their magic to get it back into spec.I once had a similar issue on my old 300zxturbo and the frame shop tweaked{bent} the rear crossmember to restore camber.

[Lubrecon]

Nothing was bent or obviously damaged, and the car has never been in a wreck. I am taking it back to have the alignment checked again with the new tires on it. The frame guys said that could make a difference, and I have seen some posts where others feel the same way, Some on the other hand say it does not make any difference whether the tires are new, or have 55,000 like mine did when the alignment was done. I'll see. I really don't want to pull the frame, but may have to or try some new suspension parts to get it bak into spec.

Also, the ride height is slightly different from left to right, and slightly out of spec according to the FSM. I may try a spring replacement before pulling, it the new tires did not make a difference.

[paranoidjack]

With 54,600 you are due for some suspension components.

Before pulling on the frame of a quality built car I would strongly suggest replacing suspension components. Perhaps you have, but you didn't indicate it in your post.

Can't believe the dealer would say to have the frame pulled....it may be right, but you'd think they'd suggest replacing worn components first.

Pros vs Cons - replace suspension components with new, restore to factory drive. No con I can think of.

Pull frame - if that's not the problem, you'll taint the car for the rest of its days.

[Lubrecon]

Your are right and I don't really want to pull on the frame, and neither did the frame shop. But, I don't think that 54,600 miles should require a replacement of suspension parts. I have a '97 Q45, with 110,000 and have not replaced any suspension part, front or rear. I really don't know which parts may be causing the out of spec camber anyway at this time. But, if the re-measurement of the camber with new tires is still the same, I will start looking at some suspension parts to replace. maybe the rear springs to get the ride height in spec, I know that will affect the camber also.

I'll let everyone who is interested know of my progress.

Thanks for the help so far.

[Q45tech]

The major question is what were the readings brand new. -1.3 is not far out enough on rear to cause excessive wear.Expecting tires to last over 40k is unreasonable. Considering oem wear index.

How modern owners have become softes, the first Q45 tires were done at 16,000 miles and every 16,000 miles.

[paranoidjack]

the first Q45 tires were done at 16,000 miles and every 16,000 miles.

Wow!

[maxnix]

Tires rotated every 5K and flipped every other rotation?

Also brand, size and model of tire? Just becdause the load rating is sufficient doesn't mean the carcass is sufficiently strong and stable under dynamic loading.

[Lubrecon]

The tires were rotated every 5,000 miles. They were the OEM Michelin Pilot HX MXV4, and except for the wear on the inside of the right rear, probably had another 2000-5000 miles left before the wear rid was exposed. I replaced them with the Michelin Primacy MXV4 245/45/18". Everyone is surprised at the mileage I got from these tires, at 55,600. Most of the mileage came for highway driving, with 4,000 in the last month.

The -.2 degrees is enough to cause the wear, as it could be seen on each tire, with one side showing more wear than the other. I had not rotated for about the last 9,000, since I was on the Calif trip, so I guess that was the reason the wear was showed up so much on the right rear this time.

I'll probably do some suspension work if the readings are still out of spec. I fullt expect to get the same or more mileage out of the new tires. Michelin has a 60,000 warranty on this tire, but not the Pilot MXV4....go figure.

[Lubrecon]

Ok, here is where I am now. Took the car back to the alignment shop with the new tires. Exactly the same, -1.3 degrees camber, with spec at -1.1, the same -0.2 out. Shop simple solution is to remove the lower front link, or the arm, that allows the camber to be adjusted, and move the hole in the arm slightly inward by drilling and then filling the extra part of the old hole by welding, so that the bolt fits the new hole properly. That shortens the arm slightly and now allows the camber adjustment to me made as it is supposed to by rotating the cam(washer)with the bolt so as to move the bottom of the wheel in or out. Then went to Infiniti dealer. Guess what, all Q45s have the same condition where rear camber is concerned. Usually on the left side, but mine is on the right side. Infiniti's solution, drive it and continue to rotate the tires and forget it. They did not like the new hole solution. That's what they do if they can't bring the rear camber back into spec. My solution....drive it until the first rotation and see how much wear I am getting on the right rear. Rotate the tires a complete rotation, with each tire getting 5,000 on the right rear, and then flip the tires on the wheels, inside out, and start the rotation over again.

I am open to any suggestions or comments.

Thanks

[thejapino]

Rubber bushings sag/wear no matter what your car's mileage is. Uneven alignment could mean bad bushings.

I laughed at my friend for getting mad at an alignment tech b/c he couldn't get his stock, high-mileage, near 20-year-old civic within spec. Parts were all original unless they failed and were replaced.

[Lubrecon]

I was told the bushings are very difficult to replace because of having to take out the old ones and press in the new ones. Can bushing replacement be done on the car, without removing the spindle, axle, or knuckle?

I don't want to spend $500 to save a tire that I can buy for $250. Does that make sense?

[maxnix]

Just add flipping besides rotation to your practice to add that extra 5K miles.