Right Caster out of spec - why?

[stocker2000]

2000 Altima GXE. My car was drifting to the right, even on flat (i.e. little to no crown) roads. I have to crank the steering wheel to the left ever so slightly.

Borught it in for an alignment, and was told that the right control arm was bent aft, causing the drifting. Dealership replaced the control arm, sent it for an alignment, and the right caster is stil out of spec.

I have it verified by two other places. Here are the readings from the last place:

Left Caster: 2.04Right Caster: 1.33Spec: 1.92 - 3.42

The control arm is brand new. I checked tire pressure, and even swapped the front tires left-to-right to see of that would help. No luck. The car still drifts, and I'm still holding the steering wheel to the left to go straight.

I'm assuming some other component is bent/damaged, but what else determines caster? What else would I need to replace?

[JNM240]

I love aligning Altimas. Front and rear toe is the only adjustable angles. But i dont own one.

Ok, it takes twice as must caster to compensate for camber. How is your camber? I believe spec on camber should be like -.5 degrees ideal (IIRC), so if you have more positive on the left, it should offset the caster. But if camber is equal, or higher (more positive) to the right, it would go that direction. I have seen (and aligned/driven) cars where there was a 1 degree caster split to the right and it didnt pull. You are looking at a .7 degree caster split, so, theoritically, you should only need .3 or .4 camber split to the left to compensate. Post your complete alignment specs and i will see if i can help any more.

About the only other thing you can do is take it to a frame shop. Explain to them the situation, your car had a bent control arm, there is no adjustment for caster, and you would like them to check your frame from straightness. Dont know what this costs.

[stocker2000]

Here's my complete alignment in the front:

Left Camber: -0.71 Right Camber: -0.15 Spec: -0.85 to 0.65Left Caster: 2.04 Right Caster: 1.33 Spec: 1.92 to 3.42Left Toe: 0.05 Right Toe: 0.05 Spec: 0.00 to 0.10

Cross Camber: -0.55 Spec: -0.75 to 0.75Cross Caster: 0.71 Spec: -0.75 to 0.75

I won't include SAI, included angle, etc. since you didn't ask or mention any of them. What I'm getting from your comments, though, is that if I adjust my camber (and I believe camber adjustments are available for my car), I may be able to offset the effect of my out-of-spec caster?

[JNM240]

That is correct. And you probably need a kit to adjust it. Or maybe grind the strut (elongate the upper mounting bolt hole). But the alignment shop probably saw that the camber and cross camber was withing spec, even tho it is going to the right (left side is more negative than right, therefore it will tend to go right). Because both camber and caster and going to the right, your car should go to the right.

Now, i will tell you in advance, sometimes even changing caster and/or camber wont help. I have seen cars who, by all accounts, should go one way, and wind up doing the opposite. But for all intents and purposes, if you can either raise (get more positive) camber on the left or lower (get more negative) camber on the right, so that there will be a .7 degree split (left side is .7 degrees more positive than the right), it SHOULD offset your caster.

[s13sr20chris]

i concur. the camber is a more serious issue than the caster.

[stocker2000]

You guys haven't mentioned replacing anything on the right, so I'm assuming then that I could probably spend thousands replacing suspension components, and still not get the alignment right.

That said, it seems like my only option is to purchase camber adjustment bolts, and re-align the car, making adjustments to the camber settings.

Would these camber settings satisfy the requirements you listed above, without adverse effect:

Left Camber: 0.35 Right Camber: -0.35

I get a 0.7 degree split, with the left higher than the right, and I'm still within spec. Would this be OK?

[Q45tech]

Cambers should be as close to equal [within 0.3 degrees] as possible otherwise the tires will have different characteristics turning left vs. right!

[stocker2000]

So, Q45tech, are you disputing the advice JNM240 gave me regarding setting my cambers at .7 degree split (left higher than right) in order to minimize the effect of my out-of-spec caster?

I'm very confused

[JNM240]

I wont disagree with what Q45tech says, it is true. But in my experience, since there isnt a whole lot you can do, changing the camber is about the only viable option. I guess you could bring your car to a frame shop and have them check it for any *extremely* slight variations. But in my opinion, for what its all worth in the end, and since you probably will never feel the difference turning left or right with a .7 degree camber split, it is by far the best solution to your problem.