Lowered Problems?

[slipkord]

I bought new tires and then I lowered my coupe. Even before I lowered it, my balance was off and the alignment was off and it still is. The Firestone 'guy behind the desk' is trying to tell me I'm having issues because I'm lowered. I keep telling him I started having issues since I put on the new tires (back when I was stock ride height). I've got a camber kit installed, so everything should be ok in my mind. The guy told me he would put on a new set for me to see if it was the tires. I don't know if the balance is fixed but my fucking steering wheel is cocked to the side (11:00 position) and it pulls fucking hard. WTF? My dad picked up the car and drove it back to my house, said it seemed fine this was over the weekend and it sat for 2 days, I drive it today to work and it's just a clusterfuck of the same issues. So I'm at a loss. Someone help me here, I'm at the point where I want to raise it back up and see if that fixes it.

I've been to 3 different Firestones and none of the can fix alignment/balance. Makes me think it's the tires. Would being lowered cause any issues? I was lowered on Basics in my sedan and had no issues at ALL.

One thing to note my tire size isnt OEM. It's a size wider/taller. I assume that wouldnt cause it. When Firestone puts new tires on I'm going to try and get them to put on OEM size. See if that's it, I just hope the tires have a defect.

[Mike]

My tires are a bit wider, and taller than OEM, and I've had no issues what so ever. Perhaps have a shop other than firestone take a look, and get there opinion.

[CrackerTeg]

I don't think it has anything to do with being lowered. You said you've been having issues since before lowering so it sounds like something else. Tie rod maybe? Did you hit anything that would cause a damaged suspension component and give you the issues you currently have? Have them inspect your suspension before shelling out for new tires.

[slipkord]

That was my thoughts Mike. I'm at the point of paying someone to fix this. When I took it to the other Firestone last week they had to rebalance the tires twice bc the first guy didnt know wtf he was doing. I think it's coming down to getting the right mechanic to do the work.

[slipkord]

I don't think it has anything to do with being lowered. You said you've been having issues since before lowering so it sounds like something else. Tie rod maybe? Did you hit anything that would cause a damaged suspension component and give you the issues you currently have? Have them inspect your suspension before shelling out for new tires.

Now that you mention it, I did hit a huge pothole months back but that was on my old Fuzions and I didnt have any issues with my tires after that. I thought it only damaged my camber arm. I'll get them to take a closer look.

[clapton924]

Lowering your car has no effect on tire balance.  Lowering will change your alignment geometry....but if you have the camber kit installed you should be fine.

Can you specify your "problems"? Tire wear? Whats your tire and wheels size?

[k24low20z]

make sure the bushings on your camber kit are holding up and in good shape, i had a similar problem but it all started once i installed the ingalls rear camber kit..the back tires are the ones who control the steering wheel.. (atleast from what the guy who did my alignment said)

[slipkord]

Lowering your car has no effect on tire balance.  Lowering will change your alignment geometry....but if you have the camber kit installed you should be fine.

Can you specify your "problems"? Tire wear? Whats your tire and wheels size?

New tires, so dont know if Im having any irreagular tire wear. 215/55/16 (i think)

[stirfriedferret]

If your alignment is off like it says in the original post, that could cause your car to pull, especially if the rear toe angles are off. That will cause some major dog tracking.  Balance on your tires should have nothing to do with any sort of pulling or tracking issues.  It would just cause uneven tire wear and a bumpy ride if anything.  Have a competent shop do a 4 wheel alignment and your car should go straight.  If your alignment is good and your car still pulls to a side while going straight, check your tie rods, they may be bent. I hope that helps you out.

[slipkord]

When I get off work I might swap tires with my wifes sedan, she needs new tires. This would give me an excuse to get some new rims *cough* TL-S *cough*

It's a possibility that the tie rod is bent, but like i said after I hit it the car ran fine, it's ran fine until I put these Potenza's on. I'll ask to see the alignment specs next time.

[slipkord]

OK, just got off the phone with the mgr that my fam knows at Firestone. He said that the alignment specs were dead on right (so why the fuck is the steering wheels cocked to the right?) He said that the tech didn't inform him of a bent tie rod end or the like. I really dont want to chew through $450 worth of new tires and I really dont want to have to raise this bitch back up. Going to take it in AGAIN and see what they can do.

[slipkord]

Reading up on tie rod ends is fun. Who knew it did all that! Are the tie rod ends on our cars adjustable? If not, im almost positive one is bent.

*edit* We don't have adjustable tie rod ends.

[k24low20z]

did you check what i told you....

[slipkord]

^^their a week old at best. But I did look at them and it seems to be fine. I'm going to take it back to Firestone in an hr and see if the tires are no defective and then move on to the next thing it might be.

[slipkord]

Back from Firestone. Steering wheel is straight and it now tracks straight as possible. I have a print out of the camber specs.

Front Camber (left and right)

-0.1       -1.2


Caster ( left and right)

3.1       2.6   (difference is .5 - what does this mean?)


Rear Camber  (left and right)

-1.1     -1.0   (I belive it should be out this far, correct?)




I have no clue what these numbers mean. I'm hoping some of you suspension guys can pipe in here *cough* Thien *cough*

As far as the front right camber being off, that aforementioned pothole was the culprit? I'm thinking something is bent. Need some advice on where to go from here. With the right front camber being off -1.2 degrees how will this affect my tire wear? I'm not wanting to wear my new tires so soon.