Caster Out of Alignment

WxMan · 12-01-2011, 05:25 PM

I put H&R springs on and had my alignment done 250 miles later. Car has just over 21K. The only other suspension modification is Stillen swaybars front and rear. The caster on my left front is way out. I haven't had an alignment prior to this one. I put new tires on at 18K and they look fine. I'm wondering if I did something wrong when installing the springs. The tech at Firestone looked at the suspension, said everything looks fine underneath. No bent or incorrectly installed parts were obvious to the tech. I've comared left and right and see nothing obvious. Any suggestions? Arms for the rear seems appropriate. Will installing adjustable front arms allow me to correct the caster on the front left?

kenchan · 12-01-2011, 05:39 PM

so all he did was adjust the rear toe angle?

that's a pretty sloppy alignment all together but if it drives fine i guess you're okay.

as for caster it's non-adjustable on our cars right? Id just leave it alone but would probably go to another place to get those toe angles corrected some more and rear camber within 0.2 degrees L/R.

azn370z · 12-01-2011, 06:03 PM

Something must be worn or bent. If the castor bothers you then take it to the dealer.

cheshirecat · 12-01-2011, 06:13 PM

caster is non-adjustable stock. usually caster being out of whack indicates some kind of impact happened to the car that changed the suspension geometry (like an accident). i forgot to tighten some screws on the spring perch all the way when I did my drop and it affected the caster a bit. Tightened everything up and all went back into spec.

vividracing · 12-01-2011, 06:39 PM

Something is either broken or not installed properly. I'm assuming the tech didn't mention anything that he noticed? Have you nailed a curb or anything?

WxMan · 12-02-2011, 07:48 AM

No curb impacts or accidents. The car tracks straight and handles great. I may take it back to the dealer though. I have looked at the suspension on both sides and everything looks correct. If you didn't align the top hat correctly would that cause the caster to change?

WxMan · 12-04-2011, 05:45 PM

Nissan dealership said don't sweat it. So

On

spearfish25 · 12-04-2011, 10:26 PM

If you ever buy SPC camber arms for the front, you'll be able to adjust castor as well.

WxMan · 12-05-2011, 10:28 AM

I ordered the Kinetix front/rear package from Z1 Motorsports last night. Looks like they may ship today as I've already received a tracking number.

kenchan · 12-05-2011, 11:00 AM

^^ cool!

good luck with that and keep us posted how the alignment turns out.

phohman · 12-05-2011, 11:19 AM

Not sure on our 370's but on most struts, allthough the strut mount will bolt on to the tower any which way. Sometimes the mount needs to be installed correctly for the alignment to be correct. Does someone know?

kenchan · 12-05-2011, 11:58 AM

yah, before dissasembly i usually mark the strut mount bolt and hole (car side) with some paint i have laying around to ensure that the strut is assembled the same orientation it came out.

WxMan · 12-05-2011, 02:01 PM

I used the DIY for installing Swift springs. I marked the top hats on both. The Nissan tech said the amount the strut is off is minuscule. I want to bring the camber in on the front and back to a happy medium between performance and tire wear with a slight edge toward performance. But I can also correct the caster with the new control arms. I would have rather spent the money on an OEM rear spoiler but I don't want to be buying new tires every 20K miles. I'm thinking camber settings of -1.5/-2.0 and correct the caster to 5.2.

corner3garage · 12-06-2011, 06:50 PM

SPL is in development with a front upper control arm at the moment. If its anything like its z33 counterpart its going to be caster adjustable also.

SPOHN · 12-06-2011, 08:45 PM

^ I hope. Been hearing that for a year now.

12-01-2011, 06:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	Something must be worn or bent. If the castor bothers you then take it to the dealer. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

12-01-2011, 06:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
vividracing The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilbert, AZ Age: 38 Posts: 7,306 Drives: 350Z,370Z,GTR Rep Power: 39	Something is either broken or not installed properly. I'm assuming the tech didn't mention anything that he noticed? Have you nailed a curb or anything? __________________ Rocky @ Vivid ♦ 480.966.3040 x236 ♦ Rocky@vividracing.com Email, PM, or call me directly for aggressive The370Z.com member pricing!!!

12-02-2011, 07:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
WxMan Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 75 Drives: 09 370Z White M6 Tou Rep Power: 15	No curb impacts or accidents. The car tracks straight and handles great. I may take it back to the dealer though. I have looked at the suspension on both sides and everything looks correct. If you didn't align the top hat correctly would that cause the caster to change? __________________ Dennis Stillen 2nd Gen CAI/Z1 HFMC/FI Catback Exhaust w/18" resonators/Akebono Brake Upgrade/TSW Jarama 18" Wheels/15mm rear spacers/Stillen Sway Bars/H&R Sport Springs

12-04-2011, 05:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
WxMan Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 75 Drives: 09 370Z White M6 Tou Rep Power: 15	Nissan dealership said don't sweat it. So On __________________ Dennis Stillen 2nd Gen CAI/Z1 HFMC/FI Catback Exhaust w/18" resonators/Akebono Brake Upgrade/TSW Jarama 18" Wheels/15mm rear spacers/Stillen Sway Bars/H&R Sport Springs

12-04-2011, 10:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	If you ever buy SPC camber arms for the front, you'll be able to adjust castor as well. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

12-01-2011, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	so all he did was adjust the rear toe angle? that's a pretty sloppy alignment all together but if it drives fine i guess you're okay. as for caster it's non-adjustable on our cars right? Id just leave it alone but would probably go to another place to get those toe angles corrected some more and rear camber within 0.2 degrees L/R.

12-01-2011, 06:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
cheshirecat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,428 Drives: N54 135i Rep Power: 292	caster is non-adjustable stock. usually caster being out of whack indicates some kind of impact happened to the car that changed the suspension geometry (like an accident). i forgot to tighten some screws on the spring perch all the way when I did my drop and it affected the caster a bit. Tightened everything up and all went back into spec.

12-05-2011, 10:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
WxMan Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 75 Drives: 09 370Z White M6 Tou Rep Power: 15	I ordered the Kinetix front/rear package from Z1 Motorsports last night. Looks like they may ship today as I've already received a tracking number. __________________ Dennis Stillen 2nd Gen CAI/Z1 HFMC/FI Catback Exhaust w/18" resonators/Akebono Brake Upgrade/TSW Jarama 18" Wheels/15mm rear spacers/Stillen Sway Bars/H&R Sport Springs

12-05-2011, 11:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	^^ cool! good luck with that and keep us posted how the alignment turns out.

12-05-2011, 11:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
phohman Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Katy-Houston Tx. Age: 62 Posts: 124 Drives: 2012 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 14	Not sure on our 370's but on most struts, allthough the strut mount will bolt on to the tower any which way. Sometimes the mount needs to be installed correctly for the alignment to be correct. Does someone know?

12-05-2011, 11:58 AM	#12 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, before dissasembly i usually mark the strut mount bolt and hole (car side) with some paint i have laying around to ensure that the strut is assembled the same orientation it came out.

12-05-2011, 02:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
WxMan Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 75 Drives: 09 370Z White M6 Tou Rep Power: 15	I used the DIY for installing Swift springs. I marked the top hats on both. The Nissan tech said the amount the strut is off is minuscule. I want to bring the camber in on the front and back to a happy medium between performance and tire wear with a slight edge toward performance. But I can also correct the caster with the new control arms. I would have rather spent the money on an OEM rear spoiler but I don't want to be buying new tires every 20K miles. I'm thinking camber settings of -1.5/-2.0 and correct the caster to 5.2. __________________ Dennis Stillen 2nd Gen CAI/Z1 HFMC/FI Catback Exhaust w/18" resonators/Akebono Brake Upgrade/TSW Jarama 18" Wheels/15mm rear spacers/Stillen Sway Bars/H&R Sport Springs

12-06-2011, 06:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
corner3garage The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Laguna Hills, CA Posts: 9,879 Drives: 240sx, 350z, 370z Rep Power: 35	SPL is in development with a front upper control arm at the moment. If its anything like its z33 counterpart its going to be caster adjustable also. __________________ Corner3motorsports.com

12-06-2011, 08:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	^ I hope. Been hearing that for a year now. __________________

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