So I take my NSX down to a tire shop to have my wheels mounted on. I got some 18"/19" Axis Se7ens, 225/35 in front and 275/30 in back. So they get the tires on the car on bring it down. We turned the wheels to see if they cleared. Strangely, the front left wheel was perfect, but the front right wheel was much further back... seemed like it was almost an inch. They said it was a caster problem and kept it for alignment. They use a high-end 1999 Hunter machine for alignment and have a good rep.
So they got the car on there today and could not get the caster corrected on that one wheel. They said it was way off and someone had already tried to fix it and suspected some sort of accident or frame damage.
My car had been drifting to the right since September. I was driving up to Vermont and ran over an unforeseen hugeass branch. It sounded like it may have been thrown up into the undercarriage. However, they doubt that would have been the cause of it since they suspect someone had already tried to adjust this problem before I got the car. Also, and this is just my observation, the car runs perfectly straight now that they did the alignment... so maybe they are unrelated issues. What they suggested to do was take it for a frame shop, which I am going to do.
Here are the stats that matter:
Left Front:
Actual: 4.7 (degrees)
Before: 4.8
Spec: 7.8
Range: 8.3
note: maxed to '+' side (back)
Right Front:
Actual: 2.6
Before: 2.5
Spec: 7.8
Range: 8.3
note: maxed to '-' side forward. something bent.
A few questions:
1. Must I haul my car to Greenwich to have the framework done? I know a couple excellent places in the area, one of which is a Porsche dealer and the other has an impeccible reputation as well as they best equipment.
2. Could that branch have done this damage? Could it be something I could replace(tie rod)?
3. If it was accident damage to the unibody, what kind of hit would cause this to happen? IOW, what would it take to do this? The dealer promised in writing it was never in an accident.
I see two outcomes to this, either it being my fault (branch) and me fixing it, or having to sue the dealer for lying to me about the car.
*sigh*
So they got the car on there today and could not get the caster corrected on that one wheel. They said it was way off and someone had already tried to fix it and suspected some sort of accident or frame damage.
My car had been drifting to the right since September. I was driving up to Vermont and ran over an unforeseen hugeass branch. It sounded like it may have been thrown up into the undercarriage. However, they doubt that would have been the cause of it since they suspect someone had already tried to adjust this problem before I got the car. Also, and this is just my observation, the car runs perfectly straight now that they did the alignment... so maybe they are unrelated issues. What they suggested to do was take it for a frame shop, which I am going to do.
Here are the stats that matter:
Left Front:
Actual: 4.7 (degrees)
Before: 4.8
Spec: 7.8
Range: 8.3
note: maxed to '+' side (back)
Right Front:
Actual: 2.6
Before: 2.5
Spec: 7.8
Range: 8.3
note: maxed to '-' side forward. something bent.
A few questions:
1. Must I haul my car to Greenwich to have the framework done? I know a couple excellent places in the area, one of which is a Porsche dealer and the other has an impeccible reputation as well as they best equipment.
2. Could that branch have done this damage? Could it be something I could replace(tie rod)?
3. If it was accident damage to the unibody, what kind of hit would cause this to happen? IOW, what would it take to do this? The dealer promised in writing it was never in an accident.
I see two outcomes to this, either it being my fault (branch) and me fixing it, or having to sue the dealer for lying to me about the car.
*sigh*