Rear Wheel Camber

coolnsx · 3 September 2003

My right rear is 3.6- and no adjustment is left to bring it positive. The left rear is 2.2- with adjustment left. The car has stock suspension with Dali Sway Bars. I want to try to get it closer to spec. Clark's in Lake Forest sees no damaged suspension parts and believes the unibody is good. He suggests two things, (1) find someone that makes after market bushings or cams to add 1.5 degrees positive to the right rear or (2) start replacing rear suspension parts by replacing the knuckle or spindle.

Are there any after market parts that can help? If not it seems silly to start replacing suspension parts, what if the defective one is not the one you bought? He described it as throwing darts!!!

Could sure use a good idea! Gil

V12NSX · 3 September 2003

Yes, you have a damaged suspension. If you are running stock shocks and springs, you should have no problem coming into spec. Most likely the car has hit a curb or something during a spin or slide. The suspension components won't show any damaged if they have only had a minor "tweak". However, they are aluminum and don't take impacts very kindly. (Yes I know from experience). Most likely you need both a-arms. You might find some for sale on Prime, or go to ERZ, or finally check our discount dealers. The dealer will charge $700-$800 per arm. Much less than that from other sources. When you get the new a-arms you should be able to notice a difference if you compare. It only takes a small twist or bend of a couple of millimeters to greatly affect the alignment.

Good luck!

S.L.

Larry Bastanza · 3 September 2003

Are you sure you have "stock" springs? Sure sounds like they are not.

I agree with S.L. , but typically if the car spun and the suspension got "curbed" the lower a-arm would bend inward and you would be more positive rather then negative on the camber adjustment.

How is your front camber??

HTH,
LarryB

coolnsx · 3 September 2003

Front Camber is 1.1- and 1.3- with adjustment left. The springs appear to be OEM, only the sways were added. I am the second owner of this car so I can only guess as to cause of the problem. I just want to determine exactly what can be changed to fix the problem the first time with the minimal amount of parts. It's disapointing they can't determine exactly which part is needed.

V12NSX · 3 September 2003

There simply isn't a good way to measure the parts for trueness (is that a word?). If a dealer has it, you might be able to get them to compare new parts to old parts and you can visibly see a difference. It is interesting that you have more negative camber - perhaps a bump to the inside of the wheel?

S.L.

DanO · 3 September 2003

You may want to try a different alignment shop—I have personally seen significant differences between shops.

DanO

NSX G-Force · 4 September 2003

I have the same camber problem. My right front and right rear are out of factory alignment spec and been to 4 alignment shop, non of them can fix it and tell me what's the exact problem. one alignment shop suggest me to change the bushing, but honda/acura didn't sell just bushing, u have to buy the whole arm!!

Larry Bastanza · 4 September 2003

I think it is time to actually measure the height of the car. That much negative camber in the front is sounding like it is lower then stock height. On a flat surface measure from the four outermost jack points (front and rear) to the floor.

HTH,
LarryB

coolnsx · 5 September 2003

Groung clearance

Larry, Thanks for the help. I have 215/40/17 front and 275/35/18 rear tires. Height ground to jack point; RF 3 3/4" LF 3 7/8", RR 4" and LR 4 1/8". Former owner stated springs/shocks stock. What do you think?

Larry Bastanza · 5 September 2003

Although rare, I happen to have my car at the office today.

Front 3 3/8"
Rear 3 3/4"

I have Eibachs which bring it down an 1" when new, I think they have sagged a bit, so I may be lowered 1 1/4"

.

So you may not have the stock springs, unless they have sagged too. You seem to be up about a 1/2" average from me. We need someone to measure their car with stock springs. Can someone volunteer??

Just for reference, at this height, I can only get -.8 degrees on one side. That is as positive as it will get. I beleive this is due to a sagged Eibach spring.

There is still something missing here though, since you are actually higher and your camber numbers are still more negative, (DanO has a good point) with that said, it still does not seem to be at stock height.

HTH,
LarryB

Richard Sansone · 8 September 2003

You said you have 18" rear wheels,If the offset is more positive then stock it will increase the levarage ratio on the A frames and compress the spring more and lower the rear of the car and increase positive camber

Good Luck
Richard

coolnsx · 22 September 2003

Project Update

I did get the car checked again by another alignment shop and they got the same readings and had no clue which part to replace first to correct the camber. The problem was everything looked fine.
I took it to Ramon at Niguel Motors. He took the time to put two NSX's on the racks, side by side, and proceeded to plot, measure and compare. He felt the right rear upper "A" arm was bent. The part is $915 from Acura. Thanks to help from Neillo Acura and Ramons ability I was able to get the wheel into spec just in time for NSXPO.
And just to make sure we were good to go Ramon installed a set of Bilstein's on the low settings and dropped the ride another 1/2"!! We are locked in, tech inspected and ready to run, just 16 days till the SoCal caravan to NoCal begins!!!

PoohBEAR · 21 November 2003

Re: Project Update

Bilstein at the lower setting? Gil, you are an ANIMAL!!!!!!! I bet mine is lower

I think I am sitting 1.5-2" off the ground.
3/4 of the standard business card length.

I'll see you on sunday 11/23

coolnsx said:
I did get the car checked again by another alignment shop and they got the same readings and had no clue which part to replace first to correct the camber. The problem was everything looked fine.
I took it to Ramon at Niguel Motors. He took the time to put two NSX's on the racks, side by side, and proceeded to plot, measure and compare. He felt the right rear upper "A" arm was bent. The part is $915 from Acura. Thanks to help from Neillo Acura and Ramons ability I was able to get the wheel into spec just in time for NSXPO.
And just to make sure we were good to go Ramon installed a set of Bilstein's on the low settings and dropped the ride another 1/2"!! We are locked in, tech inspected and ready to run, just 16 days till the SoCal caravan to NoCal begins!!!

coolnsx · 22 November 2003

Calvin, did yours scape leaving Ramons driveway? Even at a 45 degree angle?

Mine did! Slam Man

PoohBEAR · 22 November 2003

you and me Gil....we can be Cool Yellowpad

Will I get the pleasure of seeing you this Sunday?

coolnsx · 22 November 2003

No, it will be mine, I'm in with a passenger. I saw Ramon today, I think he wants to go, have you got a seat? Anyone else? He's working tomorrow, give him a call so he can cruise. Look forward to seeing your new ride.

PoohBEAR · 22 November 2003

He will be closing tomorrow for some visiting details that required his present.

coolnsx said:
No, it will be mine, I'm in with a passenger. I saw Ramon today, I think he wants to go, have you got a seat? Anyone else? He's working tomorrow, give him a call so he can cruise. Look forward to seeing your new ride.

Rear Wheel Camber

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