Car drifting - camber out of spec?

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

We just purchased a used 07 Hyundai Santa Fe. During the test drive we noted it drifted slightly to the right and the dealer agreed to address it. They did an alignment check today and found the right camber is slightly out of spec, but say it's not adjustable. Their solution is to rotate the tires.

This seems like a short term fix for the problem, is there something else they should be doing? The vehicle is under warranty and of course the dealer did agree to fix this as a condition of sale.

 

[BassBomb]

camber typically is not adjustable on stock cars but toe is

you might be able to buy an aftermarket camber kit and then your camber will become adjustable

was the toe in spec?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Here's what the report says:


Front Left
Actual Before Spec Range
-.7 -.7 -1.0 0.00 Camber
4.1 4.1 3.9 4.9 Caster
-.09 -.11 -.08 0.08 Toe
13.1 13.1 12.5 13.5 SAI
12.4 12.4 11.5 13.5 Included Angle


Front Right
Actual Before Spec Range
-1.2 -1.2 -1.0 0.00 Camber
4.0 4.0 3.9 4.9 Caster
-.11 -.09 -.08 0.08 Toe
13.3 13.4 12.5 13.5 SAI
12.2 12.2 11.5 13.5 Included Angle

Front Actual Before
Cross Camber .5 .5
Cross Caster .2 .2
Cross SAI -.2 -.2

 

[randay]

call the dealer and let him know you are returning the car.

they should find out shortly thereafter that it is adjustable.

 

[bruceb]

Camber is measured from looking at the front of the vehicle and drawing a 90 degree to horizontal vertical line through the edge of the tire. If the top of the tire is in further than the bottom this is negative camber. If the top is out further than the bottom this is positive camber. Negative camber will help a vehicle during cornering due to tire roll over but will also increase tire wear on the inner section of the tire.

On a car with McPherson strut suspension (as most are nowadays), camber is adjusted by moving the strut by loosening the strut to knuckle mounting bolts. In some cases, the slot may need to be enlarged a tiny amount and an eccentric camber bolt is installed to
allow for adjustment. Any mechanic who knows how to do a proper wheel alignment is aware of this procedure.

This kit fits your model car and provides for up to +/- 1.75 degrees of adjustment

http://www.nolimitmotorsport.com/prod/EI5-81260K

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Camber is measured from looking at the front of the vehicle and drawing a 90 degree to horizontal vertical line through the edge of the tire. If the top of the tire is in further than the bottom this is negative camber. If the top is out further than the bottom this is positive camber. Negative camber will help a vehicle during cornering due to tire roll over but will also increase tire wear on the inner section of the tire.

On a car with McPherson strut suspension (as most are nowadays), camber is adjusted by moving the strut by loosening the strut to knuckle mounting bolts. In some cases, the slot may need to be enlarged a tiny amount and an eccentric camber bolt is installed to
allow for adjustment. Any mechanic who knows how to do a proper wheel alignment is aware of this procedure.

This kit fits your model car and provides for up to +/- 1.75 degrees of adjustment

http://www.nolimitmotorsport.com/prod/EI5-81260K

would use if something like this affect warranty?

 

[Gillbot]

I suspect if it is out and it is not adjustable, something is broken or worn causing this.

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Here's what the report says:


Front Left
Actual Before Spec Range
-.7 -.7 -1.0 0.00 Camber
4.1 4.1 3.9 4.9 Caster
-.09 -.11 -.08 0.08 Toe
13.1 13.1 12.5 13.5 SAI
12.4 12.4 11.5 13.5 Included Angle


Front Right
Actual Before Spec Range
-1.2 -1.2 -1.0 0.00 Camber
4.0 4.0 3.9 4.9 Caster
-.11 -.09 -.08 0.08 Toe
13.3 13.4 12.5 13.5 SAI
12.2 12.2 11.5 13.5 Included Angle

Front Actual Before
Cross Camber .5 .5
Cross Caster .2 .2
Cross SAI -.2 -.2

0.5 degrees of cross camber isn't that big a deal. Consider yourself lucky that you have any amount of negative camber in the front

Anyway, the crash bolts that were previously suggested will do the trick if you want it back to 0 degrees. Typically this is how the manufacture suggests changing the camber if it is required.

 

[brblx]

the camber isn't the problem. if it was, the car would be pulling to the left. shame on the mechanic that didn't know that (or maybe it was just the service advisor).

pulls go toward the most positive camber or least positive caster. is this an actual pull (do you have to fight the car to go straight) or is the steering wheel just a little crooked?

did rotating the tires actually fix the problem? one tire causing a pull is not uncommon, and the only way to fix it is to replace it (or them, since you should at least replace a pair).

 

[exar333]

The title is a little misleading...I thought you were drifting your Santa Fe at first....that would be fun!

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: brblx
the camber isn't the problem. if it was, the car would be pulling to the left. shame on the mechanic that didn't know that (or maybe it was just the service advisor).

pulls go toward the most positive camber or least positive caster. is this an actual pull (do you have to fight the car to go straight) or is the steering wheel just a little crooked?

did rotating the tires actually fix the problem? one tire causing a pull is not uncommon, and the only way to fix it is to replace it (or them, since you should at least replace a pair).

I have to tilt the wheel slightly to the left to overcome the drift to the right. (And this isn't due to the crown of the road). If I level the wheel, it drifts right.

I guess I will let them rotate the tires, I just didn't want to leave it at that if this problem was just going to re-occur after the tires wear.

 

[brblx]

what happens if you let go of the wheel? if it tracks straight with the wheel crooked, that's a toe issue.

2 or 3 tenths of extra negative camber on the right side is typically enough to compensate for road crown. you've got slightly more, but as others have said, .5* is not a huge difference.

edit- also, pull from a tire doesn't reoccur. typically, it never goes away. rotating just puts the faulty tire on the back so that it doesn't affect your steering. once you rotate again, it'll be back.

the real way to check for this is to cross rotate the front tires. if the pull switches sides, i'd make them buy you some tires.

 

[bruceb]

If the car's toe is adjusted slightly out (toed out) on one side, it will pull. Most cars should be set up with 0 toe or just a tiny amount of
Toe In

 

[BoberFett]

It's an Asian car. They drift naturally. Haven't you ever seen those movies?

 

[brblx]

Originally posted by: bruceb
If the car's toe is adjusted slightly out (toed out) on one side, it will pull. Most cars should be set up with 0 toe or just a tiny amount of
Toe In

toe doesn't ever cause a pull.

if one side is toed out with the steering wheel straight, both sides will be toed out (less) while driving and the steering wheel will be crooked.

toe is different for different cars. FWD cars are generally toed out because the drive wheels toe in under accelerations. RWD cars use toe-in because the non-driven wheels naturally toe out at speed.