The yellow column is what the car is now. So, what is the, "AFTER" column. Is this just from putting it on a machine and checking it or an alignment result? If it is from an alignment, I can see that the specs on the left side are so far out of spec that some suspension components may even be bent. You can take this to the insurance company and tell them you want a supplement for the original settlement. They are not abligated to do it as soon as you endorse the check you agree that repairs are sufficient. Use the argument that it was never checked and should have been and go to your local Governement insurance fraud office for back up. Any camber should never be more than -1.0 degree or so. The handling is probably poor and the tires are already worn irregularly.
Not to mention that you might need new suspension parts just to get it to align becasue they are very far out of spec. The spec I found for front camber is -.32degrees give or take.45degrees. So the front right is leaning with the top out, so the whole car is leaning to the right in front. I do not have cross camber to check specs. However this is probably total camber from front left ro right rear.
Any way you look at it, the specs also depend on the type of machine used to measure it. It needs a full alignment even when looking at the specs they have. I cannot comment on the cross camber, but the machine is doing a measurement that helps assure the total 4 wheel alignment of the vehicle.
Take a look at the tread wear across the tire. If the front, drivers side, has more where on the inner tread than the outer, it is not within spec. If the front or passenger side has more wear on the outer than the inner, it is not right.
Does the car go straight if you use the brakes without your hands on the steering wheel?
Does it seems to pull hard to wither side while moving?
Does the handling when making a right turn differ from a left trun?
Just so you have it and I cannot back up the cross camber spec, get a second opinion from a chain facility. Go to a large chain like a Good year or other large chain and let them measure it, hear what they have to say and then show them the spec sheet you have here.
The reson I say this is because the camber for each fron wheel is not so far out of spec, but this, "cross camber" is far out of spec and the manufacturer does not have a spec on it.
I can undertand the mearurement but I cannot say it is so far out of spec that it contitutes all of the above that I said. But if another shop agrees and can give you a cross camber spec or explain it, you should follow my above comments.
As far as hitting the tread on the highway and the insurance company not having the alignment check is really what I have a problem with and why I gave you my opinion based on the data sheet you have. However, I am aprehensive about the cross camber enough that I would absolutely get the alignment checked. Then get it aligned as it is a little out of the specifications that I have. The insurance company should at least have paid for an alignment. Hitting potholes and other like things evetually require alignment every year anyway. However, the car struck something and should have absolutely had the alignment as part of the insurance sttlement.
I hope this helps and please do ask me any questions you have. You want to have information from more than one place that all say the same thing. Right now you do not have enough to really go after the insurance company anyway, maybe even if you should have gotten the money, because of the time that has passed.
So, if the cross camber does turn out to be somethng that may require parts to fix, you have an arguement with the insurance company. If it does not then you can only argue the original cost of getting the alignment checked. Because they should have paid for that.
You will have to get a second alignment check if you want to argue it, but I would just get it aligned at a reputable large chain tire shop. Then decide if you have anything to worry about if they have to replace any suspension components to get it aligned.
I know this sounds like I am arguing both sides of the fence, but I have to suggest the second opinion and alignment before I can definately back up your argument. Mainly because there is no manufacturer specification for cross camber and that does not give me solid evidence to go on. This does not meant that the machine they used for alignment does not have a specification for the 4 wheel camber. But the manufacterer does not have numbers to back it up.
Let me know the outcome.
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Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 AT 2:03 AM