Wheel alignment

Tiny
MUTTLYBOY
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 2.7L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
On all the applications I’ve seen the cam bolt is installed in the upper bolt hole of the lower strut mount. However my strut has only one lower mount bolt location. My question is, if using the cam bolt in that location will I still get the desired effect? I have only just ordered the parts so maybe I’m missing something. Thoughts?
Saturday, January 5th, 2019 AT 3:19 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
You have the wrong strut design for a cam bolt. Those are for the design GM and Chrysler used throughout the 1980's and 1990's that had two lower mounting bolts. GMs needed to have one mounting hole elongated, then an aftermarket bolt could be installed. They didn't make their cars alignable from the factory. Chrysler's mostly came with the cam bolt already in place. A very few models, such as the Dynasty, needed to have one mounting bolt replaced with the cam bolt, but the hole in the strut was already elongated.

Camber is adjusted on your model by loosening the four upper strut mount bolts next to the hood hinge, then you slide that mount left or right to make the adjustment. Often there will be a white plastic pin in the center, front of the mount, that has to be removed the first time camber is changed. Those have a rounded top that causes a flat blade screwdriver tip to slide off. Instead, just use a small screwdriver and punch it into that plug, then use that to pop it out. That plug can be discarded. My nifty red arrow in the drawing is pointing to where that plug is recessed inside the hole.
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Saturday, January 5th, 2019 AT 3:49 PM
Tiny
MUTTLYBOY
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Thank you Caradiodoc, very helpful. Still, I’m a little confused why “carparts. Com” is sending me a camber bolt for my make and model.
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Saturday, January 5th, 2019 AT 4:33 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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There's another Stratus model listed, a coupe, that I'm not familiar with. If that is like the two Sebring models, one is built by Mitsubishi and is totally different than the more common domestic model. They do show a special bolt for the coupe, but in ten years at the dealership as a suspension and alignment specialist, I never installed one of those.
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Saturday, January 5th, 2019 AT 5:10 PM
Tiny
MUTTLYBOY
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Yah, I’m sure there was an inaccuracy in the website make/model fitting information. Thanks again Caradiodoc.
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Saturday, January 5th, 2019 AT 5:42 PM
Tiny
KENZIE1967
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
Can you give me an idea on what would cause my car to constantly eat the tires off my car in the front especially on the drivers side. It eats the rubber off on the inside of the tire. I had an alignment done on the car but the tech said that was fine.
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
If it is wearing the inside of the tire, it has too much negative camber and that should have been addressed by the alignment, unless there is a problem with the front end, in which case the tech should have caught it during the alignment. May want to take it for a second opinion
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROD13QB
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 106,230 MILES
When I purchased my car it was running fine. I recently bought two used tires to be placed on the front. They told me that the back ones were worse, so they rotated the front ones and put the used ones on the front. Now that I have got that done my car has been messing up. Now my car pulls to the left and the alignment is messed up. I took it to a mechanic and they told me that one tire was bad and was cracked all over. When I went back to the tire place they replaced that tire, but now my car starts to shake really bad after I get up to about 40mph. The tire people told me that my car must have been doing that before I came and nothing they would do would cause that. What could I tell them about the situation for them to look at it?
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Sounds like a very customer oriented place. I would not return to the tire place, but have it diagnosed elsewhere.

Should it be loose lug nuts or a bad tire or balance, I would insist they re-imburse you for their mistake. However, you may want to present it to them that this is your plan and see if maybe they want to take a look first at no charge.

Bad tire, loose lug nuts, bent rim, bad balance loose steering parts can all cause this.

I suggest having the tie rods, bearing and balls joints checked in the process of finding what is wrong.
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MRPIZARRO
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  • 2006 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 52,000 MILES
Is it ok to not get new tires when you have an alignment performed on your car? What is that purpose of doing and what is the negitive of not. Thank you.
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
No need for tires every time you get an alignment
but its better to get an alignment with new tires
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:20 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MSTOREY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 DODGE STRATUS
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
Can a car be aligned if both rear Real Lateral Links are bent?
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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They are adjustable and must be turned to adjust them. That may not be possible depending on where they're bent. Adjusting either one 1/8" in length will have a major effect on handling and tire wear. How much shorter are those links now that they're bent? They aren't that hard to replace.

Caradiodoc
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 9:21 AM (Merged)

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