1999 Volkswagen Jetta Wheel has negative camber

DAYCLONE

MEMBER
1999 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
86,991 MILES

Hello,

This is a 1999 VW Jetta GL MK3 old body style 93-99. Recently the vehicle hit a concrete curb and bent the axle and the tie rod. Both parts were replaced and we got it up on the alignment rack and aligned the vehicle. However, its straight as it can be, but the camber is off, and I understand that in VW's you cannot adjust the camber. So right now the wheel on the driver side front has a negative camber. The top is more inner to the wheel well, while the bottom sticks out more. What could be causing this issue and is there anyway to adjust the camber? I know apparently you can adjust two bolts on the sub-frame that may help? But please advise.

Is it possible that the strut could be bent? Because the vehicle drives fine, and no clunking noises or anything.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks.

4 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

Thank you for the donation,

You may well have a deformed lower strut or a bent lower control arm, with the amount of miss alignment you are indicating you may be able to see stress marks in the paint where it is bent, there is camber adjustment on the A3 platform suspension, your aligner will be aware of this, but with the amount of pos camber you indicate something will be bent.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Friday, November 6th, 2009 AT 11:01 PM

DAYCLONE

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16 POSTS

Thanks for the quick response. I will have to take some pictures and show you but lower control arm being bent wouldn't that cause a more positive camber? Like the top of the wheel should be out more. Than the bottom.

I'm suspecting maybe lower strut then could possibly be bent but I never went that far to investigate that. So I'll have to take a closer look tomorrow and go from there.

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Saturday, November 7th, 2009 AT 12:01 AM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there, when suspensions take a pounding like this one has they can do strange things, after 36 years in the industry there is one thing I have learned, never presume anything. Check and re check as its better to be thorougher and make sure then throw good money after bad chasing problem because all the basics went checked first.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Saturday, November 7th, 2009 AT 12:33 AM

DAYCLONE

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Hello Mark,

Thanks for the advice, wow. 36 years. I'm like 1/100th of that. Just starting out, and loving it so far! Pretty frustrated with this German vehicle but they seem to be fairly straight forward to work on, and learning new things as always.

I will check and re-check for stress marks and any signs of wear on the lower strut. I would suspect its the lower strut but I'm going to PHYSICALLY check it over that whole area and make sure first before I make a decision. After all, your right, its money were playing with and a lot of people don't have money for you to screw around with. So I have to be 100% correct with my diagnosis. Thanks for the help. I will update you and let you know.

Steve

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Saturday, November 7th, 2009 AT 12:40 AM