Rear Alignment Issues Solved
#1
04-27-2010, 06:31 PM
Rear Alignment Issues Solved
If the GE is anything like the previous generation there is no way to align the rear wheels. There are many of us with rear alignment issues. They are prevalent on stock suspensions never mind those, like me, who have lowered our Fits. The fix is not all that bad or expensive. But if you want a better handling car not to mention better tire wear it is worth doing.
The process involves machining the rear stub axle. The axle is basically a (ruffly) 5/8" of plate steel with the stub. The drum brake assy, bearings and wheel are all bolted to this. The stub axle is bolted on to the main axle by four bolts. Stripping the stub axle of all this only takes about 30 minutes, if that, if you know what you are doing. It is not that bad of a job by any means.
You do need a print out of what your alignment is before you do all this. Find a competent machine shop. Give them your stub axles and the alignment numbers. They will machine the flat plate steel so when you bolt it back on your car it will be in spec. This should be a one time shot if your alignment numbers were correct and the machine shop knows what they are doing. A little research into a good alignment and machine shop will go a long way here.
As for shims, do you want to bet your life on little plastic things (shims) bolted/torqued between two 5/8" of plate steel? The stub axle flange to the axle flange... For the life of the car? I for one don't. I did bring this up with a very competent auto shop. They laughed almost as hard as I did when I brought up the shim thing to them.
The process involves machining the rear stub axle. The axle is basically a (ruffly) 5/8" of plate steel with the stub. The drum brake assy, bearings and wheel are all bolted to this. The stub axle is bolted on to the main axle by four bolts. Stripping the stub axle of all this only takes about 30 minutes, if that, if you know what you are doing. It is not that bad of a job by any means.
You do need a print out of what your alignment is before you do all this. Find a competent machine shop. Give them your stub axles and the alignment numbers. They will machine the flat plate steel so when you bolt it back on your car it will be in spec. This should be a one time shot if your alignment numbers were correct and the machine shop knows what they are doing. A little research into a good alignment and machine shop will go a long way here.
As for shims, do you want to bet your life on little plastic things (shims) bolted/torqued between two 5/8" of plate steel? The stub axle flange to the axle flange... For the life of the car? I for one don't. I did bring this up with a very competent auto shop. They laughed almost as hard as I did when I brought up the shim thing to them.
Last edited by rocksnap; 04-27-2010 at 06:43 PM. Reason: shims
#5
04-27-2010, 11:45 PM
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1. Figure out which side is out of spec
2. Drive 35mph in a large open area
3. Turn the wheel 90 degrees in the opposite direction from the one the alignment needs to be adjusted towards.
4. Pull the emergency brake
5. ???
6. repeat until alignment is in spec.
Protip: once your car has rotated 180 degrees perform a j-turn to get a full 360.
2. Drive 35mph in a large open area
3. Turn the wheel 90 degrees in the opposite direction from the one the alignment needs to be adjusted towards.
4. Pull the emergency brake
5. ???
6. repeat until alignment is in spec.
Protip: once your car has rotated 180 degrees perform a j-turn to get a full 360.
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Jim Grames
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