Stock 1991 Corolla Positive Camber

[mofrowz]

Hello all,

I have an unmodified '91 Corolla, standard sedan with a 5 speed manual. I just replaced the front and rear struts, CV axles and seals,tie rod ends and ball joints. Doing this has stopped my steering from vibrating when driving above 65mph and made it a lot nicer to ride in. The problem I'm having now is that I have positive camber on both of my front wheels. I've searched google and TNF but I haven't been able to find anything about solving this problem on a Corolla with stock suspension. There's plenty of advice for adjusting aftermarket struts, but they all seem to have an area for adjustment at the top of the strut. Any advice would be appreciated and pictures would be very helpful.

This is my first post and I am sorry if I'm not adhering to proper posting etiquette. I've read the rules and done my best to follow them. Any constructive criticism on how to post more effectively would be very helpful.

Thank you.

[eage8]

can you post a picture?

it shouldn't be positive as there is no stock adjustment for it.. the only thing I can think of is you installed something incorrectly or got a wrong part.

[mofrowz]

Unfortunately I don't have a camera available, but I could see if my room mate does tomorrow afternoon. The only points of contact on the hub are the strut, tie rod end, ball joint and cv axle. I know the tie rod ends only adjust toe in/out and the cv axle doesn't effect the alignment. I know the springs are situated in the struts correctly and there doesn't seem to be any room for adjustment where the struts mount to the hub. The only other thing I could think of is that the mounting brackets for the ball joints are a different length but I made sure to check before installing and I couldn't notice a difference. That or the plate that mounts the top of the strut to the car has an angle pitch and needs to be taken out, rotated one hole and put back. If this makes any sense or anyone has any input that would be great. If i should just let it go until I put pictures up just let me know. Thanks.

[eage8]

yeah, exactly.

the strut mounts to the center of the strut top, so the orientation of that doesn't matter.

are you sure you put the struts on the correct side?

[blb]

Originally Posted by mofrowz

...... and there doesn't seem to be any room for adjustment where the struts mount to the hub.

There actually is a small amount of adjustment at holes that the bolts go through that fasten the bottom of the strut to the hub.

[Mr.Nutcase]

You need a alignment...
Where the steering knuckle and strut meet, there is where is the adjustment is made..
Any time you remove suspensions/ part you need alignment
*(not need when replacing the sway bar links/ or bushings)
Steering is done by the tie rod..

[eage8]

Originally Posted by Mr.Nutcase

You need a alignment...
Where the steering knuckle and strut meet, there is where is the adjustment is made..
Any time you remove suspensions/ part you need alignment
*(not need when replacing the sway bar links/ or bushings)
Steering is done by the tie rod..

No you don't... the play in the bolts is so minuscule it won't make a difference.

The only reason he would need an alignment is that his car sits a little higher due to the new struts, which again will change toe. and even if that's the case he should still wait a while for the suspension to settle.

he didn't touch the tie rod, so the adjustment hasn't changed. and the tie rod also only affects toe, not camber.

I've replaced struts and wheel bearings and whole knuckles before and checked alignment afterwards and it was still perfect.

[mofrowz]

Originally Posted by eage8

yeah, exactly.

the strut mounts to the center of the strut top, so the orientation of that doesn't matter.

are you sure you put the struts on the correct side?

They only came labeled as front and rear, not left and right so I don't think they're on the wrong side.

There actually is a small amount of adjustment at holes that the bolts go through that fasten the bottom of the strut to the hub.

There's such a small amount that I just can't see it causing the amount of positive camber that the car has.

The only reason he would need an alignment is that his car sits a little higher due to the new struts, which again will change toe. and even if that's the case he should still wait a while for the suspension to settle.

I think you meant that the car sitting a litter higher would change the camber, not the toe right? If that's the case then this makes the most sense because the front end does ride a little higher than before. Do you have any idea how long it usually takes the suspension to settle? It's wearing my tires fairly quickly but I'd like to let it settle before I go get tires and an alignment.

Thank all of you for your time.

[eage8]

Originally Posted by mofrowz

I think you meant that the car sitting a litter higher would change the camber, not the toe right? If that's the case then this makes the most sense because the front end does ride a little higher than before. Do you have any idea how long it usually takes the suspension to settle? It's wearing my tires fairly quickly but I'd like to let it settle before I go get tires and an alignment.

Thank all of you for your time.

No, I meant toe.

when your suspension changes height it changes the angle of the tie rods which in turn makes them pull the hub in on the back side which increases toe out.

Toe wears your tires out much faster than camber will. It only takes about 500 miles for the suspension to settle and if your at stock ride high small variations in height won't affect it that much.

If you are actually getting increased tire wear take it to a shop and have them check your alignment. Your camber is probably fine.

[toyotaspeed90]

in my aw11 there are camber-adjust eyebolts for the upper strut bolt (where the strut bolts to the hub). I was pretty sure that the ae92 has these as well (could be wrong, though).

[eage8]

Originally Posted by toyotaspeed90

in my aw11 there are camber-adjust eyebolts for the upper strut bolt (where the strut bolts to the hub). I was pretty sure that the ae92 has these as well (could be wrong, though).

nope, my subaru has those stock too, but AE92s don't. I know, because I have aftermarket ones in mine

[SuperRA]

Yea I got aftermarket eccentric bolts for my AE92 as well. Perhaps toyotaspeed got lucky and got a car with them from the previous owner?