Lower Control Arms and alignment done but ...

[V6_Man]

Here is what I need some help with and suggestion on.

Had front lower rear control arms replaced on my car and alignment done today. However, the guys at Kwikfit couldn't adjust the front left camber, which appears to be a it too out. It hasn't changed after the alignment. The rear right was slightly out but adjusted as could be seen in the below picture.

When I asked him the question technicians view was that;
1- Either the front left spring/damper needs replacing, or
2- Car was involved in a crash and therefore the chassis has to be moved to right to adjust the alignment.
I bought the car from an elderly couple last year, ran all the checks but nothing was found. The lady did mention that her husband hit the front bumper and wing while entering the drive way and one could tell by looking at the quality of the job done. I had it fixed straight after I bought it and my mechanic didn't notice anything either.

Previously, I could feel something wrong on the right hand side and with the control arms replacement that noise is now gone. However, after the above problem was mentioned today I could feel something not so right on the left (). Physiological.... I have driven the car at slow speed, done 70-80mph (off course on an empty road), emergency brakes and the car drives in straight line as well as doesn't swerve even when you apply emergency brakes. There is also no wobble in the steering wheel at any of the above speeds.

I wanted to ask whether the guys at Kwik Fit were being lazy and therefore couldn't be bothered. What do you guys think can be the problem and how can I fix the camber? Help me please - my wife thinks I am crazy and need to see a psychiatrist, I think it is a new garage I need to find for another opinion.

Thanks for your help.


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[GDCAUDIA4B7]

I'm guessing lower front control arm bolts seized and they couldn't be bothered!

 

[Charlie Farley]

front camber is not adjustable i'm afraid, well not using normal methods, only the toe in & out are adjustable...rear camber is though.

 

[V6_Man]

front camber is not adjustable i'm afraid, well not using normal methods, only the toe in & out are adjustable...rear camber is though.

Cheers @Just Rob. So you think the negative camber on the front right is what/how it should be? Is this normal? I know you have a Quattro and therefor different to mine but any ideas on what it should be?


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[Charlie Farley]

as my old bus is about 20 mm lower than its original s-line ride height , which was its factory camber setting, my camber is out aswell , not much though,
the only way I can get the camber back to factory specs is to get adjustable top arms and at £450 ish for the kit its not cheap but does solve the irritating non adjustable front camber problem.
If your car has factory spec suspension and bits you should have no issues with the camber unless the car taken a clout or similar, if you want to get it back to correct specs you'll need to find what changed and then go from there.

 

[V6_Man]

I'll see if I can find out a standard S-line alignment specs and compare how much out it is. I am not sure I'll be able to find out exactly what happened as the previous owner whom I bought it from was diagnosed with dementia and therefore had to sell the car. Not sure if he'd remember now that he once had a car.
I have checked the wear or the tyres and it appears to be fine. So, looks like I'll have to live with it.


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[V6_Man]

Right folks; something I should've done before going for alignment. Still not too late. Managed to find a really good read in case anyone in interested. Looks like negative camber is fine however I need to find out how to adjust (if possible) my front camber. Link below:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/477520-A-lot-of-good-Alignment-info


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[Beardymat]

Its always going to be a little awkward to diagnose the cause of the excess negative camber as there are multiple components to our front suspension. about the only part which would not change the camber is the shocker/spring assembly. It could simply be a worn bush or ball joint in any of the arms although I'm certain that would lead to noise you would notice. I would lean towards it being one or both top arms or the upright/hub as damage to a lower arm would tend to lead to positive camber. Not much help I'm afraid but that's suspension damage for you.

 

[V6_Man]

Its always going to be a little awkward to diagnose the cause of the excess negative camber as there are multiple components to our front suspension. about the only part which would not change the camber is the shocker/spring assembly. It could simply be a worn bush or ball joint in any of the arms although I'm certain that would lead to noise you would notice. I would lean towards it being one or both top arms or the upright/hub as damage to a lower arm would tend to lead to positive camber. Not much help I'm afraid but that's suspension damage for you.

Cheers @Beardymat. So, there is definitely some noise from front left not sure about others but definitely I can hear. There is also very little noise still when you are about to go full lock on both sides, very little. I did replace the front lower rear control arms on both sides. The tech said the upper were fine but it might be that they are not. I will take it to another garage and see what they can find. Pain these people are sometimes. It is in their interest to tell you what is wrong with the car rather than you asking them to.


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[hawkeye651]

Cheers @Beardymat. So, there is definitely some noise from front left not sure about others but definitely I can hear. There is also very little noise still when you are about to go full lock on both sides, very little. I did replace the front lower rear control arms on both sides. The tech said the upper were fine but it might be that they are not. I will take it to another garage and see what they can find. Pain these people are sometimes. It is in their interest to tell you what is wrong with the car rather than you asking them to.


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Mine has a similar issue - 60k miles and a noticeable graunch at low speed / on undulating ground /when loaded up - one independent specialist looked at it and NSF & OSF spring replaced along with lower arm bush. Much tighter at the front but the noise is still there! Round 2 - a second independent specialist is recommending replace OSF lower (rear) suspension arm as the bush is causing the issue (?) along with the suspension guide hydro mounting .....
Trouble is on flat smooth roads (?!) there is no noise at all so its difficult to show the engineer when you go to explain the fault.

 

[V6_Man]

Mine has a similar issue - 60k miles and a noticeable graunch at low speed / on undulating ground /when loaded up - one independent specialist looked at it and NSF & OSF spring replaced along with lower arm bush. Much tighter at the front but the noise is still there! Round 2 - a second independent specialist is recommending replace OSF lower (rear) suspension arm as the bush is causing the issue (?) along with the suspension guide hydro mounting .....
Trouble is on flat smooth roads (?!) there is no noise at all so its difficult to show the engineer when you go to explain the fault.

Exactly that. The guys this morning suggested changing upper arms however, he did mention they appear to be fine with no visible wear at all. You can hear the noise depending on the road surface, it is but there if they are using one of their 'quite Tarmacs' but definitely on the normal ones. The annoying thing was that he couldn't hear anything on either of the surfaces and looked a bit perplexed


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