Camber correction bushes - way of testing correct adjustment

[sinbrad]

Ok guys, I've had my powerflex bushes fitted and when I was looking at the car last night it seems as though my camber is still not right. Vx had stated when I collected the car that
the camber had been adjusted to as close as factory spec. As said though, when I look at the car from the rear the wheels still seem to tilt in at the top? The passenger side looks like it is more in than the drivers side? Is it possible to test for correct camber without having to take the car back to a garage?

cheers

[Mark1]

I'd look for someone that can do 4 wheel alignment as I dion't think a VX dealer will have this sort of kit.

I know this is way down south and not any use to you but will give you an idea of what I mean. My son had his check by this company after fitting coilovers to his Corsa and he said it felt so much better when done.

http://www.elitedirect.com/06a-alignment/index.html

[Stupink]

powerflex bushes are poooh, and or i dont understand physics enough to fit them properly and/or parts were missing with mine. i don't know how vauxhall have fitted them, but they usually just spin back around to whatever setting they like the second the cars put on the ground... so to hear one side looks different doesnt supprise me one bit..

check it back on another 4x4 setup and/or just use a spirit level agaist the bottom of the alloy and a steel rule to meaure how far in they lean, they should lean a bit so thats normal.
I had to modify my powerflex ones to get them to stay still though. like i say didnt bother ask powerflex how to install them or check bits wernt missing though as i needed to get the job done.

[sinbrad]

I did initially speak to powerflex but the guy on the phone couldn't provide much help. When I finally got through to someone who seemed to know what I was talking about he said he
knew what had happened and that I had infact been supplied with half a kit! When I made my initial order and asked for 2 x standard and 2 x eccentric the guy thought I was only asking for
half a kit and went with that so instead of receiving 2 x standard (4 pieces) and 2 x eccentric (4 pieces) I got 2 pieces for each bush! Will do the spirit level thing and measure the difference on each side. What should the measurement be if the camber is within limits?

cheers

[Stupink]

I believe the rear camber spec is -1degree 10minutes to maximum of -2degrees 10minutes. so you'd need to do some measurements and math and calculate the angle.. it wont be very accurate, but it should be accurate enough to check any difference between the two without doing the math.

to be honest, that still doesnt answer the question of how you fix them in place, as the second you put the car on the road they are free to spin back wherever they want ajustable or not.

The best ajustment I could get out the powerflex ones was "almost" in spec at -3degrees 6minutes after setting them for what looked like maximum ajustment, then welding on some tabs to the chassis/suspension arms that I could hammer over the bushes to hold them in place and stop them spinning.. bit of a bodge.com

[sinbrad]

I know what you mean. I did call powerflex yesterday and they said that as long as the bolts etc are tightened to the correct tolerance then the eccentric bushes shouldn't move? I believe that's in theory and not in practice!

[Stupink]

I know where they are coming from, and while i can't remember what the reason is, im sure they dont tigten like that, i think the gaps are too big or it clamps onto the polyeurathane rather than the metal insert or something or other that means it just doesnt work lol.

The gmac ones have a castelated/ridged area on the edge of the bush that grips the suspension arm as its tightened onto it, stopping them rotate.

[Richiem]

I had all the above issues with my 4x4 cali guys and it drove me mental..
With these type kits, they need to be adjusted with the car on ramps under load in a specialist alighnment center..
Must say, i still found they wernt that good on calis..
I ended up buying the k mac kit for £180
Must say! fantastic bit of kit that..
Fitted myself and had a local 4 wheel alighnment center set them up!!
Got rid of my rear camber issues i had straight away.
They also allow adjustment on the toe aswell..
They also come with a very usefull bush removing tool:D

Must add that battered rear sub frame bushes play a big part in the way the rear wheels sit on calis also.
( nobody ever checks these out)
When i checked mine they were rotten and allowing the rears to sit unevenly..
These bushes support the rear trailing arm , so if they are naff they allow the arm to drop uneven..

I changed them out and not only did it improve the sitting of the rear set up, but also the handling of the car..

Ive had the k mac kit fitted for over a year now and it hasnt budged since.. ( checked last week)
Would recommend to anyone with camber issues8)

[pappasmurf]

Iv got a gmac kit sat in my garage, about time i got it fitted then!