Humble Nuto 53 Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 have a 3dr cpe 1986 d/r 5spd with the adjustable front struts. the adjustment is at its lowest setting, and im getting severe wear on the outside of the tyres. the struts appear to be stock, and i see no spacer inserted at the top. in theory, even if the previous owner had the springs stretched there should be no way to increase the distance between spring perches. there appears to be no adjustment at the point where the control arm meets the main member, and as we all know theres no camber adjustment provided where the strut meets the knuckle (rrrrrrrr). so what is the mystery issue? thx (wish i had saved a pair of non adjustable strut assy's, just to try em) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLCraig Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 Outside tire wear can also be cause by too much toe-in. But then again It's an early subaru so the amount of wear you have maybe normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humble Nuto 53 Posted March 6, 2005 Author Share Posted March 6, 2005 played with toes all winter, out in and in between, i dont have a pull to either side. certain its camber, can see em top out at rest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazmataz Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 have you had your car on an alignment rack to see what your numbers are??? its possible that something could be bent, too. played with toes all winter, out in and in between, i dont have a pull to either side. certain its camber, can see em top out at rest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humble Nuto 53 Posted March 6, 2005 Author Share Posted March 6, 2005 thats cheating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazmataz Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 ya, but it helps to know. is the tire wear even on both sides? thats cheating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humble Nuto 53 Posted March 6, 2005 Author Share Posted March 6, 2005 first noticed on passenger side, but after extensive screwing around with the toe, and getting it to drive straight with no pull, both tyres are showing the wear.... i have an ea81 with simular adjustible struts, cranked to top of adjustment... no camber issues, no uneven wear... ive been doing mickey mouse alignments on most of my cars last 27 years... this one has me stumped (hate to ask for directions ya know LOL) and now that im employed again, i guess i can squander the money on an alignment and new rubbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazmataz Posted March 7, 2005 Share Posted March 7, 2005 well, i really hate to say so but you might have to get an alignment that is done on a alignment rack, they can tell you if something is bent too that you can't see with your eyes. if they can't do anything as far as adjusting it so your alignment is right don't pay for an alignment until they can, they shouldn't charge you anyway unless they can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted March 7, 2005 Share Posted March 7, 2005 played with toes all winter, out in and in between, i dont have a pull to either side. Toe setting will not cause the car to pull to either side. Pulling to the side is caused by unequal camber or castor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craven Posted March 7, 2005 Share Posted March 7, 2005 Toe setting will not cause the car to pull to either side. Pulling to the side is caused by unequal camber or castor. I beg to differ. Your saying, If one tire pointing strait and one tire is pointing off to the right or left, the car is not going to pull one way or another.Craven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 No, when one wheel is toed in, it will just mean you steering wheel doesn't sit straight when your car is going straight. There is no "center reference" point on your rack, so one wheel being toed in by 1mm is the same as both being toed in by 0.5mm, and so on. Your car will still try to go in a straight line if your camber and caastor settings are equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craven Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 No, when one wheel is toed in, it will just mean you steering wheel doesn't sit straight when your car is going straight. There is no "center reference" point on your rack, so one wheel being toed in by 1mm is the same as both being toed in by 0.5mm, and so on. Your car will still try to go in a straight line if your camber and caastor settings are equal.Good point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruparts Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 My 2 cents, Is it possible that someone in the cars past put the wrong struts as in 86 EA82 4x4 type on your car , not knowing better of course, or the springs themselves could be from a different car maybe got switched in the past. Check the part no. on the struts as for early type ea81 application. Good point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humble Nuto 53 Posted March 8, 2005 Author Share Posted March 8, 2005 gentlemen, i believe we have a ringer. LOL ea81 spec struts in an ea82 body?!?! who would have thought. certainly does cover the issue in a nice bolt in theory gentlemen, i believe we have a ringer. will investigate and report. never throw anything away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humble Nuto 53 Posted March 11, 2005 Author Share Posted March 11, 2005 update: went to auto parts store to compare front strut specs, monroe book. all specs 4x4 86 hatch #71784 f+r 14.5" compressed 20.375 extended 86 3dr #71790 L #71789 R 15.25 comp 21.00 ext 91 wagon #71877 L #71876 R 14.00 comp 19.75 ext went to junkyard and measured 91 4x4 wagon strut between top of knuckle and top of bearing plate at 18.75". so it appears the 3dr cpe uses the longest strut available for the ea81/82 bodies. which kills the previous convenient theory of wrong strut for the body. next step is to pull the strut from the 3dr and pull the spring and see if previous owner has had the spring modified, and also see if some sort of spacers have been added at the knuckle (spoooky). im fairly certain theres no spacer at the top of the strut. any other ideas? anyone know if ea81 struts are different diameter at the knuckle compared to ea82? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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