Alignment and suspension stuff

[kelli217]

Maybe you've read my post about the sad sad story of a girl who was stupid. Maybe not. But this post relates to that.

So, anyway, I have two new tires on the front. I don't have a lot of money, so I didn't get Eagles or Potenzas or anything like that; I got Daytons. Blast me if you want, but I'm a civil servant and I have a mortgage.

Anyway, the old tires were extremely worn on the inside edge of the tread (the side of the tread toward the car). This obviously means that I have too much negative camber, and I will need to get the front suspension aligned soon.

However, there are things that make me think the problem is worse than can be cured by a simple alignment. The left front corner of the car groans when the suspension flexes. I think the strut needs to be replaced. I am sure that this is one of those things that should be done in pairs, so... here's my question:

If I don't want anything special, but just plain OEM stock struts, how much am I likely to have to pay for them... and have them installed? (The last time I worked on a car's front suspension was when I replaced the inner control-arm bushings on my 1971 VW Super Beetle, and that has been 6 or 7 years ago.)

[Vinny]

Check with a few local garages, price varies from place to place. I just put a set of Monroe sensa tracs all the way around on the sedan and they ran me like 58 or so for the fronts each and 38 or so each for the backs. I put them on myself, just because I can. I did have to have a local goodyear shop do the fronts because they didn't have a spring sompressor that fit small struts at the hobbyshop on base. They charged me 25 freakin bucks just to put 2 springs on 2 struts. Then I had to install them. If you find a decent priced shop have them check your front suspension as in upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ands, radius arms and things like that. I know it's pricey but its better to do it all at once if it needs it since you have toi remove somethings to fix others, if ya get my drift

[Dibbs]

Vinny, you can use the rental spring compressor to do your fronts, you just gotta beat the hell out of those fat hooks until they pop into the spring!

<warning>
Do not try this at home.

[DBMaster]

I used the free rental spring compressors from Auto Zone and they worked just fine. You can buy a set for $10 if you want to keep them.

Your negative camber cannot be corrected without the installation of camber kits. I had the same problem with my front right tire for years and finally corrected it with a $75 camber kit on that side only. I think in the long run that is a much easier way to go than messing with getting used Prelude control arms, putting in new balls joints and then rigging them with washers. Either way, though, you need to modify the suspension to have adjustable camber. On the up side, though, once it is adjusted it pretty much stays that way.

[Vinny]

OK correct me if I'm wrong but the accord is set up for a 0 degree camber. SO if you are having camber issues,that are not correctable with new parts it would lead me to think you would have to have a bigger problem. Possibly something bent subframe, knuckle, lower arm or radius rod wise

[AZmike]

Originally posted by kelli217
the old tires were extremely worn on the inside edge of the tread (the side of the tread toward the car). This obviously means that I have too much negative camber, and I will need to get the front suspension aligned soon.

I was getting what looked like wear from excessive negative camber. It turned out that my toe was off and my camber was within specification. You can estimate your camber by measuring the position of the top and bottom of the wheel relative to some known vertical surface. A little trigonometry will tell you your approximate camber angle.

[kelli217]

Originally posted by Vinny
OK correct me if I'm wrong but the accord is set up for a 0 degree camber. SO if you are having camber issues,that are not correctable with new parts it would lead me to think you would have to have a bigger problem. Possibly something bent subframe, knuckle, lower arm or radius rod wise

Aha! Okay, that makes sense too... toe-out would also wear out the inner edges -- of BOTH tires (after a bit of thought, I realize it's unlikely that the camber would go bad on BOTH sides of the car). So then that's an alignment problem, but one that can be fixed by an alignment. But I still probably need struts.

So far, though, I have yet to see any prices for getting two struts purchased and professionally installed. I see $55-$60 for each front strut, but no estimates on labor.

I'm going to have to save up for this; I just need to know how much I need to save.

[Vinny]

I def think the tire wear is more than likely alignment issues. I need mine done the front tires are wearing all wrong on the inner edge of one and outter edge of the other. They are also wearing in high and low spots because my struts were dead You should just wait until you get the struts done then have them do the alignment at the same time. But thats just me

[Justin86]

Then struts are not to hard to change. Just need a 12mm socket a 14mm socket and a 17mm socket and wrench, also some WD-40 or a pentrating oil for the stuborn bolts. Then a jack to lift the car and just remove the wheels. I can do all 4 struts in about an hour.

[kelli217]

Okay, well, back when I changed out the control arm bushings on my VW I had access to a lot more tools, and more room. I was able to put the car up on jack stands in a garage. Now I live in a small condo, no garage, rules against working on my car in the parking lot. This is why I want to know how much a shop is likely to charge.

BTW, I said something that in retrospect sounds kind of silly. "It's an alignment problem, but one that can be fixed by an alignment." Just to make it clear, I mean: it can be fixed by adjusting the suspension components, not replacing them.

[Justin86]

Well you have really confused me about your alignment. If your car is not lowered then you don't need a camber kit. For the struts I would plan on paying for 1hr of labor. Ask some mechanics how much their labor is and how long it will take them to put on the new front struts. To bad you didn't live closser to someone that does have all the tools.

[DBMaster]

If your car is not lowered then you don't need a camber kit.

Not necessarily true. My car is not and has never been lowered. The negative camber error was a factory defect on my car. Theses are VERY common on Hondas and Acuras which leads me to wonder why most of them do not have adjustable camber!

Anyway, the two ways for me to fix mine (front right only, the left side was fine) was to take it to a frame shop for bending ($250), or install a camber kit ($75). The choice was obvious.

Now, my tires finally wear evenly. It was well worth the $75 because my tires are over $400 a set.

[goldyaccord]

Originally posted by Justin86
I can do all 4 struts in about an hour.

Yep! So can I! Easy Japaneasy!

[kelli217]

I've confused you?

No, my car is not lowered (though it does seem to ride a bit low in the front). From what Vinny and AZMike have said, though, I no longer believe the problem is camber, but rather toe-out.

It needs new struts, I'm almost certain of it, because of the groaning sound it makes when the front suspension moves. I also think that's why it rides a little low in front. Hopefully, once I get the new struts and the alignment, the tire-wear issue will go away, but it will take a few months to be sure.

But still no one will tell me how much a shop is going to charge me. I really don't have the facilities to do this myself. I do not own any significant number of tools, nor do I have access to a place where I can put the car up on jack stands to do the work.

[Vinny]

like I had said before the best bet for you would be to just call few local shops and get some quotes, it won't be near as cheap as doing it yourself of course, but seeing as how you have limited tooling and space it will be safer. Alot of us on here know the ins and outs of our cars, more out here don't so just because we say its easy doesn't mean it will be for you. Make some calls to a few tire places and garages in your area and see where that takes you. I can't remember what I got charged to do stuts last time because it was so long ago and they were done on a 5.0 mustang and a 94 thunderbird. I wouldn't even want to take a guess. anything else ya need feel free to yell

[NeubJ]

Originally posted by kelli217


So far, though, I have yet to see any prices for getting two struts purchased and professionally installed. I see $55-$60 for each front strut, but no estimates on labor.

I'm going to have to save up for this; I just need to know how much I need to save.

A few places I called (brakes plus -Midas) wanted around 250-300 or more to install brand new struts in the front. Ask too if they have a compressor for mcpherson struts because big o tires couldnt do them.

After taking the whole strut/spring assembly off I took them to a shop and had them install the new strut (saved me about 200 bucks in labor)