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Hateful camber problems

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Offline Digger

  • 1991
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  • 1996 Suzuki X-90 4X4
Hateful camber problems
« on: August 23, 2005, 12:20:23 PM »
Well, I recently swapped on a set of OME struts, with my already installed 1-1/2" coil spacers and I flipped the upper strut mounts back to stock location(since the OME struts are longer). After the install, I discovered my camber was way off, looked like this: /----\, so I loosened the bolts, drove in camber wedges and tightened them back up. This was how they were set up before I got the Tracker, with camber wedges and the upper spindle bolt was 3 sizes smaller than stock to give it some movement. I was able to get it perfect with this setup, but the left side ejected the camber wedge the first time I went off road and ended up allowing the spindle to shift in until I again had camber looking like this: /----\. I loosened the bolts on the left side again, positioned them correctly and really cranked them down tight(without the wedge since I lost it in the woods). The very next trip into the woods(sunday) and it shifted again. Needless to say, this is pissing me off! Anyway, to fix it this time, I decided to just get another bolt the right size instead of smaller so it wont have any movement. I replaced the upper smaller bolt with the full sized one, so both upper and lower spindle strut bolts are the full size 17mm ones. Even if these work loose, the spindle shouldn't be able to shift unless a bolt comes out completely. I have heard of people "ovalizing" the upper spindle bolt holes in the strut to allow camber adjustment, but how can this stay in place any better than what I had? It seems the only true way to address this would be the camber bolts if needed. It seems as if the OME struts are already designed to address the camber issue of 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" of front spring lift because it's really close with just straight bolts and no adjustment...
Had a cool sig pic till I changed the text... sigh...
90 Tracker: "Silver", 2" BL, 1-1/2" Coil Spacers, Strut mount flip, Calmini Header, Winch, 31" Swamper radials, Sold.
98 Suzuki X-90: Calmini 2" Sus, 1-1/4" whl spcrs, 2" Exhaust, Cobra Safari Bar, Neon, Sold.
96 Suzuki X-90: Mostly stock daily driver(for now)

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Offline bus_driver

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2005, 12:59:21 PM »
grab the camber bolts....had a similar prob on a lowered jetta of mine I gave up and got the proper bolts and wala fixed....
92 2dr soft top
2-1/4" cherry bomb exhaust
235/75/15
2 inch lift
custom mud

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Offline Digger

  • 1991
  • 1
  • Gender: Male
  • 1996 Suzuki X-90 4X4
Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2005, 01:09:09 PM »
Actually it doesn't look like I need them. I have yet to go to the alignment shop, but it looks really close now...
Had a cool sig pic till I changed the text... sigh...
90 Tracker: "Silver", 2" BL, 1-1/2" Coil Spacers, Strut mount flip, Calmini Header, Winch, 31" Swamper radials, Sold.
98 Suzuki X-90: Calmini 2" Sus, 1-1/4" whl spcrs, 2" Exhaust, Cobra Safari Bar, Neon, Sold.
96 Suzuki X-90: Mostly stock daily driver(for now)

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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2005, 01:20:03 PM »
It seems as if the OME struts are already designed to address the camber issue of 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" of front spring lift because it's really close with just straight bolts and no adjustment...

Yeah, I told you that before  :P. If you compare the mounts the OME ones are different to correct for the 1 1/2" of lift you get with the OME lift. The extra inch won't make too much difference.
2000 Vitara 1.6, 3+3 Lift, 33"MTs, 5:83s, LWB brakes, Winch, Snorkel, Safari Rack
1986 SJ413K PickUp, 1.6L conversion.

OBD1 - Full diagnostics on a PC/Laptop: http://www.rhinopower.org

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Offline Digger

  • 1991
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  • Gender: Male
  • 1996 Suzuki X-90 4X4
Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2005, 01:48:31 PM »
 :P ::)

Yeah, yeah... I guess I had to find out for myself! :P ::)
Had a cool sig pic till I changed the text... sigh...
90 Tracker: "Silver", 2" BL, 1-1/2" Coil Spacers, Strut mount flip, Calmini Header, Winch, 31" Swamper radials, Sold.
98 Suzuki X-90: Calmini 2" Sus, 1-1/4" whl spcrs, 2" Exhaust, Cobra Safari Bar, Neon, Sold.
96 Suzuki X-90: Mostly stock daily driver(for now)

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Offline ZeusZuki

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2005, 01:37:34 AM »
Hi Digger.
When I did a cheap lift on my old Kick I put in 40mm coil spacers up front and 50mm out back. Used different springs and ended up with 4" of suspension lift. To correct the camber I welded up the standard ball joint holes and redrilled them out another 18mm ( welded some flat bar to the ends to give me more steel to drill into ). I was using standard struts though so you need to experiment a little :).
If you can get a spare set of arms then use them to experiment with ;).

Good Luck :D

Zeus
1600 Escudo / Kick, beam front, coils all round, 37 MTR's, 97" wheelbase, locked fr & rr,twin stick, front stock ratio, Calmini 5.14 t box rear, Warn XD9000i winch, blah blah!

2.0 V6 auto, Calmini 3" kit, 33" jandles, LT struts, blah blah

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Offline explosivo

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2005, 03:18:27 AM »
If OME struts correct camber issues with stock A-arms, how well are they working for the guys here with the Calmini 3" lift and OME struts? Any camber issues, or do they work well with the widening mod? Mike? Zig? Anyone?
omghi2.us[/url]
"Its a ZUKI thing. Doing more with less than less with more." -- HotRod

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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2005, 04:40:38 AM »
If OME struts correct camber issues with stock A-arms, how well are they working for the guys here with the Calmini 3" lift and OME struts? Any camber issues, or do they work well with the widening mod? Mike? Zig? Anyone?

I still use the camber correction bolts. I don't think it really matters what lift you have, unless the nose weight is pretty close to that that the spring manufacturer used the camber is going to be out one way or another. Then there is spring sag to contend with too..
« Last Edit: August 24, 2005, 04:46:28 AM by Rhinoman »
2000 Vitara 1.6, 3+3 Lift, 33"MTs, 5:83s, LWB brakes, Winch, Snorkel, Safari Rack
1986 SJ413K PickUp, 1.6L conversion.

OBD1 - Full diagnostics on a PC/Laptop: http://www.rhinopower.org

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Offline zookiemike

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2005, 09:44:37 AM »
I had the camber bolts on my tracker back in the day. They shifted and threw my camber way off, But i didn't take it easy either. I'd say just put the right size bolt in there and drive it hard for awhile. Those springs settle right down after about a month. BTW, you love your Emu dont you 8) I miss her :'(

As we moving with the speed of the robot sonic exhaust
Chronic fumes, fuel, gin, and tonic
Half of the world is corrupt and alive
The other half is depressed and they want to die

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Offline Digger

  • 1991
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  • 1996 Suzuki X-90 4X4
Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2005, 10:08:53 AM »
My springs are already settled(well, the fronts, anyways, cause they're stock with spacers). I don't take it very easy on it, either. I don't have the OME suspension, just the struts and I love them!

Are the A-arm bushings available in poly? I think mine are worn out. It looks like they are allowing the arms to shift a little...
Had a cool sig pic till I changed the text... sigh...
90 Tracker: "Silver", 2" BL, 1-1/2" Coil Spacers, Strut mount flip, Calmini Header, Winch, 31" Swamper radials, Sold.
98 Suzuki X-90: Calmini 2" Sus, 1-1/4" whl spcrs, 2" Exhaust, Cobra Safari Bar, Neon, Sold.
96 Suzuki X-90: Mostly stock daily driver(for now)

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Offline explosivo

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #10 on: August 24, 2005, 03:19:25 PM »
If OME struts correct camber issues with stock A-arms, how well are they working for the guys here with the Calmini 3" lift and OME struts? Any camber issues, or do they work well with the widening mod? Mike? Zig? Anyone?

I still use the camber correction bolts. I don't think it really matters what lift you have, unless the nose weight is pretty close to that that the spring manufacturer used the camber is going to be out one way or another. Then there is spring sag to contend with too..
But from what I assume, the new A-arms that Calmini provides are designed to set the camber closer to stock with the taller springs... I just wondered how the OME struts worked with that setup since they adjust camber as well.

Seems that they work fine, since everyone that's posted that has them seems very happy with the setup.
omghi2.us[/url]
"Its a ZUKI thing. Doing more with less than less with more." -- HotRod

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Offline cj

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #11 on: August 24, 2005, 03:35:02 PM »
I had camber bolts with my OME + Coil Spacers and when I swapped to the Calmini 3" I used the OME struts and the Calmini strut spacers. I needed a camber bolt for one side only and even that was a marginal requirement.

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Offline ack

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Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #12 on: August 24, 2005, 03:44:39 PM »
Well, here goes...

Go to Ack's Suzuki Samurai/Sidekick/Geo Tracker FAQ Forum.  There you will find Version 2 of my Searchable FAQ system - this time using phpBB forum software as a search engine.

Use the Search feature to search for "camber bolt" and you'll find info on buying Camber adjusting bolts for your truck!

The Information Forum contains only "locked out" messages so a search will turn up ONLY information related to what you are looking for!

Give it a try!

Ack

'88 Samurai, '88.5 Samurai TT, '11 Ford Transit Connect XLT
Ack's FAQ  http://www.acksfaq.com

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Offline Digger

  • 1991
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  • Gender: Male
  • 1996 Suzuki X-90 4X4
Re: Hateful camber problems
« Reply #13 on: August 24, 2005, 09:18:27 PM »
Thanks for the link. I'll give it a try. :)
Had a cool sig pic till I changed the text... sigh...
90 Tracker: "Silver", 2" BL, 1-1/2" Coil Spacers, Strut mount flip, Calmini Header, Winch, 31" Swamper radials, Sold.
98 Suzuki X-90: Calmini 2" Sus, 1-1/4" whl spcrs, 2" Exhaust, Cobra Safari Bar, Neon, Sold.
96 Suzuki X-90: Mostly stock daily driver(for now)

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Offline chrisvitarasport94

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'94 3dr s/top Sport, roof bars, roof lights, Calmini bumper, SuperwinchEP9, CB & handheld, GPS, 2" body lift, skid plates, 2.5" susp lift, & hi-lift. Safari Snorkel. R Lockright