Alignment done and still pulling, help me figure this out

[Matt V]

Hey guys, let's see if we can figure this problem out. I just got an alignment after installing the Tein S-Tech/Tokico Blue setup. Mind you, before the new suspension install I wasn't pulling at all, it was as straight as an arrow. Here are the new alignment specs:

Left Front
Camber: -0.9*
Caster: 1.9*
Toe: 0.13*

Right Front
Camber: -1.3*
Caster: 1.9*
Toe: 0.13*

Total Toe: 0.25*
Steer ahead: 0.00*

Left Rear
Camber: -0.8*
Toe: 0.13*

Right Rear
Camber: -0.8*
Toe: 0.11*

Total Toe: 0.24*
Thrust Angle: 0.01

Now, tires aren't an issue because they have about 8k miles on them and I've rotated them at 4k mile intervals (the second rotation I did today). The tire rotation didn't help so the tires aren't an issue. Now, I do notice that when I'm rolling at around 10-20mph if I have my windows down I can hear a slight grinding metallic sound on the drivers side. It sounds as though a caliper is slightly seized up (or this could be normal, not sure). The alignment specs are good, tires are good, brakes are questionable (haven't officially diagnosed it yet). But what are the chances of a southern car having a seized rear caliper? Is it more common on these cars for the front or rear calipers to seize up?

Please help me figure this issue out, it's bugging the hell out of me.

 

[BlackCherry]

Brakes maybe? Lift the car and see if any of the wheels are harder to spin, you might have a seized caliper?

 

[Matt V]

Alright guys I checked the allen bolt on the rear calipers. One was the correct tightness (passenger side) but the drivers side was free spinning more than normal. I tightened that up and now my brakes are good to go but I'm still pulling. I certainly hope it's not my suspension.

 

[big Lou]

I know when i lowered my car i had to take it to only one shop in town that does custom alignments for lowered cars.

 

[Matt V]

I had it done at NTB, and they have no issues with lowered cars. All of my numbers are in spec so there shouldn't by any pulling. Nothing is broken obviously because the car stays in alignment so no broken tie rods or anything.

 

[BlackCherry]

Are your wheels balanced?

 

[justanothermp5]

are the dots on top of the front struts facing the same direction? looks like u have more camber on one side so im gonna guess they arent

 

[Shadow102]

whats your tire pressure at?

.13* of front toe on the front is approaching the edge of the spec if i remember correctly...do yourself a favor and if you have it aligned again ask them to set toe at all four corners to 0.00 you will actually notice the car will feel better this way (all the protege's i have aligned for auto-x/performance driving have been aligned this way).

Also when you say its pulling can you elaborate, is the wheel being tugged out of your hand, can you force the car to actually stay straight, is it pulling hard or is it slightly drifting, ect.

 

[Matt V]

The car was actually pulling before I had it aligned, but now it seems like it's drifting rather than "pulling" but it's still a nuisance. Looks like I'll have to go to NTB again and get the toe zero'd out and see how that fixes it. Will 0.00 toe wear my tires anymore than factory toe spec?

My tires air pressure is even all around.

 

[Shadow102]

are your tires directional? if not swap the fronts from side to side you may have a slight conical wear going on causing the issue.

And no setting the toe to 0 will actually create less tire wear than the factory specs, in fact 0* on the front is still within spec and its just barely out of spec in the rear.

 

[Matt V]

Sweet! I'm at NTB getting it fixed now. I told them 0.00* toe all around, we'll see if they listened.

And my tires are directional so I can't rotate side to side.

 

[fateexceeds]

I had a problem with my old Protege ES still pulling after being aligned at my local Sears Auto. I eventually discovered the problem was that they were using the specs from the MSP (which compensate for the torque steer resulting from the turbo) because I had a Mazdaspeed decal on the front windshield at the time! I don't know if that's your problem, but it's worth checking out.

 

[Matt V]

Alright guys it's fixed now. The steering wheel was crooked so that really affected it. He straightened it out and put my toe at 0.00* all around, he was being a smart ass telling me it would eat my gas mileage. (lol) I told him I didn't care and that I knew my car better than he did.

 

[Shadow102]

lol if anything your gas mileage will go up...the car should also feel more responsive in the turns

 

[BlackCherry]

He probably didn't use a steering wheel lock when he did your toe you should make sure that he measured your included angle and sai too.

 

[mp3beast]

where should they be pointing to?

are the dots on top of the front struts facing the same direction? looks like u have more camber on one side so im gonna guess they arent

 

[Shadow102]

you should make sure that he measured your included angle and sai too.

whats the point? unless the car has been wrecked it should be fine and even then how are you going to change it

 

[BlackCherry]

whats the point? unless the car has been wrecked it should be fine and even then how are you going to change it

Your right, I'm just being too technical. Plus everything's straight now, so sounds good

 

[justanothermp5]

where should they be pointing to?

im actually not sure which way factory is but to get more camber in the front you can point the dots towards each other (towards the engine)

 

[raserx]

Matt I have the same issue with my car. I have changed brakes, tires, wheels, springs, struts, endlinks & had it all aligned, balanced etc and still can't resolve it. Must be a Yellow thing.