how to adjust caster

[kms1990]

how does one adjust the caster angle on the p5? the guy at the shop i was getting my alignment at said they would have to drill new strut mount holes at a cost of $200-300 to adjust my caster, most front wheel drive cars caster is not adjustable. why would he even bring this up to me if mazda built the car to not have it adjusted? i put my own struts on with a couple of friends and took it to the shop for an alignment afterword, the only thing i can think of is we messed up the "default" or "factory" setting for caster when we put it back in, it was slightly positive(mount back, bottom of strut forward) from what i remember when putting it all back together.

so any other ideas as to why he even said something to me?

 

[brandini]

how does one adjust the caster angle on the p5? the guy at the shop i was getting my alignment at said they would have to drill new strut mount holes at a cost of $200-300 to adjust my caster, most front wheel drive cars caster is not adjustable. why would he even bring this up to me if mazda built the car to not have it adjusted? i put my own struts on with a couple of friends and took it to the shop for an alignment afterword, the only thing i can think of is we messed up the "default" or "factory" setting for caster when we put it back in, it was slightly positive(mount back, bottom of strut forward) from what i remember when putting it all back together.

so any other ideas as to why he even said something to me?

Maybe the top mount can be rotated, and sometimes those holes are slightly slotted. Otherwise if you have positive caster (top of shock tilting toward the front of the car) I'd check for worn bushings and look for bent suspension parts.

It's true some cars aren't adjustable (1st gen Mazda6 for example) but you can rig some stuff sometimes, or get camber plates as they sometimes increase caster.

 

[kms1990]

my struts sit at what i would say straight up and down they dont have and positive or negative in them

 

[brandini]

If alignments are done by a computer, what makes you think you can spot 1 degree of tilt?

 

[njaremka]

the top mount gets rotated to adjust camber / caster, and only up to 0.5 degree either way. its outlined in the shop manual.

 

[kms1990]

the top mount gets rotated to adjust camber / caster, and only up to 0.5 degree either way. its outlined in the shop manual.

that's what i would have assumed its adjusted by. not drilling holes in my car that are not needed!I matched the mounts up with the direction of the ones that came off (the little paint mark on both so should be setup right). it was the ntb near me i normally dont go to, and had i gone to the one further i normally go too this thread probably wouldnt exist! but the ntb i went to was closer and my alignment was way off so i didnt want to drive 7 extra miles after already going about 50 on it out. so i went to the closer one, it feels fine and drive straight after the alignment, and the only reason i use ntb is i can buy a 5 year unlimited alignment check/adjust for about 2 alignments done individually

 

[kms1990]

If alignments are done by a computer, what makes you think you can spot 1 degree of tilt?

i wasnt saying i could, i was saying it appears to be correct and i matched the mount location/position to the way the old one came off, so it shouldnt be off by more than a few degrees. plus as far as i know from reading ect, caster doesnt affect tire wear, just steering effort, without power steering and a couple other minor things, none of which feel any different from the way the car always drives

 

[brandini]

Caster is a gift from god himself, get as much as you can.

 

[njaremka]

the only adjustment that can really be made on a stock protege is toe. to get decent adjustability, you need camber bolts. and even then, you can't get additional caster.