Help required - New Springs & LCA's now steering wheel off center
#1
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Help required - New Springs & LCA's now steering wheel off center
Hi all -
I had it with the wheel hop I was getting so decided after reading about everything I could to do the following;
1. New Rear Springs - 55D Spring Kit (although not required while I was there I thought I'd replace 'em
2. Ford Racing Boss 302S Lower Control Arm Relocation Brackets
3. Adjustable lower control arms
I put everything in, adjusted the control arms to equal length and drove it. The steering wheel now is about 15 degrees off center.
I ordered an adjustable panhard bar which I should get on Monday but will that correct this or am I looking at an alignment???
Reason I'm a little upset, the 55D guys are spouting that "No alignment required after installation".
I had it with the wheel hop I was getting so decided after reading about everything I could to do the following;
1. New Rear Springs - 55D Spring Kit (although not required while I was there I thought I'd replace 'em
2. Ford Racing Boss 302S Lower Control Arm Relocation Brackets
3. Adjustable lower control arms
I put everything in, adjusted the control arms to equal length and drove it. The steering wheel now is about 15 degrees off center.
I ordered an adjustable panhard bar which I should get on Monday but will that correct this or am I looking at an alignment???
Reason I'm a little upset, the 55D guys are spouting that "No alignment required after installation".
#3
A Man Just Needs Some....
If the lower control arms are adjustable then yes it needs an alignment. Actually will need all four wheels to be checked and adjusted. Let the alignment technician know about the rear end modifications so he can get it all straightened out for you. Chances are your car is dog walking slightly right now.
#4
Those springs only lower the rear half an inch so you don't need an adjustable panhard bar, relo brackets, or adjustable LCA's. The only thing that could have affected steering is misadjusted LCA's. You'd have been better off with nonadjustable ones.
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Concerning adjustable vs non, I don't think you can add the lower control arm extensions w/o adding length to the control arms since the pickup point has now further away than before.
I just measured side to side and found that it's about .25 inches to the drivers side in other words it'd take .125 to the passenger side to be centered. Don't know what factory specs are.
Sounds like my best bet is to take it in and have them do a 4 wheel alignment to be sure.
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I adjusted both bars to be equal length.
Concerning adjustable vs non, I don't think you can add the lower control arm extensions w/o adding length to the control arms since the pickup point has now further away than before.
I just measured side to side and found that it's about .25 inches to the drivers side in other words it'd take .125 to the passenger side to be centered. Don't know what factory specs are.
Sounds like my best bet is to take it in and have them do a 4 wheel alignment to be sure.
Concerning adjustable vs non, I don't think you can add the lower control arm extensions w/o adding length to the control arms since the pickup point has now further away than before.
I just measured side to side and found that it's about .25 inches to the drivers side in other words it'd take .125 to the passenger side to be centered. Don't know what factory specs are.
Sounds like my best bet is to take it in and have them do a 4 wheel alignment to be sure.
#12
Mach 1 Member
I have 55d rear springs in my 2012 gt along with a roush uca and frpp lca,the wheel hop went bye bye and my front end alignment is still ***** on perfect,did not effect the front end at all.
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#14
Gotta love somebody who blames the springs for an alignment issue when he installed adjustable LCAs. These are pretty much a waste of time and effort on springs with that little drop...or ever for that matter. Doing your adjustments up top is way easier and never requires and alignment.
Relos change the position of the hole so you don't need adjustable LCAs even when installing these.
Relos change the position of the hole so you don't need adjustable LCAs even when installing these.
#15
Cobra Member
Not nice. Only way to learn is to do it and not pay a shop like most of us do including myself. He turned a wrench 1 cm more than I will when I drop mine, so props for that.
Last edited by 2012GT; 1/13/14 at 09:08 PM.
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Here's the latest -
Pulled out the old LCA's and measured center to center (18.5 in). Readjusted to 18.5 center to center along with installing the new adjustable PHB. Everything seems to be back in line again.
How is the wheel hop? Still there. I now have a noticeable increase in interior noise now from the LCA's. I'm a little surprised they're that noisy. Any additional ideas on calming down the wheel hop?
Pulled out the old LCA's and measured center to center (18.5 in). Readjusted to 18.5 center to center along with installing the new adjustable PHB. Everything seems to be back in line again.
How is the wheel hop? Still there. I now have a noticeable increase in interior noise now from the LCA's. I'm a little surprised they're that noisy. Any additional ideas on calming down the wheel hop?