Camber

03Alerosil · 03-05-2016, 08:53 AM

Hey guys,
I'm having some alignment issues on myour 2003 Alero. Mainly the rear camber from the car having 167,000 on it and my twin 12 inch subs in the trunk. It's negative enough to make my tires bald on the inside within 30k. Are the strut holes oval? I hear cam bolt kits are bad. Any idea what I can do? I also have a front caster issue on driver side that may require a subframe shift as the car was in an accident in that corner before I owned it.

03Alerosil · 03-05-2016, 04:28 PM

Ordered myself some new monroe economy quick struts. I'm sure the mounts and struts need replacing too, not just the springs. Hopefully that fixes my camber issue even with the sound system

Papa Rad17 · 03-06-2016, 12:28 PM

you will have to have a proper alignment done at a shop after you install the quick struts. That's a good place to start. The sound system shouldn't cause that. Check your control arms. I went in for an alignment once, 6 months after just getting one, and found that one of the rear control arms was bent, really bad. Upon getting it repaired the car drove a lot better, but I had no idea before that, or how it happened.

sleepyalero · 03-06-2016, 04:35 PM

There is no camber adjustment on these cars. Simply bolt it up and it should be in spec - considering the parts are in good condition.

Usually, cars that have no camber adjustment and are out of spec need new strut assemblies to correct the issue. In your case, new quick struts should do the trick.

03Alerosil · 03-07-2016, 11:11 PM

All the arms are good. I've had to replace one of the in the rear already because previous owner thought it would make a good pull point. Man my rear toe was waaayyyy off. I don't even know how the car even went down the road.

I'm hoping this fixes my issue. I'm also installing new sway bar links up front with poly bushing and 2 new moog control arms up front as my right side one has a bad bushing. I'm not screwing around trying to replace just the bushing. Whole new arm is the way to go, especially on a car with 167,000

03Alerosil · 03-10-2016, 12:43 PM

Decided to work on my car today. Got new rear struts installed. Took around an hour with hand tools. Gotta love assembled struts!

Took a measuring tape now that I'm done and instead of sagging in the rear my car now sits 1.5" high in the rear like most aleros I have seen.

Taking a short break to level out my blood sugar and it's time for the front

falloutboy · 03-10-2016, 03:24 PM

don't forget to take pics

03Alerosil · 03-10-2016, 07:00 PM

Both front control arms and sway bar end links are now new as well as the outer tie rod ends. Went for a drive. Completely different car. Wow. Getting it aligned tomorrow but I got it close.

03Alerosil · 03-14-2016, 08:12 PM

Well guys I guess I can add 2 new front wheel bearings to my list. Driver side making noise like rumble strips so I'm doing both. Got 2 timken ones off rockauto for $144. Only thing left original in the front end now are the struts

03Alerosil · 03-21-2016, 08:36 AM

Got the wheel bearings in. Very easy job. I also installed my turn signal switch and wired a toggle switch by my shifter for the horn. Sure is nice having a horn back. Deer tend to not wanna move unless you have a horn

sleepyalero · 03-21-2016, 10:58 AM

Sounds like you just need a bull bar lol

03Alerosil · 03-27-2016, 08:11 PM

Oh yea sleepy lol. That would look just bitchin' on an Alero