Suspension: Help please. Front camber way out?

[pierremcalpine]

Here are mine. I made an effort to take the shots from a vertical angle so any slant you see is the actual deviation from vertical when the wheel is fully turned one way and then the other.

[dingov70]

Afternoon , my first thing would be to stick my head under the front of the car & make sure front arms still have steering lock stops rivited/ fitted to front edge of each arm . Many cars develop strange angles on the front wheels on full lock , just look at any Merc being parked . & you therefore only measure caster / camber & toe in/ out in the straight ahead position .

Your settings are as follows

2003 v40

Caster range 1º preferred setting 4º

Camber range 0.5º preferred range -0.16º

Toe in ( in inches ) 0.15º+ to 0.05º-

Hope it helps you

[bobthecabbage]

Originally Posted by dingov70

Afternoon , my first thing would be to stick my head under the front of the car & make sure front arms still have steering lock stops rivited/ fitted to front edge of each arm . Many cars develop strange angles on the front wheels on full lock , just look at any Merc being parked . & you therefore only measure caster / camber & toe in/ out in the straight ahead position .

Your settings are as follows

2003 v40

Caster range 1º preferred setting 4º

Camber range 0.5º preferred range -0.16º

Toe in ( in inches ) 0.15º+ to 0.05º-

Hope it helps you

If the castor and camber are correct with the wheels straight then they should probably be correct when turned.

It would be your castor that is out I would think. This may be because the top mount is the wrong way round (if that's possible), the spring and seats aren't fitted correctly or the subframe isn't in the right place (if the lower arm attaches to it. I can't remember.

[skyship007]

Originally Posted by leasuresuitlarry

Haven't owned car in long time - v. expensive here in Norway.
Have 2003 V40 that has cost me an arm + leg (the costs make me cry).

Hit a curb at speed a few weeks ago, gouging my Front Right (FR) tire, which I replaced. Since then some vibration at 80-90kph (whole car + steering wheel). Had local Volvo garage look at it (expensive :-s) but they didn't find anything.

Just put on new summer tires. Parked car today and notice FR camber was alarming! Seems to be only when the wheels are turned (so it's a dynamic issue, not a simple dirt on the hub plates?).

Wheels all straight ahead, camber angle is about +/-1deg (measured with a phone).
Full lock (left): FL about -4degrees
Full lock (right): FR about -14degrees!

Is this dangerous (I see there is a definite weight transfer to the edge of the tire)?
What could be the problem / solution?

Incorrect alignment is only dangerous if it is so bad that it effects a cars handling. Obviously it will cause uneven tyre wear in most cases.

What happens when you are on a straight level road when you take your hands off the wheel ??
Is the steering wheel centered correctly ??
What happens when you bounce test each corner to check for sqweeks or clunks ??

No idea what is causing the vibration, but I would check the wheel nuts are torqued correctly and look for missing balance weights.
The most likely part to be damaged by a kerbing (My partner has proven this point several times), is a track rod end. They are not very expensive and fairly easy to fit, BUT the alignment has to be checked.

Some cheap non OEM alloy wheels can be bent enough in a kerbing to cause a vibration. If you think that might be the case, just swap the front wheels with the rear ones to see if it gets better or not.

There is no need to use a Volvo dealer to check for damage or do the alignment. Any good tyre shop can check for damage and do a full align job. In a real complex case, like a twisted frame, it's best to visit a good collision repair center.