What else affects rear camber other than ride hieght

[milehighXR]

Like it says. I am doing work on the rear of my xr and have new 9.5" tall 600 or maybe 650 knobs springs and my ride height with .850" spacers is 14.25" and camber is still out of spec. I have all new orange bushings.

[John Brennan]

How's your diff mount? They get old and sag as well, doing the same ting as sagging springs. Also, you're sure there are no shims installed or anything, right?

[milehighXR]

Stock scorpions arms and newish Mc2 digit mount with yellow bushing. Incidentally when I put it in it made no difference in my rear camber by itself...

[Esteban]

Whats the rear camber at? Regardless, shim the carriers to get you where you want to be.

[milehighXR]

Measuring it tomorrow, but I know it's more than -2.5 that the service manual indicates is acceptable at the ride height I'm at now. I have some nice cams from SPC that I will be using to dial in the final adjust on the rear for both toe, and camber, but I want the camber as close to minus 1, or minus 1.5 before I put the cams in. I think they will give me almost 2 degrees of adjustment.

I'm not gonna shim the carriers, that won't give me the ability to adjust as needed down the road.

[Esteban]

If you've already replaced the springs and rear diff mount and are at the ride height you want now, then there is nothing else to do that will improve your camber. You can shim now or just install these cams in now to get you there. The shims are reversible and will allow you to get the car back on the road sooner.

[milehighXR]

I'm not really sure I'm at the ride height I want. I've never been able to find numbers on what the "stock" ride height is. With my old saggy springs I was bottoming out in certain types of road conditions, and when I installed these springs with no spacers, it was significantly lower than what I had been at with saggy springs, and no where near where I felt I should be.

I'm at 14.25" right now IIRC, and without my spacers that I made, I was at 13.625" give or take few thou...

[Esteban]

What springs are you running up front? As the front height will affect the rear height. I wouldnt shoot for a number but aim to make it look good with the current front ride height.
But no matter what you do, the rear camber will not get better than -2.5* without shims or slotting the STA's or installing those eccentrics you have.

[merk23literturbo]

What else affects rear camber other than ride height

The weight of the driver! LOL

[milehighXR]

I'm not heavy enough to justify sitting in the car while someone does my alignment, nor am I racing at a highly competitive level... However I did make sure that the trunk is empty of all unnecessary items.

[milehighXR]

took some actual measurements today,

right rear is -1.25 degrees

and left rear is -1.75 to -2.0 degrees

Ride height on both sides is identical at 14.25" wheel well lip to center of wheel hub. These numbers are a lot closer to what I am after but the left side is still more than I want. Granted it is within the service manual specs, just not what I am after. I will save up the coins and finish the front end before I mess with any adjustments, or cams. I still need the bushings for the front top of springs before I can start on the front end, as well as make the sleeves for my Scorpio knuckle to XR struts...

[DPDISXR4Ti]

took some actual measurements today,

right rear is -1.25 degrees

and left rear is -1.75 to -2.0 degrees

Either your left control arm or beam is bent. Odds are higher on the beam. Replace or bend as needed.

[CV12Steve]

took some actual measurements today,

right rear is -1.25 degrees

and left rear is -1.75 to -2.0 degrees

Either your left control arm or beam is bent. Odds are higher on the beam. Replace or bend as needed.

Beam itself, or the arm mounting ears? They're like tissue paper.

[Bob Weir]

Hi Johnny,

A few ideas for you to consider:

How about bushings between body & cross member? And all the front suspension bushings?

Once upon a time [long long ago] when I was reduing my 94 Benz wagon [160k] my [only do MBs] maniac simply said, It'll never be right until ALL the bushings are R&Red. 4 wheels on the ground = all the bushings & suspension arms & location points.

Considering the limited suspension adjustments of the Merkur suspension, I'd consider every mounting point when trying to reach the geometry you're after.

[milehighXR]

All rear bushings are new, which I did state in the first post. The I don't have all my bushings for the front yet, so I'll wait for final judgement until then. I can put cams in the rear, no biggie. I'm within the range of adjustment now.