Rear air struts replacement.. alignment needed?
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95elite
- SLE Member
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:05 am
- Year and Trim: 96 sse, 95 regency elite L67
- Location: crystal lake
Rear air struts replacement.. alignment needed?
Hello, just replaced my rear struts on my regency, driverside went fine, but the passenger side tire is slightly toed inward after replacement.. Not sure if I over-tightened the top mounting nut or if an alignment is needed. Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!
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RJolly87
- Certified Bonneville Nut
- Posts: 5403
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
- Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom - Location: Las Cruces, NM
Re: Rear air struts replacement.. alignment needed?
Replacement of the rear struts will require an alignment, but the only thing that should be affected would be the rear camber (top to bottom tilt of the tire) if everything was assembled correctly.
If the rear toe is out (left to right tilt), you may have bent a rear tie rod.
In either case, an alignment will either correct the problem, or flush out the problem so that it may be corrected.
If the rear toe is out (left to right tilt), you may have bent a rear tie rod.
In either case, an alignment will either correct the problem, or flush out the problem so that it may be corrected.
~Randall~
1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
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RJolly87
- Certified Bonneville Nut
- Posts: 5403
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
- Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom - Location: Las Cruces, NM
Re: Rear air struts replacement.. alignment needed?
Also, make sure you get a 4 wheel alignment. I had to convince the place that I took the car to that I wanted a 4 wheel alignment, and not just a 2.
They were somewhat leery, until the mechanic got it up on the lift, and went "Oh, okay."
I needed an alignment anyway as I hadn't had one since I had the car, and I had hit plenty of things :D
They were somewhat leery, until the mechanic got it up on the lift, and went "Oh, okay."
I needed an alignment anyway as I hadn't had one since I had the car, and I had hit plenty of things :D
~Randall~
1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
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95elite
- SLE Member
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:05 am
- Year and Trim: 96 sse, 95 regency elite L67
- Location: crystal lake
Re: Rear air struts replacement.. alignment needed?
I meant to say top to bottom, too. I guess what I don't get is why didn't I have the same problem with the driver side?? Would the wrong torque on the nut that connects strut to the bearing cause this issue? The alignment was straight on before this job..
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RJolly87
- Certified Bonneville Nut
- Posts: 5403
- Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 8:53 am
- Year and Trim: 1993 Buick Park Avenue
1994 Buick Regal Custom - Location: Las Cruces, NM
Re: Rear air struts replacement.. alignment needed?
No, you may recall that the two holes in the bottom of the strut tower, that the two large bolts go through were slotted. Those slots are what give the adjustability for the rear camber. You can loosen them up a bit, and then adjust the camber, and then tighten them.
I did the exact same thing on mine too. I was rushing, thought I got the adjustment close, only to find out that it was 3* in when it hit the ground. Don't worry about it, just get an alignment done, and be done with it. If there is going to be any issues, you will find out when the mechanic can't put an alignment on.
You probably just didn't get it close enough when you put it back together. Given that you are freaking out about it, you likely didn't realize it was adjustable when it all went back together, and didn't know to try and get it close.
Like I said, the alignment will get it all back in order, in which they will be loosening those large bolts anyway. As long as they are not in danger of falling out, there is no worry.
I did the exact same thing on mine too. I was rushing, thought I got the adjustment close, only to find out that it was 3* in when it hit the ground. Don't worry about it, just get an alignment done, and be done with it. If there is going to be any issues, you will find out when the mechanic can't put an alignment on.
You probably just didn't get it close enough when you put it back together. Given that you are freaking out about it, you likely didn't realize it was adjustable when it all went back together, and didn't know to try and get it close.
Like I said, the alignment will get it all back in order, in which they will be loosening those large bolts anyway. As long as they are not in danger of falling out, there is no worry.
~Randall~
1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place
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95elite
- SLE Member
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:05 am
- Year and Trim: 96 sse, 95 regency elite L67
- Location: crystal lake
Re: Rear air struts replacement.. alignment needed?
Sounds like I'm getting me an alignment then! You sir, are a gentlemen among scholars! Thanks for putting my mind to ease!