My car lacks a camber kit (?)

[Black03Marauder]

I went to the alignment shop and they tell me I can't get the camber done because my car didn't come with that bolt in the control arm that adjusts camber. Where can I get those bolts. Are those bolts all thats needed to adjust the camber.

Now a stupid question....If adjusting the camber is just turning a bolt and Ive seen camber gauges on ebay for $20....would there be any problem just DIYing this?

EDIT: to clarity stupid question, I still have to go to a shop to get the caster and toe done, so thats a stupid curiosity question, I have no intention of DIYing this

[STLR FN]

There are no aftermarket camber kits for this gen panther platform but camber can be adjusted. On the lower control arm there is a bolt that one would remove to put a camber kit. Take out said bolt and have your alignment shop grind off the "key" that prevents it from being adjusted and you now can adjust for camber. Sounds complicated but it is really easy to do. I'm sure others will chime in and explain it more in detail.

[magindat]

I've done the old skool drop a weighted string over the fender method for low riders that an alignment shop won't touch.

I wouldn't do this at home on the MM. It's twitchy enough. Get a carfixer spec alignment and find a shop that knows WTF they're doing and can get the right HW.

[Black03Marauder]

On the lower control arm there is a bolt that one would remove to put a camber kit
are you talking about this bolt? Because thats the bolt Im missing.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/Black03Marauder/S4AusenfileA0045419.gif

the bolt is located "at the forward pivot bushing of the lower control arm"

So is there a difference between what is pictured(a bolt and a retaining flag) and a camber kit?

[RF Overlord]

Get a carfixer spec alignment and find a shop that knows WTF they're doing and can get the right HW.^^^what magindat said^^^

If no one else gets to it first, I'll check the service manual when I get home.

The alignment shop I used came very highly recommended, and the tech told me the same thing, as far as it being non-adjustable. I took him the service manual and he read it over, then smacked his forehead and said "D'OH!" He had no problem aligning it after that... :D

[magindat]

My cafixer spec alignment was actually done by a CHEVY shop that just plain had good folks working there and a good rep.

[RF Overlord]

are you talking about this bolt? Because thats the bolt Im missing.The pictured cam bolt is actually missing?
So is there a difference between what is pictured(a bolt and a retaining flag) and a camber kit?In the FSM, the picture you show is Fig. 3, and it shows what's under the retaining flag after the flag is removed. I think my alignment tech had to torch it off, or use an air chisel.

So the bottom line is that once the retaining flag is removed, you now have access to the camber adjustment...no additional parts or kits are required.

[SergntMac]

(Hmmm...Zack and Mac camber kits...Nah...)

[Warpath]

... I think my alignment tech had to torch it off...

Eep. 67890

[STLR FN]

The pictured cam bolt is actually missing?In the FSM, the picture you show is Fig. 3, and it shows what's under the retaining flag after the flag is removed. I think my alignment tech had to torch it off, or use an air chisel.

So the bottom line is that once the retaining flag is removed, you now have access to the camber adjustment...no additional parts or kits are required.Black03Marauder^^^^^ What he said^^^^^. Sometimes I forget the technical terms .

[jimlam56]

Good info, just had mine aligned at Tire Kingdom.
They couldn't figure out how to adjust the camber, so I had them do Carfixer's specs on everything else. Had to twist their arm to go against "what's in the computer"
Gotta find a good alignment shop in Jacksonville...

[RF Overlord]

Gotta find a good alignment shop in Jacksonville...
I can't recall if Dennis does alignments, but if not, I'm sure he can recommend a good shop. :pimp:

[RF Overlord]

Eep. 67890 :confused:

[Dragcity]

Man, am I lucky. My Lincoln/Mercury dealer did this with narry a question asked. I brought them some exerpts of the thread on Carfixer's specs and they hit everything right on. They charged an extra 30 minutes for "Customer Specs", and I brought donuts and bagles, but that was it.

Does anyone else try their dealer? A lot of the guys in there are pretty good at what they do. Granted, some don't give a crap....

[Warpath]

:confused:

Depending on where the torch was placed and for how long, he may have annealed the bolt head and softened it or at least part of it. The bolt head may pop off later.

[Black03Marauder]

The pictured cam bolt is actually missing?
yes, when I went to the alignment shop, theyre computer had that same photo out of the FSM as the one I posted. he pointed to that little hole in the picture and said "there should be a bolt there." but now that I look at it, it looks like that flap of metal could come off. so is the bolt under that flap of metal?

(sorry about the size of this pic)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/Black03Marauder/100_0233.jpg

[RF Overlord]

That "flap" is the retainer flag that needs to be removed. To be honest, it's been a while since my alignment and I can't remember if the bolt head is actually covered by the retainer, or if there's a hole in the retainer so it sits flush with the top of the bolt (the car's not here for me to look at). That "little hole" is actually a locating pin...in your pic, the bolt head would be hidden by the bellows...if the bolt were actually missing, I think you'd have major problems...

[Warpath]

The car would be half way to the ground if the bolts were missing. The head pokes through the flag. The head of the bolt is broached on 3 of the 6 corners to keep the flag on. The cam is hidden behind it as mentioned previously. Knock those 3 stakes off and remove the flag.

[Macon Marauder]

Am I the only one thinking, "Don't go back to that shop"?

[RF Overlord]

The head of the bolt is broached on 3 of the 6 corners to keep the flag on. The cam is hidden behind it as mentioned previously. Knock those 3 stakes off and remove the flag.There you have it! Thanks, Joe (formerly Leadfoot)!

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Does the camber bolt have to be removed to get the flag off? The staking is broken between the flag and camber bolt on my car, but the flag is still installed. It was bent out of the way previously to allow adjustment but I'd rather just take it off. Would it be easier for me to hit it with a grinder?