Alignment with 18's - Honda Prelude Forum

buckethead · 02-16-2002, 07:25 AM

I think I'm getting closer to having the dealership get this right...you may recall I have a hard right pull after installing 18" gtps with 215/35/18's.

Honda aligned to spec, but still pulled. Broke tires off wheels, remounted, rebalanced, and moved around. Still pulled. This eliminated any radial pull blame.

Honda installed shim rods to adjust the left caster to more negative than spec...still pulled, but not as bad!!! left at 3.9/right at 4.3.

It looks like if I get them to add another shim rod front I may get this licked yet.

Question - Any of you who've installed a camber kit, what are your settings for left and right? Perhaps if I can gather some of that info I can get Honda to provide a similar setting and be done for good.

I'm not lowered, I'm stock height, you wouldn't think that I'd have to make any adjustments other than toe, but I'll try anything at this point.

Any help would be appreciated..

Bucket...

jc836 · 02-16-2002, 04:20 PM

Now that I see the data-I can correct my offline response. Unless the car is an SH you are very far out of spec. You cannot go negative with the SH and do yourself any good at all. Both sides need to be within a very narrow range to each other (about 0.5 degrees). On a Base model such as mine the camber kit adjusted to +3.8 degrees on both sides, which is a good bit more positive than stock (but I'm lowered).
Spec's for the SH are much tighter and the only way the dealer (or anyone else for that matter) can really adjust it is with the laternate rods and a max of 2 shims. Base has shim adjustment only. My Specialty Products Camber kits (67135)have a range of /-1.5 degrees and can be set to correct Caster to a small degree.
Did you check the alignment using the stock wheels and tires?

I am beginning to wonder if there isn't something bent under your car. You may have to put it on a frame machine to properly inspect the mounting points among various possibilities. May I also add that the pull you describe is similar to that my GF had after her car was hit broadside in the right front fender-bending the wheel and damaging the rack and pinion unit. It was a parking lot wreck with no frame damage, but it never steered the same afterward-no matter what was done up to the time she traded it in (just keptfailing to keep toe-in). That example is part of the reason I would check very carefully underneath.
Want to continue offline, please do.

buckethead · 02-16-2002, 05:00 PM

It is an SH. The car is new, had 2 miles when I purchased it. So I'm hoping damage isn't a factor. Of course it could be. But Honda would have to tell me if I'm buying it new from them and the damage was while in their possesion(I'm guessing here).

I just put my stock stuff back on and it drives fine. We mounted my 18's on a friends 98 SH...drove perfect.

Apparently this setup will not work on my car..!!???!!!?? For some strange hidden reason...

I've setup my car right on the money per Honda SH specs, no good. I've had Honda adjust stuff, no good.

The only thing I haven't done is go to another shop with Hunter alignment equipment and let them have at it. I agree with you, I'd rather stay within Honda specs, but if another shop can get it, I'm keeping them.

If I can't get this right, I'm selling the GTP's with tires and going back to stock..

Bucket..

jc836 · 02-16-2002, 06:05 PM

Hey there-thanks for the update. The Caster should be at +4 degrees 20 minutes +/-45 minutes on both sides.
I will agree with you that the car, bought new, should not have any bent parts and I will also assume that you have not had any incidents. THus you should seek an independent check. I prefer the new BEAN Laser Visualigner machine, as it is extremely accurate and interactive. If there is a similar Hunter - then by all means.
I will await your update <BG>.