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Henry · Joined: 03 Apr 2001 Posts: 2878 Location: NYC

Just had a right ball joint replaced. Car seem seems to veer a bit to the right. Is this my imagination or is an alignment called for after a ball joint replacement?

alexgraf · Joined: 17 May 2002 Posts: 319 Location: Michigan, USA

There is no way of changing anything but the toe-in, which you can measure with a simple measuring tape or something very similar. I would start by switching the tires left to right and see what happens.
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Henry · Joined: 03 Apr 2001 Posts: 2878 Location: NYC

Thanks. Will switch tires.

Also, checked the tire pressure and that was off. This was a first for Discount Tires. Usually they don't make a mistake. Was told that there's now a "machine" to put air in tires since there was an incident with a tech and a faulty tire. Was told the machine was not functioning properly.

PJK · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:16 am Post subject:

I have another suggestion.

Find a good frame shop. Tire shops will be able to check your alignment and adjust toe-in. For anything else they will say you caster or camber is off- that will be $79 please. The BMW delear will sell you suspension parts, $$$.

The rear camber on my e30 was visually off. As you might expect it was eating tires. Freeman Frame in San Jose used a hydraulic ram to bend the swing arms into alignment. It cost me $150. I would have to have spent ~ $2000 at the dealer which was about half what the car was worth at the time.

Phil

Toby B · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 3 Location: Seattle

Hmm, possible something is binding- as noted, there's no adjustability in the
front.
A strut- top bearing that's frozen (mine were) or a missing shim
can add friction- then the steering kinda wants to point whichever
way it last went...

In the back, fwiw, there is some adjustability,
so no need to bend things on an E36.
(and on an E30, there are a few other ways too, but none so easy as an E36)

t
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really?