Mis-aligned rear end

ReikokuKo · November 4th, 2011, 04:44 PM

I took my car to a different shop (just because I was in the area) for an alignment and they do theirs the old fashion way. The shop I usually go to uses the laser guided machine. This old school shop was not able to align my car because my rear end was not sitting center.

Visibly, I can noticeably see that my right rear tire is more flush with the fender than the left side is. And now that I think about that, I noticed that I bottom out on my left side often when making right turns. but never really bottom out on the right side while making left turns. (If there is an uneven-ness in the road during the turn).

Is this a control arm issue?

S281 · November 4th, 2011, 05:56 PM

very common issue with SN95 mustangs. I think its caused because of the rear and the body twisting during high torque. Mine was like this and i had the rear axle unbolted and moved over so it was in the center again.

cbjohnson9 · November 4th, 2011, 07:30 PM

Keep in mind these are production vehicles. The rear end might not looked centered between the fenders, but those are body panels, not suspension pick-up points. What matters more is if the suspension is centered with respect to the torque box pick up points, especially if you center your front k-member off the torque boxes. The best way to tell if the rear end is centered under the chassis is to hang a plumbob off the same point of the bolts that bolt the RLCA's to the torque boxes and measure that point perpendicular to the inner or outer line of the tire/rim.

A PHB can be used to recenter the rear end if it is off.

JoshC! · November 4th, 2011, 07:53 PM

Check your control arm bushings. This is a common issue with mustangs. It is usually a bad bushing or twisted control arm. I had this issue and it was from the bushings in one of the lower control arms and i had also tweaked the control arm.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using AutoGuide App

JoshC! · November 4th, 2011, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by S281

very common issue with SN95 mustangs. I think its caused because of the rear and the body twisting during high torque. Mine was like this and i had the rear axle unbolted and moved over so it was in the center again.

I don't see how you had it unbolted and moved over. The mounts are all welded in place.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using AutoGuide App

DickH · November 4th, 2011, 08:35 PM

If it bothers you too much and you dont see a bad bushing you can center your axle with adjustable upper control arms or a panhard bar. If it doesn't bother you you can just let it go.

ReikokuKo · November 4th, 2011, 09:11 PM

Visibly it does bother me a little bit but a bigger concern of mine is bottoming out on those turns (not that I'm hitting the turns at that high of a speed).

If it is a bad bushing or a twisted control arm, what happens next to fix it? The shop did mention something about something wrong with the control arm.

JoshC! · November 4th, 2011, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by ReikokuKo

Visibly it does bother me a little bit but a bigger concern of mine is bottoming out on those turns (not that I'm hitting the turns at that high of a speed).

If it is a bad bushing or a twisted control arm, what happens next to fix it? The shop did mention something about something wrong with the control arm.

new control arms would be next. go with a nice set of aftermarket arms

hooliganryder · November 4th, 2011, 10:36 PM

I had this problem a Month or two ago.. This is common among these cars.. Mine was about half an inch to the right.. I just Quit worrying about it

ReikokuKo · November 6th, 2011, 06:49 PM

I took it to a a shop to get it put on a lift and the left upper control arm was a little loose. The control arm wiggles in a direction that its probably not supposed to wiggle in.

So that would be more of a bushing right?

JoshC! · November 6th, 2011, 07:02 PM

thats what it sounds like to me

95mustangGT/SVT · November 6th, 2011, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by ReikokuKo

I took it to a a shop to get it put on a lift and the left upper control arm was a little loose. The control arm wiggles in a direction that its probably not supposed to wiggle in.

So that would be more of a bushing right?

Correct. If you have the cash just buy a nice set of new ones and make this problem go away.

Jazzer The Cat · November 6th, 2011, 08:41 PM

As others have mentioned, it is common for the rear-axle of a 4-link to be off-center. It may NOT be, relative to the frame, but probably is

This is RARELY an issue, so would look to some other possibilties as to why you have rubbing issues. If it is that bad and you want it fixed, the control arms you need would be dictated by the driving you do

*here it comes pepes..... wait for it.... WAAAAAIIIIIIIIIT*

What are the ULTIMATE goals for your ride?

Jazzer

JoshC! · November 6th, 2011, 09:40 PM

Jazzer and his famous line

November 4th, 2011, 04:44 PM	#1
ReikokuKo Regular 2001 Mustang GT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Covina Posts: 133 iTrader: 0 reviews	Mis-aligned rear end I took my car to a different shop (just because I was in the area) for an alignment and they do theirs the old fashion way. The shop I usually go to uses the laser guided machine. This old school shop was not able to align my car because my rear end was not sitting center. Visibly, I can noticeably see that my right rear tire is more flush with the fender than the left side is. And now that I think about that, I noticed that I bottom out on my left side often when making right turns. but never really bottom out on the right side while making left turns. (If there is an uneven-ness in the road during the turn). Is this a control arm issue?

November 4th, 2011, 05:56 PM	#2
S281 Regular Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 301 iTrader: 1 reviews	very common issue with SN95 mustangs. I think its caused because of the rear and the body twisting during high torque. Mine was like this and i had the rear axle unbolted and moved over so it was in the center again. __________________ 2002 4.6L 5spd w/bolt ons intercooled/Vortech V3 Si trim

November 4th, 2011, 07:30 PM	#3
cbjohnson9 Enthusiast 2001 Mustang GT Vert. Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 860 iTrader: 0 reviews	Keep in mind these are production vehicles. The rear end might not looked centered between the fenders, but those are body panels, not suspension pick-up points. What matters more is if the suspension is centered with respect to the torque box pick up points, especially if you center your front k-member off the torque boxes. The best way to tell if the rear end is centered under the chassis is to hang a plumbob off the same point of the bolts that bolt the RLCA's to the torque boxes and measure that point perpendicular to the inner or outer line of the tire/rim. A PHB can be used to recenter the rear end if it is off. __________________ Mods in garage

November 4th, 2011, 07:53 PM	#4
JoshC! I Hate Convertibles... 2000 GT Vert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Odessa, Texas Posts: 5,511 iTrader: 0 reviews	Check your control arm bushings. This is a common issue with mustangs. It is usually a bad bushing or twisted control arm. I had this issue and it was from the bushings in one of the lower control arms and i had also tweaked the control arm. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using AutoGuide App __________________ Im topless, are you? Topless Mustang Club Founder Black Stang Crew Member #boobs out mods/pics

November 4th, 2011, 08:35 PM	#6
DickH MM Fanatic 2003 gt 5.4 32v on the way Join Date: May 2007 Location: Omaha Posts: 4,191 iTrader: 2 reviews	If it bothers you too much and you dont see a bad bushing you can center your axle with adjustable upper control arms or a panhard bar. If it doesn't bother you you can just let it go. __________________ 2003 Mustang gt - usual mods - slowly working on 5.4 swap 2004 srt4 - Stock DD/winter beater Click here for your tuning needs Before asking a gearing related question click THIS link and enjoy all your saved time.

November 4th, 2011, 09:11 PM	#7
ReikokuKo Regular 2001 Mustang GT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Covina Posts: 133 iTrader: 0 reviews	Visibly it does bother me a little bit but a bigger concern of mine is bottoming out on those turns (not that I'm hitting the turns at that high of a speed). If it is a bad bushing or a twisted control arm, what happens next to fix it? The shop did mention something about something wrong with the control arm.

November 4th, 2011, 10:36 PM	#9
hooliganryder Regular 00 mustang gt Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: mcewen tn Posts: 393 iTrader: 0 reviews	I had this problem a Month or two ago.. This is common among these cars.. Mine was about half an inch to the right.. I just Quit worrying about it __________________ Cms stage 2 cams 04 explorer aluminum engine spec 3 clutch sct x3 k and n cai 410 gears underdrive pulleys roush short throw

November 6th, 2011, 06:49 PM	#10
ReikokuKo Regular 2001 Mustang GT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Covina Posts: 133 iTrader: 0 reviews	I took it to a a shop to get it put on a lift and the left upper control arm was a little loose. The control arm wiggles in a direction that its probably not supposed to wiggle in. So that would be more of a bushing right?

November 6th, 2011, 07:02 PM	#11
JoshC! I Hate Convertibles... 2000 GT Vert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Odessa, Texas Posts: 5,511 iTrader: 0 reviews	thats what it sounds like to me __________________ Im topless, are you? Topless Mustang Club Founder Black Stang Crew Member #boobs out mods/pics

November 6th, 2011, 09:40 PM	#14
JoshC! I Hate Convertibles... 2000 GT Vert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Odessa, Texas Posts: 5,511 iTrader: 0 reviews	Jazzer and his famous line __________________ Im topless, are you? Topless Mustang Club Founder Black Stang Crew Member #boobs out mods/pics Last edited by JoshC!; November 6th, 2011 at 10:16 PM.

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