E Meyer wrote:
> On 11/25/05 6:03 PM, in article
> jason-2511051603060001@pm1-broad-126...dialup.fix.net, "Jason"
> <jason@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>
>>In article <zeNhf.5319$N45.4737@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink. net>, "Elle"
>><honda.lioness@nospamearthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I am pretty sure only the toe of the front suspension can be adjusted on the
>>>94 Civic (as well as most other Civics). If camber or caster (the only other
>>>two alignment settings) are off, then a suspension part is bent, worn, or
>>>damaged. You can google and find many web sites that discuss toe, camber,
>>>and caster and how their being out-of-spec may affect tire wear. For
>>>example:
>>>
>>>http://www.procarcare.com/includes/c...clopedia/ch25/
>>>25readtirewear.html
>>>(notice that this site says inner tire wear indicates out-of-spec camber)
>>>
>>>Does anyone else drive the car? If so, could they have hit something?
>>>
>>>Keep checking back for input here, but I would feel very confident ordering
>>>only a front alignment. If the shop is worth its salt, it will take a few
>>>minutes and see if anything is obviously amiss with the rear suspension.
>>>
>>>Get the new tires first, then have the alignment done.
>>>
>>>For an overview of your Honda's suspension, steering, and alignment, go to
>>>www.autozone.com . On the left, click on "Repair Info," then "Vehicle Repair
>>>Guides." Click on car year, make, and model, etc. Go to the section on
>>>suspension and steering, etc. The drawings should help you to discuss this
>>>with your shop.
>>>
>>>My 1991 Civic with 172k miles has never had an alignment done. Tire wear is
>>>even. I drive pretty conservatively but sometimes on back country roads.
>>>
>>>I for one would welcome an update on what the shop finds. Good luck.
>>>
>>>"Dustbucket" <jpk@tidni.com> wrote
>>>
>>>>The front tires on my 1994 Civic EX coupe are wearing unevenly. The
>>>>inside edge (2-3") of both tires has worn down almost to the belt.
>>>>I'll be getting new tires and a 4-wheel alignment in a couple of days.
>>>>However, I'd like to be a bit more informed about what might be causing
>>>>the problem, and be prepared if the alignment guy says I need major
>>>>suspension work.
>>>>
>>>>So, any ideas what might be causing the problem? And, if I can't get
>>>>the alignment done at the place I buy the tires, should i get the
>>>>alignment or the new tires first?
>>>>
>>>>details: tires have been properly inflated for the most part, no work
>>>>done to the front end recently (save for new front brakes), no hitting
>>>>of curbs or major potholes recently, first time this car is having an
>>>>alignment done.
>>
>>Hello,
>>This question is for the original poster (OP). Did you buy the car new or
>>used. I once heard a story of someone in my home town that purchased a
>>used car that appeared to be in perfect condition. He could not keep the
>>front wheels in alignment and had to replace the front tires about every 4
>>months due to the serious alignment problem. He done some research on the
>>car and found out that the former owner had wrecked the car as as result
>>the frame of the car was bent. After the person (that wrecked the car) had
>>the car repaired, he realized that the frame was bent due to the alignment
>>problem. He traded it in on another car. Somehow,the car ended up in my
>>hometown. The person placed new tires on front of the car and traded it in
>>on another car in a large city near our home town. He warned everyone in
>>my hometown not to buy the car.
>>Jason
>
>
> I would say this is an extremely likely scenario. With the advent of
> "un-adjustable" suspension angles that seems to be a side-effect of
> McPherson strut suspensions, suddenly many cars get this way and nobody
> knows how to fix them.
>
> I found an honest frame & alignment shop some years ago when I had a Ford
> truck with the twin I beam suspension that had to be bent to correct the
> alignment. Every used car I buy goes straight to them as soon as I get it.
> Since it is a frame shop, they have the equipment and expertise to do
> whatever needs to be done. They can replace parts, adjust whatever is
> adjustable, or literally bend it back into spec if necessary. Usually the
> bill is less than the tire shop places charge for a simple toe adjustment.
>
> I think everybody should find such a place.

not so easy! where are you? i'd /love/ to know about a place like
that! i've asked around here in the bay area many times about a small
castor angle issue on my civic, and no one wants to know - they're only
interested in the >$3k crash rebuild work.

>
> In answer to the other question above:
>
> If you have the alignment done while the old tires are still in place, it
> gives the tech a good idea what the problems are just by looking at them.
> If you do it this way, make sure to tell them to align it to spec and not to
> make any adjustments to compensate for the behavior of the worn tires.
>
> If you wait and have it done after the new tires are on, then it might take
> them longer to find all the problems because they won't have the clues from
> the old tires about what is going on in the suspension. But with the new
> tires in place, they can also make additional adjustments to compensate for
> any anomalies in the new tires.
>
>