Now, I just bought my plates today and put them on when I got home. I bought these to simply prevent a future mushrooming incident. The car always had driven completely fine.

However, after I put the plates on, the car seems to want to pull more towards the right than it did before. Does anyone have an answer or at least an educated guess as to why this may be happening? Please give me some feedback ASAP!!!

 

How did you put them on? M7 plates?

 

M7 style plates(above the strut tower)? Not possible with the plates alone...Maybe did you just notice a problem or is your car just drifting to the right due to roads being crowned?

 

First check your air pressure. A couple of pounds difference left to right will cause a car to pull. I doubt very much that installing those plates caused your pull.

 

Well, I checked the tire pressure and that was fine. However, it may have to do with the roads here in colorado. Regardless, I just also put on the Alta sway bar and will be getting the car re-aligned shortly!!

 

Well that's the easiest thing to check. If that's a rear swaybar it shouldn't effect your alignment. If it's been a while since the alignment has been checked, that may be a good idea. Yep roads really can make a car pull one way or the other.

 

sorry to somewat take over your thread.
but i have a question about the actual installation.
do you NEED a torque wrench? i dont have one to measure to 25 ft-lb.
( i still dont really get it tho.. )
i do have a socket wrench. is that enough to install?

(didnt feel like starting a new thread. thanks in advance!!)

 

When I called M7 about this they just said to hand torque it....but since then there have been other things to use a torque wrench on so I just bought one...prol worth the $30 just to have one.

 

cool. thanks for the quick reply. i know there wont be a noticeable difference in driving but for some reason i cant wait to put it on.
guess it's cause it's a new mod

 

First thing I put on as soon as Blimey was in my garage...

 

installing a sway bar (rear) CAN mess up your thrust alignment !

If you drop or even loosten the rear sub frame it does not just fit right back in the same spot.

this can cause the vehicle to "crab".

When doing sway bars I use a paint marker at the bolt flanges for L & R and F & R alignment, I scratch a fine line in that paint ... then ues the scratch for use in reattaching the rear sub frame.

 

I respectfully disagree with you guys.
The car should NOT loose the alignment by installing the strut plates, dropping the rear subframe, lower springs (no more than 1") or installing a thicker swaybar. All those components go in and out in ONE WAY ONLY. If you feel something different after changing any of those PROPERLY look for something else wrong.

 

+1

 

Strut plates and springs your OK ...

But you are WRONG about the rear sub frame

The front wheel alignment will be fine.
If you read front ONLY
However the THRUST or back to front alignment can change

next time you remove or even loosten the rear subframe .... mark it,

Do you sway or what ever and just put the bolts back without looking at alignment (of rear subframe) it WILL be off.

I have done well over 20 and have seen a lot of movement

 

I've only done one. I looked at where it was & made sure it was in the same place before tightening up. I didn't mark, but the dirt marks showed the place it was. Glad I checked before tightening.