I have noticed since installing the IE fixed camber plates that when turning the drivers side spring is rubbing on the inner fender well. This seems to be worse in the winter (guessing the cold). I have had the alingment checked and adjusted everything looks fine. The mechanics I have taken it to are stumped, they keep pointing back to the possibility that the camber plates have a bad bearning possibly. I find that hard to believe but not williing to rule anything out.
Anyone have any ideas what may be causing this only on the drivers side.

2003 MC R50
IE Fixed Camber plates
factory sport suspension
93k miles
CVT

 

how many degrees of camber on each side at the moment?

 

You will get more camber on one side or the other with the IE's. With the OEM size springs, the inner shock towers usually need to be adjusted (see big hammer) a bit for clearence.

 

-1.5 left - 1.6 right front
-.05 left -.05 right rear
toe 0

 

You should have more camber than that..

 

It is common that the driver's side strut tower needs to be hammered in a little to provide clearance when increasing the negative camber (-2.0 and more). However, I am surprised that with -1.5 that you have a rubbing issue.

The mechanics should be able to tell if the bearning is bad. Why do they suspect the bearing?

If the bearning seems OK, someone will need to pound the tower in a litlle where the spring/perch rubs.

 

Are you strut towers ok? If they are distorted from prior dammage...like potholes...it could be throwing stuff off.

 

I read somewhere that you can install them right for left??

 

Of the 4 cars I've installed these on, the towers of one did need some "messaging" to fix some rubbing. Make sure any mushrooming was corrected during the install as that could through things off a bit.

 

I had at first installed them right to left and left to right (wow was that a horrible handling car with +1 camber)
but that was repaired
I will look at the mushrooming but that seemed to be pretty good prior to the install.

I guess dropping the tower and hammering is in order (any gotchya's with that?)

Thanks

 

You should be able to see where the spring perch is rubbing on the frame. Look for scuffed paint at a rib in the frame's sheet metal. Knock it in there, and you should be good to go. If the bearing were bad, you'd hear it grinding when you turn the wheel, and possibly clattering while driving.

 

You might want to disconnect the battery and be sure to check the underhood fuses before starting. The location of them is right next to the driver side shock tower where you'll be gently hammering.

 

IIRC, the Ireland plates come with new "heavy duty" bearings.
I had to "gently massage" my inner fender as well.
Drug out the big azz ball peen and a few minutes later was good to go!

Jim

 

Thanks everyone looks like I will be dropping the strut again...