Camber adjustment
#21
This has been a good lesson on camber adjustment. I think I found my problem. Upon a second attempt at shaking the wheel, I am getting movement. It appears my crappy ball joints lasted 2 years. The lower ball joint is toast. I think i will go with Lemforder since these seem to be the best for this car? Or I hear good things about Napa and they are near by...
#23
#24
This has been a good lesson on camber adjustment. I think I found my problem. Upon a second attempt at shaking the wheel, I am getting movement. It appears my crappy ball joints lasted 2 years. The lower ball joint is toast. I think i will go with Lemforder since these seem to be the best for this car? Or I hear good things about Napa and they are near by...
Glad you have found that trouble, but what about the brake problem?
Greg
#25
Lemforders are definitely the best and are OEM, in fact. I have just had exactly your problem having been sold rubbish balljoints by a "reputable" supplier. Like you they lasted under two years.
Glad you have found that trouble, but what about the brake problem?
Greg
Glad you have found that trouble, but what about the brake problem?
Greg
#26
#27
Toe is adjustable FOR EACH WHEEL SPEARATELY. The rack must be centred exactly, and each track rod's lock nut loosened and the track rod rotated to adjust each side. .025 degrees toe in.
Castor is adjusted by moving the OEM shims each side of the TOP balljoint to one side or the other.
CAMBER adjustment is a major task and camber can ONLY be adjusted by major garage surgery. HOWEVER, camber on the XJS CANNOT alter unless the front suspension or its subframe is bent or collapsing from rust, or the suspension bushes are collapsed.
So if your car is way out on all three, only the toe can be easily adjusted by an non-specialist alignment shop. If it really is way out on all three, a full suspension overhaul is called for.
Last edited by Greg in France; 08-15-2017 at 03:09 AM.
#28
#29
#30
My front tire has worn out to the point of needing replacement due to positive camber. I tried swapping the tire and now the second one is wearing out fast.
How can I adjust the camber? at least until I can make it to the tire specialist. Is it possible on these cars to adjust camber? 94 xjs.
How can I adjust the camber? at least until I can make it to the tire specialist. Is it possible on these cars to adjust camber? 94 xjs.
#31
Just got my '92 5.3 back from NTB to find out that my (camber?) is badly off on all 4 wheels, which is why my new tires I bought from them just 2 years ago are shot after only 7K miles .. They're telling me they have to order special shims to be able to adjust it and it will be an extra 1 hr. labor b/c on the XJS, unlike other cars where the alignment adjustments can be made w/o removing suspension arm bolts, the bolts have to be removed on the far end on our cars. No idea whether this is true or they are just bilking me for extra $$ .. What ARE the specs (i.e. % - or +) as to camber, toe-in and caster on our cats? I couldn't find any mention of them in the Jag factory service manual literature ..
The OE camber sims were in fact a washer, and a PITA to set, so most shops did teh shortcut.
That sticky I wrote, at the top of here might you a tad.
I have used the Ford, GM, whatever, horseshoe shims for too many years and the car has no idea what I use, and the settings are spot on. Trouble is finding a shop that will listen to YOU.
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Doug (05-25-2020),
motorcarman (05-25-2020)
#32
[quote]
Which is certainly plausible.....but the camber settings must've been wayyyyy out of whack to cause such rapid tire wear. Jags (the oldies, at least) like quite a bit of negative camber. Every Jag I've owned had visible negative camber at all 4 corners. That is, you could easily see the negative camber just in looking at the car. Never had any tire wear problems.
True
As Grant mentioned, the more common horse shoe shims will work. You are not being bilked; the shop is sticking with the factory stuff. It's hard to criticize them for that although it wasn't strictly necessary and cost you extra.
I'm not sure for a 1992; possibly the same as earlier cars, which I'll try to remember to look up. The alignment shop surely has the specs from a data base they use and/or has been loaded into the brain of their equipment.
Odd that your service manual doesn't show the specs. Did you look in the "General Specifications" section?
Cheers
DD
They're telling me they have to order special shims to be able to adjust it and it will be an extra 1 hr. labor b/c on the XJS, unlike other cars where the alignment adjustments can be made w/o removing suspension arm bolts, the bolts have to be removed on the far end on our cars. No idea whether this is true or they are just bilking me for extra $$ ..
As Grant mentioned, the more common horse shoe shims will work. You are not being bilked; the shop is sticking with the factory stuff. It's hard to criticize them for that although it wasn't strictly necessary and cost you extra.
What ARE the specs (i.e. % - or +) as to camber, toe-in and caster on our cats? I couldn't find any mention of them in the Jag factory service manual literature ..
Odd that your service manual doesn't show the specs. Did you look in the "General Specifications" section?
Cheers
DD
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Grant Francis (05-25-2020)
#33
Just got my '92 5.3 back from NTB to find out that my (camber?) is badly off on all 4 wheels, which is why my new tires I bought from them just 2 years ago are shot after only 7K miles .. They're telling me they have to order special shims to be able to adjust it and it will be an extra 1 hr. labor b/c on the XJS, unlike other cars where the alignment adjustments can be made w/o removing suspension arm bolts, the bolts have to be removed on the far end on our cars. No idea whether this is true or they are just bilking me for extra $$ .. What ARE the specs (i.e. % - or +) as to camber, toe-in and caster on our cats? I couldn't find any mention of them in the Jag factory service manual literature ..
You really want to check 2 things BEFORE your adjust your upper control arms.
1. I suspect your lower control arms bushes are no longer round becasue over time the spring pushes the lower fulcrum out. LCA bushings are a big job but IF you want the car right they have to be checked and dealt if necessary.
2. The suspension is design with a significant about of camber gain. This is why these softly spring cars can handle so well. If your springs are sagged and your car is lowered or has lowered itself then you will get camber gain front and rear.
Yes the XJS is a pain to align properly. I'm surprised they are only charging 1 hour more. I think they'll regret that IF they end up doing it right.
Conversely... I also have a Porsche 928, one of the easiest cars to align. All three alignment settings are easily accessible on or near the Lower control arms from under the car with out taking off the wheels. Literally take 5 min per corner.
You may want to look at this.
http://www.jagrepair.com/images/TSB/...ifications.pdf
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Doug (05-25-2020)
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