Alignment issues after new parts installed

[Tpeeler31]

Hey guys! I just had new BMR trailing arms, toe rods, cradle bushings and diff bushings installed in my 2011 Camaro SS. I got the basic arms and rods that are non adjustable. I took the car in today for alignment and the tech could not get the rear to line up as he said I didn’t have enough adjustment left to straighten things out. Now, the car is lowered 1” but it didn’t cause issues with past alignments. It was my understanding that these pieces are essentially bolt in and should align for a normal street car just fine. Any thoughts? I’d appreciate the help!
Best,
Ty

[cdb95z28]

When adjusting the rear toe and camber, you have to adjust both at the same time. When you adjust the camber the toe will move. When you adjust the toe the camber will move.

So, the tech has to find the happy medium. Exactly as you mentioned, it was lowered before you did these mods and you had no issues. Installing non adjustable arms should be an apples to apples change. Realistically, the alignment should not have been off that much after the install, even when doing the cradle bushings. The cradle is located by way of pins.

It's best to put the bolt eccentrics at their neutral state then go from there.
Tell them to adjust both at the same time. It's a dance, it's give and take. He can't make big swings. Adjust the camber a little, then adjust the toe a little, small moves and hone in to both specs. You can see this on the alignment machine screen. When the camber is changed, the toe # will move. And vice versa.

IIRC, when we adjust the rear camber to more negative, the toe will toe in more. So as he creeps up on the camber spec, the he needs to adjust the toe a little.

[cdb95z28]

Your situation has been discussed before, so it's nothing new. The common denominator is usually a tech that is unfamiliar with how these suspensions dynamically move when aligning.

Print off my previous post and give it to him. Hopefully the shop will be receptive. If they are not or still can't get it, then find a better shop. I do my own alignments, I've never run out of adjustment.

[cdb95z28]

One more thing, when you did the drop springs, did you time the bushings? This is done after the springs are installed, it involves loosening all the suspension pivot points while the car is at the new ride height and bouncing the car then retightening and torqueing to spec.

If this is not done then the bushings are in a state of twist/bind from the old static ride height. This causes the car to act like the springs are way stiffer than they actually are. Many times guys did not time the bushings and they complain of the car is "bouncy" It's because the bound bushings are effectively adding spring rate.

I would think you probably should do this with your new poly bushed arms also.

[Tpeeler31]

Hey man,
Thank you for the quick and in depth reply. I left the shop and the guy did not charge me. I will take it to my normal alignment shop Monday as they will be open and have better availability. Perhaps this guy just didn’t know the nuances like you mentioned. I’ll make sure to show the shop I’m a regular at the info you have given me. If push comes to shove, I’ve already ordered adjustment bolts from SPC. Worst case scenario I have them installed and adjusted and be on my way, best case scenario I send them back because this shop knows better and get a refund. And yes, I made sure to time the bushings!

Again, thank you so much!

[cdb95z28]

You’re welcome! Good luck!

[Tpeeler31]

My normal shop got everything set up perfectly! Big shoutout to cbd95z28. My mechanic got it done with your advice!

[cdb95z28]

Good to hear!