After living with my lowered Crossfire for a year the only problem I encountered is uneven tire wear which has increased in the front and is very bad in the rear. I was hoping that a toe adjustment might help and had the car on the alignment rack this morning. toe and caster were all correct but camber was obviosuly out enough to give me me tire wear problems. I know some on here have not had this problem after lowering a car but my rear tires are only six months old and still look new on the outer tread but just started showing cords in the inside edge. My fronts also wear the inside edge but not at all like the rear.

I purchased the front camber bolts from the dealer and have ordered the KMAC kit for the rear. I will be installing myself and then back to the alignment shop.

 

I just had Carmax order the bolts for the fronts due to a pull to the right.

I am bringing my car to them next week for the bolts to go in and alignment to be done.

Do I have to worry about them screwing up at all? How difficult is "resetting" the front alignment via new bolts?

 

Lantana, let me know how that turns out for ya...I have a push in the front at high speeds I'd like to work on, but without camber adjustment, I can't really do anything...I have heard about this, but haven't really talked to anyone who has done it...

 

Adding to Doc's question, what should the angles/setting be? I had problems a couple of years ago with camber and castor setting,I never got an answer form the Dealer or the Alignment shop.My car tracks great now but I'm sure all owners would like to know in advance of an alignment

 

Well all the parts are here along wtih two new 265 40 18's for the rear. I noticed the KMAC adstable rear camber hiit also comes wtih ajustable rear toe bolts/bushings. The kit is designed for Crossfires and a few MB cars. Since the Crossfire already has adjustable rear toe has anyone found a need for the KMAC adustable toe? I am going to start installing now the four front camber bolts and rear kit and hopefully have time to get the new tires installed and get an allignment today.

 

LantanaTX, it's nice seeing you back on the board.

 

Yea, I have been hibernating. V8 goes in end of March. Just trying to get my tires to last longer this weekend.

 

Let me know how difficult it is to put in the new bolts... I've had mine on the shelf now for about three months and really want to put them in!

And for those that are curious the dealer will charge approximately $180 for the install.


Can't wait to see that V8

 

These dealer bolts are a real pain! I am still working on the side. Losen both bolts on one side but only take one out at a time. The rear A arm bolt went in fine. the front is taking hours! i have the bolt in but I cannot get the arm to slide back for the washer to fit in their slot. The dealer bolts really aren't adjustable. you can only install them two different ways which is to increase or decrease camber about a half of a degree. I wish now I would have bought the KMAC kit for the front as well.

 

Hmmm... I guess I'll be taking it in somewhere to have it done. I have Firestone's lifetime alignment so might get it done there and I have a coupon.

Thanks for you response LantanaTX I have minimal tools where I am so if your having difficulty I’m glad I didn’t attempt it. Hope you get that sucker in!

 

Update: Got the front finished. I ended up using a racheting tow strap hooked to each front a arm. with the aid of a crow bar I was able to rachet enough presure to pull the A arms in and get the washers seated seated correctly and the bolts in.

I then got to work on the rear. The KMAC kit comes with an extraction tool to push out the old bushing. the tool pretty much bent and got distorted but the bushing would not come out. I removed both rear lower a arms and am going to take them to a machine shop and have the old bushing pressed out. once out the new kit should be pretty easy to install.

 

Project is finshed!

Pushing out the old rear bushing turned out to be the hardest part of the project. One shop gave up and I ended up going to a race shop. they had just as much trouble but finally out smarted the old bushing by pressing out just the center piece and then just the rubber. to get the out sleve out they used a Saws All to cut it in two places and then the just fell out. I then went home and put the new KMAC kit in and mounted my wheels with their new tires. I drove back to the race shop and they got everything aligned perpectly. It is nice to have the car so low but have the tires all at the correct camber. I had a lot of toe out which was causing the inner wear and cupping. This set of tires should last a while. I wouldn't suggest too many people to try this project at home. If I had to do it over I might just let the shop do it.

 

can I get the front and rear kit makes and part #'s? My rears have some major negative camber!

 

I don't have the part numbers available, but You can walk into any Chrysler or mercedes dealer and ask for front adjustable lower control arm bolts. For the rear go to ebay and search for Crossfire KMAC and they will pop right up. My car is pretty low and it now looks more factory with the tires not all squated in.

 

I'm a bit of a newbie, but to my understanding, you can't just take it to the shop to get it aligned with out these parts? Is that right?

 

Camber is not adustable on these cars. Toe is adjustable in the front and rear.

 

nice info, but I now think I am leaving mine alone....if going to round track it, I would do it, but that is all but dead right now. thanks, man...

 

Actually the added negative camber after lowering is good for racing. I just wanted my car to have a more corrrect street set up and longer lasting tires. My biggest problem was rear toe but the car looks better with factory camber settings.

 

Thanks for prompt reply! Reason being, I'm going to be taking it in for alignment real soon!

Appreciate it!

 

First Post!!!

For a good rear camber solution, contact speedybenz on club202. Very adjustable.