Can to much negative rear camber be "bent" back?

[LOB]

I noticed that my rear left tire where almost gone down to the metal threads on the inside of the tire. Measuring the camber with a level tool for camber alignment I've got almost -3 degrees negative camber. I had an alignment done a year ago and then it was according to spec's, -1. What to do? The Volvo workbook tells me to look for damage on the trailing arm but I can't see any damages. Anyhow, do you think it's possible to bend it back to position? I'm thinking of screwing two front brake discs on the rear brake disc (to get clear of the fender) and then to fasten a long sturdy metal pole to the discs and then bend while keeping an eye on the spirit level giving me the camber. If it has been bent. It must be possible to bend it back to position !?

All the four rear bushings are replaced the last two years.

[scot850]

Hi LOB,

This is very strange indeed.

When you said you replaced the 4 bushes 2 years ago, do you mean the delta links and the mounting bushes at the aluminum blocks?

If you did those, they are the major parts to replace so how you have now -3 degrees is a mystery.

I don't believe there is any camber adjustment but I have not been under the rear of a FWD P80 in a while.

2-3 degrees is a significant amount of movement for something to be bent and if that happened it had to be something huge to cause it like someone towing the car using a suspension part or hitting a really big hole in the road. I would think the damage would be fairly obvious.

Are you sure it is not a bad rear wheel bearing?

Neil.

[scot850]

Not sure if this would be any help or guidance:

http://www.volvotips.com/index.php/850- ... ai-manual/

Neil.

[MoVolvos]

*

You need to have all suspension parts checked to make sure they are at Stage 0. Assuming it's a 95 850 (others should be about the same) and everything is okay the only thing that can be done is to get a shim for the stub axle (red arrow). In the old days and maybe even now wedged shims were available to fit behind the stub axle where it meets the trailing arm surface where it attaches. Not for the amateur alignment guy. I've seen the shim for some cars kit but never done one.

The other possibility is a bent stub axle. Not sure you want to spend the time and money for a new one. If you are eating tires that might be the first thing to try assuming the suspension is good and camber spec from a machine tells you it's out. Toe'd out can do that also (require shim or have bent axle) but most of the time it's camber since you already measured it, correctly.

Photo courtesy of:

https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/show ... evel=24645

*

Volvo Axle.png (163.34 KiB) Viewed 1050 times

*

[LOB]

Hi LOB,

This is very strange indeed.

When you said you replaced the 4 bushes 2 years ago, do you mean the delta links and the mounting bushes at the aluminum blocks?

If you did those, they are the major parts to replace so how you have now -3 degrees is a mystery.

I don't believe there is any camber adjustment but I have not been under the rear of a FWD P80 in a while.

2-3 degrees is a significant amount of movement for something to be bent and if that happened it had to be something huge to cause it like someone towing the car using a suspension part or hitting a really big hole in the road. I would think the damage would be fairly obvious.

Are you sure it is not a bad rear wheel bearing?

Neil.

Yes all 4 bushings have been replaced recently and its been aligned afterwards. Wheel bearing... But if that is the cause the bearing must be totally wasted? The wheel affected with this camber issue is rolling smooth.

[scot850]

Agreed. If it was that bad you would have thought you would have heard it. I think Rick's suggestion is a better one, that either the stub axle is bent or it's mounts have been damaged. Would have thought someone would have known they had caused that damage. Only other suggestion is it has been jacked up in the wrong place bending the rear suspension.

Good Luck!

Neil.

[erikv11]

What was the brand/quality of the replaced parts and did you get a good look at the to insure they are intact?