Shopping Trolley Steering

[john-e boi]

I've read through some of the HICAS thread and think it might be the issue. But as this one is different, I thought I might start a new thread.

Car has been lowered for years now and HICAS system is still there all wired up. Wheels are always a bee's manhood away from the guard and never scrubbed the guards. Tonight I decided to install my Cusco rear camber arms and remove the 8mm spacers I had. Wheels aren't as close to the guards at the moment because new tyres are coming and they're 265 on the rears so I want to leave some room before I fit the tyres. Everything is fine. Go to take it for a spin, rear end feels like a shopping trolley. All over the road and very unpredictable. Everything is tightened.

My question is:

1. Would the car being lowered and running a fair bit of natural camber cause the HICAS to stop working, and now that I fix up the camber it has started working again?

2. What else could have cause this wobbliness?

3. HICAS lock bar. Yay or nay to solve the issue?

Thanks in advance guys.

Edited October 14, 2010 by john-e boi

[Kinks]

uhhhhh......

sounds like you need a wheel alignment, mate.

your upper control arm is shorter due to "wheels aren't as close to the guards". when you change the UCA length your toe angle changes.

HICAS doesn't care about camber. or ride height. it cares about vehicle speed and steering direction.

just in case there is any doubt for anyone else playing with their suspension ANY TIME YOU MAKE A SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT YOU NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. everything affects everything else. change UCA and your camber and toe changes. change traction rod and your bump steer changes. change to a rotor? apex seals need changing.

[MrStabby]

So, you removed 8mm spacers to create more space for new tyres you're putting on soon, so we expect you've now got an extra 8mm of tyre to guard clearance.

What are you using the Cusco arms for? More adjustability? That is, you cant get the alignment you want with the factory kit?

If they're adjustables, you should have adjusted them to the same length as the factory arms before you installed them, so they dont screw up your alignment as Kinks said.

[john-e boi]

all good now. HICAS lock bar and wheel allignment and it's all solved. Handles heaps good now