advice needed: alignment required after new control arms ?
 

My 960's control arm bushings were shot, so i ordered a new set, new ball joints, and sway bar links. All went in pretty easy, but now- the front tires are not "square" on the ground after driving a bit. I thought the CA's and BJ's could be replaced without an alignment, but - was I wrong about that ? If you look at the car from the front, the top of the front tires are just slightly more in the wheel well then the bottom of the tire. Not much - but it is noticable. I jacked the car up and set it down again - after checking all my bolts - all were tightened to specs and nothing was loose - but after a small amount of driving, they are not square on the ground again - its not much - but it was not that way with the old control arms in. Does anyone know if an alignment is what I need ? Thanks in advance.

When you did your bolt tightening, was there weight on the front wheels?
You must have the front wheels loaded with weight, then tighten the bolts. If you didn't do that, it could be that the new bushings are binding up and acting as springs. Just a quick thought.

DanR '94 964 345,000 miles (111,000 on the new engine)

hmmmm.... no i did not - the front of the car was off the ground - - (I did not see that mentioned in my Chiltons, that load had to be on the wheels before tightening...)

So - - If I lift it up - loosen everything again, set it down on the ground and tighten it all up that might correct the issue ?

thanks for the response.

It may do the trick, if that is what causing your problem.

DanR

if you do ball joints you need to realigne it especially if you romove the comtrol arms and you dont need the front end loaded (weight ogf car ) when you tighten the front end and the tires being not perpendicular to the road is camber i dont knoww you specs off hand but you should have some camber but i would most definetialy take it to a shop and atleaste have them check it its normally free

thanks for all the replies. looks like I won;t get to it till the weekend, but I'll have a look then.

thanks all.